Not Your Average Lawyer

It is treasurable being a grandmother and learning all over again the wonders and tears that come with the presence of little ones in your life. There were tears in my heart for Ayden and for Natasha this week.

Natasha and Corey decided that it would be good for Ayden to go to daycare, primarily for socialization with other children his age. So, this was his first week. And to say it didn't go well is an understatement.

By Tuesday night, Natasha was in almost in tears and clearly distraught. Ayden truly believed that he was being punished and that was why he was being left alone at THAT PLACE. As she took him in for the second day, he started crying. "Whatever I done, I be good now Mommy; whatever I done, I won't do it. I be good. I sorry. I don't want to go. I promise I be good. I sorry, Mommy." My throat is closing up as I hear the pain in Natasha's voice.

Turns out the daycare wouldn't let him have his pacifier when he was put down for a nap. To a two year old new to daycare, being without Mommy at naptime is difficult; being without his pacifier is cruel and unusual punishment. It fact I think I could elevate it to a violation of the baby Charter of Rights and Freedoms!

But this daycare has a one-size-fits-all policy. If one child has a pacifier, the others will want one too (whatever would they do if it was something as heinous as a teddy bear?!!)

I was reminded about how Lynn was forced not to have her pacifier at a young age. She yearned for it at naptime and I wept silent tears with her. Although I respected her mother's desire to wean her from her "security device", I came from the mothering school that held: as long as they are not carrying their pacifier (or bottle or blanket or teddy bear) at their high school prom, let them grow out of it in their own time and at their own pace. Of course, Lynn got back her own by deciding to suck her thumb instead. I am pleased to report she was not sucking her thumb at her high school prom.

And so I tell Natasha to trust her intuition as a mother. She has to trust the small voice inside of her that tells her what to decide about daycare, what to do. A mother's intuition is foolproof. Only you can know your own child, and what is best for him, because he whispered to you for many months from your womb and you have already shared many dreams for and with him.

And if mother's intuition is not enough, just call Jim and listen to his sputtering with anger over HOW ANYONE CAN TREAT HIS GRANDSON SO BADLY!



Lord Byron said about intuition "There is no instinct like that of the heart."


So, trust your collective instincts, Corey and Natasha. And if I am wrong, I sorry.