On my first official babysitting gig
At Kath’s house a few months ago,
We played, sang, read,
And sang some more,
And then one of us
Cried, really cried.
Oh no!
Grandma KK, the other grandma,
Had visited in the morning
And lulled baby to sleep
With persistent rocking.
So that afternoon,
Mazen and I rocked
And rocked and rocked,
Until finally, he slept.
Tiny zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz’s.
I looked around for a
TV, a book, a magazine,
A computer, a phone.
Nothing in my reach.
Not daring to move,
I sat, still (almost) as a portrait
Until his mama came home
And snapped this picture.
Smile, Grandma!
That hour in the rocker
Was oh so grand.
So…
A New Year’s resolution:
More happy sitting in 2013
With or without baby.
No grumping
No to-do lists
No figuring out
No planning ahead
No worrying allowed.
Just sitting
Being happy.
(That’s why it’s called happy sitting.)
Will you join me?
Friend For The Ride 
Love this! Yes, that sounds like a wonderful idea! It’s amazing what lessons infants can teach us, isn’t it? Oh, and how well I remember rocking and rocking and rocking, then finally getting my daughter to sleep, only to realize I didn’t have any books or other diversions within reach! Happy sitting!
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I remember my mom telling me how pleased she was when we were babies and she figured out how to give a bottle and read at the same time.
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That’s when I really started to appreciate my e-reader (and, in the middle of the night, the Kindle app on my iPod). So much easier to read an electronic book, since there’s no page-turning and you only need one hand — and a whole lot less space.
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Yep. Daughter Kath is finding out the same thing!
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I missed days in which I could just sit and rock the baby, without having to plan each moment while she slept. Enjoy, grandma!
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Yes and when you have a baby, that’s enough of a project for any given moment. I had more excuses back then for not getting to my to-do list.
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Enjoy! Sitting is nice.. but playing trucks and trains is great too!
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Yep. I told Maze this time next year we’d be doing lots of playing with toys.
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Wonderful! THAT is what being grandparents is all about. It took me some time to realize that I didn’t have to jump up and get the laundry/dinner/dishes done when I was holding my grand-babies. I could just s-i-t and rock and hold that baby… and stare into space… and hum a tune. Yes… spend 2013 on your butt rocking that dear one and enjoy! The time will jet by faster than you can even imagine. I have a crystal clear vivid memory (the ‘as if it were yesterday’ variety) of holding my baby grandson the first time and weeping with joy. He’s 15 years old now. Yup. Rock away, Grandma!
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Fifteen! That sounds fun too. I keep wondering if Maze will still want to be with me when he’s fifteen, and then I remember how sweet my 26 year old nephew is to my mom.
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there is something about holding and rocking a baby that puts time on hold and melts other “to do’s” into the background. Glad for these moments you’ve had with Mazen; thanks for sharing with the rest of us.
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Yes and I try to remember your great advice: Don’t give too much advice!
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I am all for it, Barbara! Especially the no to-do lists! However, I am not sure I can get away with absolutely no planning – it is my nature to plan! But I can sure try. However, I cannot sit all the time. My other resolution is to lose weight :-).
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Sitting in the sun soaking in the mountain atcJackson Hole before we have to board an airplane home. Perfect way to finish a fun week and get calmed.
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So glad you had a fun trip. I’ve always wanted to go to Jackson Hole.
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YES I’m in on happy meditative sitting. So funny because this happened to me too, stuck, adrift with a babe in arms and no book or electronic device nearby. Once I got over the shock, I loved it!!
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You said it, Grandma!
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