(no subject)
It was a good day with Christopher. I actually feel quite sad at the end of the day because I had to leave him with her.
Our day started early, at 5 or 5.30 or so, with breakfast. I was relatively pleased that he had slept quite a while in the first part of the night, and though he was not happy he did not complain too much about his mother's absence. His first time to spend any length of time away from his mother. So the first good point was that he ate solids, slept and woke up to eat solids.
We had fun watching the Olympics; I saw briefly an Irish relay team and tried to interest him in it since he has an Irish passport as well as the New Zealand one, but he could not get that. He laughed at the BMX, supporting my amusement that we have adults who have stolen their kids' bicycles and then use them. So second good point; sharing the morning Olympics.
Then we went for walk. Well, I walked, he sat happily in the pram but fell asleep after 15 minutes. I had planned to go to a cafe, as a little treat that I have enjoyed doing with him once I gave up on saving my money to make her happy, and of course there was no point doing so if he was asleep. A train crossed the road in front of us and sounded the horn, waking him. So in for a coffee, the first in the cafe. He loved it, and remembered the toys. So the third good point; he enjoyed the cafe. He really enjoyed it, walking around and talking to people and even went close to a couple of dogs.
We walked home, and he fell asleep again, which was a little frustrating because she was supposed to come to my house in order to pick up stuff. So I let him sleep. He really needs the sleep; if he was an adult who had flown from Oregon (after being in New England) to New Zealand he would be zonked, but he is no adult but a little boy, trying to learn about the world.
I let him sleep as late as I could and then put him in the car, and he fell back to sleep again. I woke him up again at the pool, and he was cheerful, which is the fourth good point.
We paid and changed in the appropriate men's changing room. A shower and then in to the pool. He really did not want to separate from me for ages, and had obviously lost some confidence in the water. I checked, and it seems that she was too busy, as were the others she was with, to take him swimming, even though it was summer in the USA. It makes me wonder how much was done for him at all. Still, he gained confidence, and we stayed in for an hour. I met three people from teachers' college which was good. So the fifth good point; swimming went well.
I fed him outside the changing room, and he ate and ate and ate. Then he drank lots of water. We drove home and he talked happily to me. At home I heated up some thai curry that was left over, and gave him some with a teaspoon. He was good, and aimed correctly and ate plenty. I had to add more rice and pork as well as the spicy coconut milk based sauce. So sixth good point; eating well!
I failed on getting him to sleep after lunch. Then She arrived with a friend who asked "How are you?" Well, what do I say? I left it at ok.
I offered tea to both, but only she wanted, but left most of it. Ah well. So I can count that I was polite.
Christopher was confused and unhappy at what was going on, but also wanted to play with his teapot and cups set. I ended up having to take him out because it was not fair on him.
He fell asleep again on the way back from the walk, and this time I texted to allow him to sleep longer, which he did. So the seventh good point is that he finally got to sleep till he woke by himself.
Once awake I took him to her house and we talked of various issues. Things are ok. Nothing is good, of course, and clearly she is happy with her new lifestyle, even if I am isolated. I suppose communicating is an eighth good point.
The good things; he managed without breast milk for over 24 hours. Not that I am against breast milk, and I know the anger and aggression of the 'breast is best' lobby, but he can't spend time with me if he is attached to her breast every three or four hours. Ninth good point.
To end off the day; a fire, a couple of glasses of wine, and an ok meal. I was not inspired tonight, as I felt down at saying goodbye to the youngster. So ten.
Our day started early, at 5 or 5.30 or so, with breakfast. I was relatively pleased that he had slept quite a while in the first part of the night, and though he was not happy he did not complain too much about his mother's absence. His first time to spend any length of time away from his mother. So the first good point was that he ate solids, slept and woke up to eat solids.
We had fun watching the Olympics; I saw briefly an Irish relay team and tried to interest him in it since he has an Irish passport as well as the New Zealand one, but he could not get that. He laughed at the BMX, supporting my amusement that we have adults who have stolen their kids' bicycles and then use them. So second good point; sharing the morning Olympics.
Then we went for walk. Well, I walked, he sat happily in the pram but fell asleep after 15 minutes. I had planned to go to a cafe, as a little treat that I have enjoyed doing with him once I gave up on saving my money to make her happy, and of course there was no point doing so if he was asleep. A train crossed the road in front of us and sounded the horn, waking him. So in for a coffee, the first in the cafe. He loved it, and remembered the toys. So the third good point; he enjoyed the cafe. He really enjoyed it, walking around and talking to people and even went close to a couple of dogs.
We walked home, and he fell asleep again, which was a little frustrating because she was supposed to come to my house in order to pick up stuff. So I let him sleep. He really needs the sleep; if he was an adult who had flown from Oregon (after being in New England) to New Zealand he would be zonked, but he is no adult but a little boy, trying to learn about the world.
I let him sleep as late as I could and then put him in the car, and he fell back to sleep again. I woke him up again at the pool, and he was cheerful, which is the fourth good point.
We paid and changed in the appropriate men's changing room. A shower and then in to the pool. He really did not want to separate from me for ages, and had obviously lost some confidence in the water. I checked, and it seems that she was too busy, as were the others she was with, to take him swimming, even though it was summer in the USA. It makes me wonder how much was done for him at all. Still, he gained confidence, and we stayed in for an hour. I met three people from teachers' college which was good. So the fifth good point; swimming went well.
I fed him outside the changing room, and he ate and ate and ate. Then he drank lots of water. We drove home and he talked happily to me. At home I heated up some thai curry that was left over, and gave him some with a teaspoon. He was good, and aimed correctly and ate plenty. I had to add more rice and pork as well as the spicy coconut milk based sauce. So sixth good point; eating well!
I failed on getting him to sleep after lunch. Then She arrived with a friend who asked "How are you?" Well, what do I say? I left it at ok.
I offered tea to both, but only she wanted, but left most of it. Ah well. So I can count that I was polite.
Christopher was confused and unhappy at what was going on, but also wanted to play with his teapot and cups set. I ended up having to take him out because it was not fair on him.
He fell asleep again on the way back from the walk, and this time I texted to allow him to sleep longer, which he did. So the seventh good point is that he finally got to sleep till he woke by himself.
Once awake I took him to her house and we talked of various issues. Things are ok. Nothing is good, of course, and clearly she is happy with her new lifestyle, even if I am isolated. I suppose communicating is an eighth good point.
The good things; he managed without breast milk for over 24 hours. Not that I am against breast milk, and I know the anger and aggression of the 'breast is best' lobby, but he can't spend time with me if he is attached to her breast every three or four hours. Ninth good point.
To end off the day; a fire, a couple of glasses of wine, and an ok meal. I was not inspired tonight, as I felt down at saying goodbye to the youngster. So ten.