Remembering leaving our child with aunty C.

…and Mary put her hands supportively around Jesus small body as she wrapped him and then gently laid Him in a manger…

Luke 2 : 7 ( Sandy’s description.)

A baby, namely a first baby belonging to Sandy mustn’t cry. Why should he cry? I was there and I was totally in love with him. I remember putting out the washing on the line when mid pegging I thought I heard him cry. I was in like a flash and up those stairs. The responsibility for this child that could do nothing for itself was immense, heavy, scary but oh, so weighted with love.

He soon slept in his pram downstairs in the day and upstairs in his crib at night.

Then in the middle of December I wanted change. I asked aunt C to come over and baby sit. The first time I had ever left him. I had nicely organised for him to be asleep and I went.

On my return he had woken up and was in Aunty C’s arms reaching for her glasses. I arrived longing to hug him back unto my arms but his whole body jurked. He looked at me as if he had never seen me before. His eyes filled with tears. His mouth opened and he cried. It’s sound of fear and sadness mixed in the air smelling of rotten egg.

It was the perm! It stunk and his mum’s hair was flying in all directions.

A mother’s arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them.

Victor Hugo

That strong mother doesn’t tell her cub, son, stay weak so the wolves can get you. She says, toughen up, this is reality we are living in.

??who??