For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for June 15, 2020

The previous noises that April slept through were steady, mechanical sounds that were more like white noise. Of course the sharp ringing of the phone wakes her. Me personally, I would have put her down in the crib the moment she dropped off and taken the weight off me. I could carry a baby in a carrier for only so long before it started to hurt my back. Carrying around April while doing all those chores clearly indicates that Elly has a much stronger back than I did.

ah, the fine noises of home

That’s the only time I wake abruptly, when the power goes out and all my white noises STOP! :D

Seeing Elly with her baby reminds me of a series of anthropology studies which found that cultures where babies were often carried usually were much calmer and more peaceful. On the other hand, cultures where babies were put aside and seldom carried tended to be more warlike. Those studies influenced mamas a lot. At least they did me. I carried my kids a lot. So do I have calm and peaceful kids? Actually, I do.

I believe the examples of white noise that helps people sleep that have been provided in this thread. I have seen them work on others, but I’m damned if they work for me! A ticking clock is guaranteed to keep me awake for literally hours, the low hum from the gas heater in our family room? Forget it! Sometimes during the summer I can get to sleep with the fan going, but I suspect it could be more exhaustion than it’s soothing hum. As far as I know my mum never carried me around like Elly did with April, probably because I am a VERY light sleeper.

There are familiar noises. And unfamiliar noises.

The cry of “Why are you bothering my sleep?”

Lynn’s Comments:

It’s a good thing babies are so cute. Yes…it’s a very good thing.

Oddly enough, I had the same issue with my dogs. Let me get on a conference call and all of the sudden it’s Call of the Wild in my house.

Why does Elly have to carry April constantly? Seems strange to me, and sets things up for trouble later on. Set the kid down once in a while, for heaven’s sake. It will be better for her in the long run.

I’m just impressed with the amount of housework Elly can do one-handed!

Looks like April will have to change Elly’s diaper!

Mom – you own the phone, it doesn’t own you. Don’t answer it.

Doesn’t she have a crib? I would never carry a baby around while doing housework.

Goes without saying.

Just think of the fun you can have with telemarketers!!

Mine’s the same way. Slept through hours of explosions in front of his window on his first New Year’s. Even sleeps through the phone ringing. Would wake up at my very first words to the person calling, though :D

They just know…

I read that the infant tracks the mother’s movements. Once Elly stops moving to answer a call, the baby sense a change in her movement and wakes up.

Where can I get a dishwasher that’s clearly labeled “dishwasher?”