I have never liked this word; I'm not sure why. It feels strange rolling off my lips and connotes something strange, though exactly what has always been ambiguous to me until now.
If you have read previous posts, you know that we have recently started giving Samuel solids. As of this morning he has had rice cereal, sweet potatoes and squash. So far so good and fun.
As I have been reading to try to figure out this whole solids thing, which has been rather intimidating, I continue to see the word weaning, used where I prefer to see something like starting/feeding solids or feeding infants. Even manufacturers use it to describe bowls and spoons. I have a problem with this word because it seems to communicate something like "the process of your child going from breastfeeding to real food has begun, and, hallelujah that will be soon." It just feels negative to me. Seems urgent even. I think I am overreacting. Definitely I have noticed some unhealthy mothering patterns whereby I like being needed by Samuel and am a bit too zealous to be the perfect mom (which has turned out to be so not the case)...so maybe that is what this is about. I should be happy that Samuel will soon no longer need me for his survival in such a dramatic way. I should be thankful that for six months God has seemingly-miraculously enabled my body to meet all his dietary needs. I should be happy that the process of him eating solids means that one day soon I can finally eat all the foods I miss (since I avoid them now because of his allergies). These things are good, I know. I just wish the authors of these books would choose a more gentle-sounding verb for mothers like me who are a bit too attached (for lack of a better word). Has anyone else had this experience?
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Okay, after posting this, I have been thinking...perhaps I would not feel so passsionate about this where I at home, with Samuel, all day. Maybe it is a particular struggle of working moms?
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
FINALLY FOOD!
My sister and Emma pulled up Friday afternoon with a car full of goodies for Samuel. Of particular interest were the bowls, spoons, bibs (one that says I Love My Aunt), and lots of baby food. It was a subtle hint that we would be feeding him solids for the first time. As with other milestones, I was glad to have Niki here to help me know how to do this thing that feels foreign to me. He did a great job. He loved rice cereal and ate as if he had been eating for weeks. My parents would say that is because he has been wanting to eat for weeks! 
This picture does a good job illustrating how much of our time was spent...Emma could not get enough of her little cousin.
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