Standards of Parenting

Here is Max. He is now almost 4 weeks old. He has just spent some qualty time with The Boob.



Here is who used to be the cutest and most popular.



Now Monkey sits on the floor, ignored and forgotten. He gathers his toys and Debra's shoes in a big pile in front of him. Perhaps this comforts him. Perhaps he is feeling remorse about getting in the trash every day this week.

Today's topic is Standards of Parenting. Debra's Aunt Vicky is visiting for a week. She is helping Debra adapt to motherhood. So far, they have been shopping every day. This relates to our theme for today's blog entry, which is Standards of Parenting.

I think there is a model parent in history, who exemplifies the proper Standard of Parenting. That would be Sacagawea, Lewis and Clark's Shoshone guide, who lead them across the entire wilderness continent bringing her infant son Jean Baptiste along the whole way. George Rogers Clark delivered the baby, and nicknamed him "Pompey" due to his imperial attitude.

So here we have some case studies of Standards of Parenting.

First, observe the wash. There in the wash are commingled baby clothes and Drew's sweaty bike clothes. (Aunt Vicky: "There are wet clothes in the washing machine. Should I put them in the dryer?")



One Standard of Parenting would be that baby clothes must be washed separately, with their own special detergent, from adult clothes, especially sweaty bicycle clothers.

But what would Sacagawea do? Did she run a special load of laundry with special detergent for Pompey's clothes as she travelled across the wilderness with the Corps of Discovery?

Here is part of the haul from today's shopping excursion. This is a baby wipe warmer. One standard of parenting says that young Maxadoacaeous cannot have his privates wiped with a room temperature baby wipe. The Boob says he hollers when a room temperature baby wipe touches his tuches. I asked her if perhaps she might be whacking his nads around with the baby wipe, and she assured me that was not the case. Fathers are important.



But what would Sacagawea do? Did she have specially warmed up baby wipes in an electric baby wipe heater when she attended to Pompey's posterior?

Then there is the new frog nightlight. I am sure Pompey was never permitted to sleep in darkness. I could go on here, but actually the froggy light is kind of cute.



The Boob, in an attempt to add value to the universe beyond being a supply of milk, has placed Max in an exercise regime. I think she is projecting because she herself is not allowed to exercise for two more weeks while the C-section heals.

This is "tummy time."



I think Max looks a bit annoyed at being removed from the boob and made to do push-ups. Although I must say, he is a strong little dude. He lifts his head up, and yesterday he turned himself over onto his back twice.

I think he likes it when things are as they should be, with the ceiling in front of him.