My daughter is staying with me for a while. She has just had the most beautiful baby boy. The other night he was restless and wouldn’t settle so she was sitting in the rocking chair. I came out to keep her company. She thanked me for letting her do things her way. I was surprised because I never thought of myself as the interfering type.
It turns out she didn’t mean me. She had some visitors earlier in the day and had felt uncomfortable because she felt she was doing everything wrong. The blanket wasn’t wrapped properly, the nappy should have been cloth, the baby had dry skin, and so on.
Her visitors meant well but as a first time mother my daughter felt they were critisising her, not just giving advice.
We had a chat about how to handle people like that. My daughter decided that perhaps she was feeling a little oversensitive and as they hadn’t intended to upset her, and they were good people just trying to help, she wouldn’t say anything.
She was happy with her decision. Sometimes when you are overtired or overemotional things can be misunderstood. The visitors are lovely people and meant well, they perhaps had forgotton what it is like when you have your first child.
My daughter was so scared she would hurt her boy. He was so tiny she worried she might break him. She’s fine now, and I’m pleased to say she is a great mother.
