Robin's Page

 

Robin Barker's  regular granddaughter diary, and baby care column. Granddaughter Sage also joins us with a baby persepective on life.

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Diary - December, 2003

Sage has a smile that makes you think she’s been waiting for years to see just you, you’re the very person she’s been hanging out for, consequently she has us all dancing in attendance on her every whim.

However must admit the other night when I was at her house having dinner with Kim we ‘did the control-crying’ because she just wouldn’t go to sleep and she was very tired. That is, we did a version of it which did involve a bit of to-ing and fro-ing until eventually after one last protesting shriek she collapsed in a heap, bum in the air.

Sage studies every detail of my face, every wrinkle, spot and blemish. And when she comes to my place she gazes intently at everything in the room piece by piece - the pictures, the furniture - taking it in, storing it up. And when we go through the family photos on the fridge she smiles and talks to the people.

Books are becoming popular. I have rediscovered that the best thing to do with babies when you read to them is to give them something to play with (like a set of keys), to stop them from grabbing and eating the book.

Now I know I was going to do that famous old topic, introducing solids, and variations on the way babies take to them but do you mind waiting until January? In the meantime try a small piece of plum pudding (for the baby I mean).

You see Sage is giving us all so much pleasure I’ve gone all soft in the head and as it’s Christmas as well thought I’d like to remind everyone about the delicious georgousness of babies.

Babies bring indescribable joy. Babies are funny, they make us laugh.

Caring for your baby and watching her grow gives you a great sense of achievement and is one of the most creative things humans can do. Babies help us appreciate small things (like a good night’s sleep, the wonder of rain, the joy of a puppy, the fascination of a bus roaring by).

Babies change our priorities in positive ways, develop our tolerance and have the capacity to bring two people closer by sharing an exceptional experience. Babies bring unconditional love (they don’t care if we’re fat or thin, muscle-bound or scrawny). Babies bring a renewed sense of family and give us all a reason for living and hope for the future.

The best thing anyone can do for another human is to be a true blue loving parent. The benefits flow on for generations.

Christmas and Chanukah blessings to you all.

Back to the sloppy mess we call solids in January.

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