I remember my first visit as a mother to the in-law's family
compound. I was the only breastfeeder for generations and generations
and not at all sure how that would pan out among a crowd that thinks
the more time a baby is away from Mama the better. Our newborn napped
on a bed; they only knew from bassinets and playpens. We didn't use
pacifiers. We were careless about socks. I wasn't the first of my
husband's siblings to bring them a grandchild. But I was the first
one to be doing everything right. (Settle down, that's a joke.)
During
that visit, it was finally my baby's great-grandmother's turn to
change a diaper -- such a demand, I should have drafted a sign-up sheet
-- and I overheard my mother-in-law stage-whispering, "No powder!
They're not using powder!"
"But rashes! What about rashes," the
elder wanted to know. Silence. I knew they were exchanging raised
eyebrows, shrugged shoulders, and deep, deep doubt about the wisdom of
unpowdered babies.
Powder isn't such a bad thing, but what I'm
trying to illustrate is that things change. I'm sure you've gone a
round or two with the prior generation, perhaps even with your own
mother, about what you do differently as a parent. Poor grandma (and
super poor grandpa! He's actually expected to participate this time!).
What they need is a manual of things they should know about babies.
Let's whip one up for them. Feel free to add your own, but I'll start with these eight:
Read More...
