Time has come for us to head from my father's home back to my own. Three months, as is the custom in India - and it's a wise one (if one wants to move at all), for babies seem to settle down remarkably when they hit this age. After this, moves are likely to be more unsettling for them as they look around, recognize and begin to communicate with everyone they meet.
It's quite a different set up from some months ago, for the baby and myself. My father and I had plenty of time to set up the baby's room - a table of the right dimensions converted into a changing table, a wonderful little rocking cradle just right for his small size, enough empty cupboards for all the knick knacks that inevitably go with babies. Everything in sight was scrubbed, dusted; shelves were lined with fresh paper. At that time, I planned everything (with some help of course) but didn't know quite what to expect.
Now, there is no time to plan anything, nor am I physically in my own house yet. It's a house that has long been lived in by two busy adults - shelves packed with books and music, cupboards full of baking equipment and crockery, kitchen filled with spices, herbs and foods gathered lovingly from all my travels. Nothing remotely resembling baby stuff. Lots of dust, a few insects...We have a lot of work ahead!
There's no space for a changing table so I will make do with a bed. We need a room for the maid, who accompanies us, so I will have to share the office room. Our gift cupboard (yes! we actually had the luxury of buying gifts for lots of known and unknown people in advance, whenever we saw something nice) will be emptied for the baby. Some books will be transferred to cardboard containers. And this, I know, is just the tip of the iceberg (rather hurricane)...
On the other hand, the baby and I know each other intimately now and we manage to function as a comfortable unit instead of a bewildered mother and a desperate baby (of course, things keep changing and each day brings it challenges, but we are more settled now). I feel more comfortable in subjecting the baby to all these changes than I would have just a month or two ago. It's a good feeling (and I hope it lasts!).
Nice (and comfortable) as it has been in my old home, I am now ready to head to my regular home and settle in amidst the chaos!
It's quite a different set up from some months ago, for the baby and myself. My father and I had plenty of time to set up the baby's room - a table of the right dimensions converted into a changing table, a wonderful little rocking cradle just right for his small size, enough empty cupboards for all the knick knacks that inevitably go with babies. Everything in sight was scrubbed, dusted; shelves were lined with fresh paper. At that time, I planned everything (with some help of course) but didn't know quite what to expect.
Now, there is no time to plan anything, nor am I physically in my own house yet. It's a house that has long been lived in by two busy adults - shelves packed with books and music, cupboards full of baking equipment and crockery, kitchen filled with spices, herbs and foods gathered lovingly from all my travels. Nothing remotely resembling baby stuff. Lots of dust, a few insects...We have a lot of work ahead!
There's no space for a changing table so I will make do with a bed. We need a room for the maid, who accompanies us, so I will have to share the office room. Our gift cupboard (yes! we actually had the luxury of buying gifts for lots of known and unknown people in advance, whenever we saw something nice) will be emptied for the baby. Some books will be transferred to cardboard containers. And this, I know, is just the tip of the iceberg (rather hurricane)...
On the other hand, the baby and I know each other intimately now and we manage to function as a comfortable unit instead of a bewildered mother and a desperate baby (of course, things keep changing and each day brings it challenges, but we are more settled now). I feel more comfortable in subjecting the baby to all these changes than I would have just a month or two ago. It's a good feeling (and I hope it lasts!).
Nice (and comfortable) as it has been in my old home, I am now ready to head to my regular home and settle in amidst the chaos!
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