Since Victoria and I started feeding Connor, we have not been too concerned about it being neat and clean. I mean come on, Connor is just over 4 months and has no idea not to put his hands in his mouth while it is full of cereal or better yet sweet potatoes. Needless to say, meals with Connor are a little messy.
Well, we fed Connor at my Mom’s house 2 weeks ago. It went like normal. He got a little on his left cheek, right cheek, then he managed to get it on his hands and finally it was on his chin and nose. That’s normal, right??? Well, Victoria gave the spoon to Grandma and I stepped inside to get a wet cloth to wipe Connor’s face. I was gone no more than a minute and when I stepped back outside, Connor’s face was clean. No rag, no water. It was “magic”. I sat there and watched as Grandma slowly and deliberately fed Connor. If some of the sweet potatoes would squeeze out of his mouth, she would wipe it up with the spoon. Wow, what a cool idea. If he got some on his cheek, she would do the same. I thought we were suppose to shovel it in and then hose him off afterwards (I think that is what they taught us in all those books and baby classes we took). Anyways, I kind of just filed it all away so I could make a comment to my mother at a later time. (After I tried to perfect the feeding on my own.)
Well, the next day my cousin and aunt were visiting from NJ and my mom had another opportunity to feed Connor. Again, another clean face. I finally made a comment to my Mom about noticing how clean Connor’s face was. I think she was just relieved that I acknowledged her “supreme feeding ritual”. Then she said she had told my aunt earlier in the day how “messy” our feedings were and she made the comment, “what did they teach them in those baby classes?” I laughed with her.
Mimi had her chance the other night too. I didn’t get an opportunity to take notes from her feeding ritual, but I did ask Victoria how it went. I asked Victoria, “how was Connor’s feeding with your Mom? Was it neat and clean?” She laughed and said yes. She could not understand how Mimi could keep Connor’s face so neat. I told her about what my mom had said the previous week and we laughed about it.
So, the all knowing new parents are conceding only one thing to the previous generation and that is how to keep a baby clean during a feeding.
Remember, when our next child comes along — we will continue to swaddle, wait on solid food, not give them water or juice, and all the other things that the previous generation questioned us on.
If Mimi and Grandma want to continue to feed Connor, you are welcome to come over every night.
Love,
Donnie
