Let's Hear It for Moms!

For the first time since being out on maternity leave, Marcie has come to visit her coworkers with Melody yesterday. We both work for the same excellent company, so I was able to tag along. During the visit, several of our coworkers asked about how much I help out with Melody. Marcie explained that as soon as I get home, I hold and sooth Melody as needed, change diapers, and in general, do whatever I can to help out. Marcie also explained that I encourage her to go out and do things for herself whenever she can (over the weekend I took care of Melody while Marcie got a haircut on Saturday and a pedicure on Sunday). Upon hearing all this, our coworkers very kindly extended praise to me for my "dedicated" parenting and other nice things.

Yet as nice as it is to hear such kind comments, the fact is that fathers get too much credit for involvement with their children and mothers never get enough. I think that what I do with Melody is what any father should do — things I consider basic requirements for the job. What Marcie does, on the other hand, is by far much more difficult and exhausting. As Melody's primary source of nutrition (via nursing), Marcie spends an insane amount of time each day (including those wee hours of the night) in the feeding process. And for those who don't know, nursing can be incredibly draining, painful, frustrating, and practically all-encompassing. And on top of all this are the other usual parenting duties and responsibilities. But despite such hardship, Marcie is incredible in the way she interacts with Melody and in every way, demonstrating what it is to be a wonderful mother.

So as much as I enjoy hearing nice things said about my role as a father (who wouldn't?), let's give credit where credit is due: to the Mommy's of the world!