Daddy

[ailbhe]

I'm sitting here listening to Rob humming and purring Emer to sleep, as she grumbles in his arms. He's infinitely patient with grizzly babies, can do the same thing over and over for hours without getting irritated, and - as far as I can tell - utterly, utterly calm.

Given how much I struggle with frustration and temper, I find this infinitely admirable.

Rob didn't even know how much he liked babies until he had some. Now, when we go away, he visits families with babies and toddlers to get his fix in. Other babies and toddlers really like him, too, though that's less surprising as lots of kids have liked him. He used to have trouble playing with babies, when Linnea was new, but he learned quickly and now he can and does play "swooping hands" or "nibbling feet" or peekaboo for as long as the baby wants him to.

I know that if he had to do this full-time he'd be less effective, and that the discipline end of things gives him trouble, but really, I think his attitude and the way he's learned to handle kids is...

... well, admirable.

Comments

[rrc.livejournal.com]

Thankyou, you say the nicest things :-)

[thereyougothen.livejournal.com]

Bill has all those qualities too, and it makes my life so good. i know that he has all the patience that i lack.
sometimes i know the best thing i can do is leave the house for a while.