Sometimes nobody else will do

Attention all mothers-in-law:
"There's nobody like your mama, but I.... (fill in the blank)" is not an acceptable phrase.  Especially when "mama" is sitting RIGHT THERE.

There's no "but" after that phrase.  Just accept it.  Sometimes your daughter-in-law wants her mama. Period the end. 

I can't be close enough right now to fulfill all the wishes and needs my daughter has.  But that does not mean she needs or wants anyone else to do so either.  It's a mama thing.  A little empathy please?

*************************

Daughter the second, Turtle, keeps after me to write.  She says I'm funny.  I have trouble being funny here apparently.  It's been one complaint after another.  This has come to be the place where I can vent all those unspeakable thoughts that I can't say out loud.

My mother had no problem speaking those thoughts out loud - and nobody loved her for it.  I guess that's what I'm trying to avoid.

*************************

Sobfest yesterday afternoon.  For the record, NOT the reason I'm going home.  You know how it is, one person gets started crying and then it's contagious.  Man, I may cry again thinking about it. 

Dancer was venting herself a little.  New mama, you know there are frustrations.  And she's trying to figure it out, I'm trying to give her room, but she feels crowded.  She told me that it's not me that's crowding her (I don't know whether it's a lie or not).  My key point was this:

"Now you know.  Now you know how you feel about that little man in there, right?" She nodded.  "THAT'S how I feel about you, when you were born, then, now and always. I love you and want to do what's best for you."

There was more, but I wanted her to know that although I was here to meet the baby, and hold him, and maybe introduce him to my voice, my main objective was to take care of her.  My job.

She has a husband, though, that is doing wonderfully.  He's pretty amazing to her.  So I feel right leaving now.  I want to be here but to stay longer would be to indulge myself.

Maybe next time I'll have a funny story.  Time to get back to the other kids and grandkids.