It was a night of particular nature. Natalia had to go to school to chaperone a middle school party/dance on Friday, leaving Laurence at home to make sure that little Irini was fed, bathed and put to bed. Was it a general concern that Laurence didn't know how to handle it? Was it the fact that Laurence always seems to forget what to do? Was it worry that she wouldn't be there to make the requisite managerial decisions? Regardless, Natalia gave some advice before she embarked on her evening, and Laurence smiled, "yes, my love", "I know, don't worry", "have a good party". The door finally closed with a squeak and Laurence sat in the living room with little Irini. Laurence wondered, as Natalia's footsteps disappeared behind the door, if he was up to it. He had done it before, but Irini is older now, with more volume in her developing lungs and with a better sense of what she wants. Generally this isn't a problem except when Laurence doesn't know what it is, exactly, that she wants. The evening would unfold regardless, so Laurence decided to just play it by ear.
The two of them looked at each other, shared a smile, and went straight to playing. First it was the playing on the sofa that Irini loves so much. Climbing up the back of the sofa and falling backwards on her bum with a happy giggle . Then it was roaming on the floor taking things out of their storage spaces. Some books pulled off the book cases. Some toys out of the basket. Irini played and vocalized her eagerness to continue, until it was time for dinner. Laurence picked her up, placed her on the high chair and fed her pasta with tuna and carrot. Slowly she ate, and played with her food. She was happy.
Following dinner Laurence was determined to get the timing right. Too early and Irini would certainly make it obvious that she would not accept being put into bed. Too late and she would be informing the world of the obvious neglect by a clueless father. No, the approach had to be natural, yet functional. Bath time came and went rather uneventfully - apart, of course, from the fun of the bath itself and the always fun experience of drying and putting diapers and clothing on an increasingly fidgety baby. No worries. Laurence took his time, at first only drying Irini, then allowing her some time to roam before adding the diapers and, every few seconds, the arms and legs of her pajamas as she crawled all over the floor. Laurence thought about how smooth (yet so unprofessional) that process was, but still braced for the crescendo of sleep time.
Irini wanted to walk, and so Laurence obliged. After all, walking is the essence of independence and it's important to develop physical skills. Together they roamed the house, Irini holding on to Laurence's fingers, one finger in each clenched fist, and they went from room to room and back again. Each time they moved by the kitchen Laurence eyed the formula, ready on reserve for when the moment was right.
Irini continued happily until, at one point, she was moving from the living room toward the kitchen. She stopped, still holding on to Laurence's fingers. She let go with one hand and re-positioned herself to face the bedroom and stood there with her hands still upward and looking in Laurence's eyes. Laurence continued to work with what Irini gave him, and handed her his free finger once again. Irini took hold of it and began to push forward toward a rather dark bedroom. Once there she moved slowly inward, passing the bathroom door. She stopped again, and peered into the darkness. Nothing moved. She twisted her little body to get a glimpse of the chair in the bedroom where Natalia usually feeds her before sleep. No movement there either. She looked back up at Laurence, saying nothing.
Laurence, trying to pick up on any non-verbal communication, looked around with her, following her gaze and trying to figure out what she might be thinking. Then, in a flash, it dawned on him that perhaps she was looking for her mother. She didn't complain, but just looked inquisitively around the room. Laurence picked his daughter up, gave her a big kiss, hugged her and walked her into the kitchen to pick up that formula, singing all the while as he is wont to do in such father-daughter moments. Irini's face flashed a big smile.
Together they sat at the chair where Natalia usually does the feeding and Irini happily sucked on her milk bottle. Laurence sat quietly, marveling at just how far little Irini has come. She can now hold the bottle herself. While doing so, she would occassionally let go of her bottle with one hand and put it up toward Laurence's lips, pulling at the bottom one to se e the movement on his face. He smiled with one pulled lip and the other intact. Irini just looked and continued to drink. As is normally the case, her gaze tired as she drank, and her eyes began to dance with slumber, her hand giving way, letting the bottle slide away. Laurence helped out with the process a little bit making sure that she drank what she could. He smiled and caressed her full head of hair as sleep took over. She slept on her stomach, her head facing her left, her cheek on Laurence's chest. He marvelled. She lay there sleeping on him for a good 20 minutes or so before he had the courage to pick her up and put her in her cot. She momentarily opened her eyes, but settled right back into sleep as she felt the mattress cushion her body. She was happy. He was happier. A smile as broad as one can remember snuck onto his lips, and remains with him even now. It is a pleasure to find the perfect loving moments, to enjoy them, and to appreciate them when they are there, in the moment and for the moment.
Natalia arrived a short while later. The party was a huge success. Putting Irini to bed was a night to remember.
Following dinner Laurence was determined to get the timing right. Too early and Irini would certainly make it obvious that she would not accept being put into bed. Too late and she would be informing the world of the obvious neglect by a clueless father. No, the approach had to be natural, yet functional. Bath time came and went rather uneventfully - apart, of course, from the fun of the bath itself and the always fun experience of drying and putting diapers and clothing on an increasingly fidgety baby. No worries. Laurence took his time, at first only drying Irini, then allowing her some time to roam before adding the diapers and, every few seconds, the arms and legs of her pajamas as she crawled all over the floor. Laurence thought about how smooth (yet so unprofessional) that process was, but still braced for the crescendo of sleep time.
Irini wanted to walk, and so Laurence obliged. After all, walking is the essence of independence and it's important to develop physical skills. Together they roamed the house, Irini holding on to Laurence's fingers, one finger in each clenched fist, and they went from room to room and back again. Each time they moved by the kitchen Laurence eyed the formula, ready on reserve for when the moment was right.
Irini continued happily until, at one point, she was moving from the living room toward the kitchen. She stopped, still holding on to Laurence's fingers. She let go with one hand and re-positioned herself to face the bedroom and stood there with her hands still upward and looking in Laurence's eyes. Laurence continued to work with what Irini gave him, and handed her his free finger once again. Irini took hold of it and began to push forward toward a rather dark bedroom. Once there she moved slowly inward, passing the bathroom door. She stopped again, and peered into the darkness. Nothing moved. She twisted her little body to get a glimpse of the chair in the bedroom where Natalia usually feeds her before sleep. No movement there either. She looked back up at Laurence, saying nothing.
Laurence, trying to pick up on any non-verbal communication, looked around with her, following her gaze and trying to figure out what she might be thinking. Then, in a flash, it dawned on him that perhaps she was looking for her mother. She didn't complain, but just looked inquisitively around the room. Laurence picked his daughter up, gave her a big kiss, hugged her and walked her into the kitchen to pick up that formula, singing all the while as he is wont to do in such father-daughter moments. Irini's face flashed a big smile.
Together they sat at the chair where Natalia usually does the feeding and Irini happily sucked on her milk bottle. Laurence sat quietly, marveling at just how far little Irini has come. She can now hold the bottle herself. While doing so, she would occassionally let go of her bottle with one hand and put it up toward Laurence's lips, pulling at the bottom one to se e the movement on his face. He smiled with one pulled lip and the other intact. Irini just looked and continued to drink. As is normally the case, her gaze tired as she drank, and her eyes began to dance with slumber, her hand giving way, letting the bottle slide away. Laurence helped out with the process a little bit making sure that she drank what she could. He smiled and caressed her full head of hair as sleep took over. She slept on her stomach, her head facing her left, her cheek on Laurence's chest. He marvelled. She lay there sleeping on him for a good 20 minutes or so before he had the courage to pick her up and put her in her cot. She momentarily opened her eyes, but settled right back into sleep as she felt the mattress cushion her body. She was happy. He was happier. A smile as broad as one can remember snuck onto his lips, and remains with him even now. It is a pleasure to find the perfect loving moments, to enjoy them, and to appreciate them when they are there, in the moment and for the moment.
Natalia arrived a short while later. The party was a huge success. Putting Irini to bed was a night to remember.
