A: Like this...
We arrive at the pool at a pre-arranged time and take turns, taking into account the following factors that pop up randomly throughout the morning. Well, not completely random, as each baby has it's own cycle of things it does, but throw 3 babies together and you do have the potential for mahem... One by one we take turns to swim or shower. Do a few laps as fast as you can, then look towards the other mums for a thumbs up to let you know that everything is OK with Bub...
The Babies
Ethan, Lachlan and Phoebe: all born within a week of each other*. I wouldn't exactly call them friends yet - they barely even look at each other. Babies at this age "parallel play" so I'm told, and evidence as I see it suggests that apart from accidentally knocking each other as they flail around on rugs, there isn't a lot of interaction going on.
Feeding...
Phoebe is the model baby feeder. Never a problem with latching on or her mother's supply. Comfortable feeding wherever she is. Lachie is also breastfed but going through "a bit of a difficult phase"... won't feed away from his special chair at home. Mum has to feed him before departing her house, and tries to feed him while out, but he won't and cries his little lungs out. And Ethan. Well he's always been a difficult feeder... his latest trick is to get halfway through his bottle and start to look around. Neck craning every direction, looking out to see what he can see, with Mum's hand and the bottle trying to follow his mouth around. There tend to be a few tantrums, and he seems to be making the mental transition to wanting to be fed sitting up, which doesn't quite work with a bottle.
Sleeping...
Phoebe also seems to be well adjusted to being out and about in her pram. [The rest of the mothers actually don't actually believe she is capable of being grizzly, but I can confirm that she does actually grizzle on occasion.] Lachie hates his pram, so his mother has to cart arount a baby carrier as well as a pram in case of emergency. Ethan can be difficult to settle, but just zonks if he's tired.
Separation anxiety?
Phoebe & Ethan: none apparent at this age - willing to cuddle anyone so long as Mum's in the vicinity. Lachie seems a little less at ease, but could be due to not having been fed for a while.
Coffee and chats afterwards....
Kiddies settled somewhat now that Mums have all swum and showered, we grabbed a substandard coffee at the pool afterwards. We realised that all our kids are Geminis, and got into a great big in depth discussion about intra-familial star sign relationships. Parents vs babies, us vs our parents and friends. Wondering how our babes are going to grow up. Thinking it would be cool if they went to the Newtown High School for the Performing Arts and dyed their hair pink.
So gradually, I'm getting fitter again back in the pool. It's great hanging out with other Mums, sharing the trials and joys of parenthood, seeing how other babies are, and being reassured that your baby fits somewhere in the many spectrums of normality.
*their mothers said they could be sister and brother... but sadly no one called Deborah (Pulp reference for those who know the song)
2 comments:
Fantabulosa! Sounds great gal. Are these mothers group members that you've sussed are up for a bit of extra curricla social catching up? Love this sunny weather, so well suited to getting out and about and getting excersise and company.
Yeah - we've all graduated from mothers group now that our babies are >12 weeks old, so it's up to us to catch up now. We have a regular Tuesday catch up and sometimes at other times of the week (e.g. some of us swim, other times some of us go for long walks or to the movies).
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