The Trouble with Parenthood

Writers: Heather, Jelena
Date Posted: 10th April 2012

Characters: Parme, Lorey, Edmun
Description: Parme goes to visit the new parents and their baby.
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 7, day 5 of Turn 6

Parme was quite eager to visit Lorey and her newborn son. Lorey was
such a wonderful woman and her husband such an adorable young father,
time spent at the little family's cot didn't really feel like work at
all. It was work, though, because Parme liked to keep a good eye on
the babies she helped bring into the world. So it came that the
midwife knocked at Edmun and Lorey's door with a smile, waiting for a
response.

Edmun jumped upright when he heard the knock at the door. He'd just
been catching a bit of a nap in his favorite chair. No one had told
him that having a baby meant that the child would be awake for most of
the night screaming at the top of its little lungs. No one had told
him that his wife would transform into a screeching lunatic deprived
of sleep. No, no one had told him _any_ of these things.

"Lorey! We've got company!" He called, rubbing the heel of his palms
into his eyes to clear the sleep from them as he made his way towards
the door.

Lorey sighed and blew a strand of hair out of her eyes as she finished
changing Elren's diaper and then quickly swaddled him in a blanket and
tucked him into the crook of her arm. She felt like she hadn't slept
in forever and she also felt as if _she_ was doing all of the work.
Granted, only she could breastfeed the baby, but still....

Edmun swung open the door and smiled when he saw Parme on the other
side, "Lady Parme, please come in,"

"Hello, Edmun, Lorey," Parme said as she stepped into the cot, noting
to herself the pair looked every bit as exhausted as she had expected
them to. "How are you two holding up, eh? And how is little Elren
today?" Parme could still remember the fights she had gotten into with
Elmash for weeks after one of their children had been born, out off
sheer exhaustion, and she smiled sympathetically at the new parents.

"We're okay," even as Edmun said this Lorey rolled her eyes behind his
back, something the man missed as he closed the door behind Parme.

"Elren's fine," Lorey answered the question regarding her child with
more grace than the previous question, "but when will he begin to
sleep through the night?"

Parme noticed the eyeroll and smiled to herself, it was as she had
expected. The couple would have some tough times, but she was sure
they would make it through just fine. "It depends on the child,
really," Parme said seriously. "Some babies start sleeping through
longer periods of time as old as three months, others wil take a lot
more time. It's an exhausting time, I know, but it will get better."

Edmun's heart sank at the prospect of going through these sleepless
nights for three months or longer. Faranth help him! He didn't think
he could take the tension between himself and Lorey for that long. It
wasn't to be mistaken, Edmun loved Lorey, but she was also driving him
insane. Their relationship was turning into the love-hate variety.

Lorey held Elren out to Edmun, her attention still on the midwife,
"Please have a seat Lady Parme, would you like something to drink?"

"Some tea would be very welcome, indeed," Parme said with a smile,
sensing it might be smart to have a little chat with the pair. "Can I
hold Elren for a moment, perhaps?"

"Certainly." Edmun smiled as he gave his son a kiss to the top of the
head before passing him along to the midwife's waiting arms. Lorey, in
the mean time, poured them all three a cup of tea before taking a seat
and sharing a look with her husband.

Parme took Elren and as she held him, the midwife quickly checked him
over with experienced hands. He was a healthy kid and she was glad to
see that. "He really is gorgeous," she commented with a smile as she
looked up at his parents.

A sense of pride overtook Edmun and for the first time in a while he
shared a warm look with his wife. Yes, things were difficult, and yes,
they were nearly at their wits end with one another, but they had
created between them the most beautiful child on Pern.... And were
more than a little biased.

"Thank you," Lorey graciously responded, her eyes filled with maternal
love, "we certainly think he is, but I would daresay that we're a
little biased on the matter."

"As you should be," Parme chuckled. "But I've seen quite a bit of
babies born and grow up, and I have a feeling this one is going to be
a heartbreaker when he grows up!"

Lorey smiled, becoming more and more at ease as the midwife talked,
"So everything looks well with him then? I was sure that Edmun and I
were becoming horrible parents with the way he cries so often during
the night."

"I'd be more worried if he didn't cry so much," Parme said, even if
that wasn't entirely true. But the pair seemed to be in need of a
little pick-me-up, so she was glad to overstate the facts a little.
"He?s perfectly fit from what I can tell, a perfect picture of a
healthy baby."

Edmun, for one, felt relieved at the midwife's assurance. He'd never
known raising a kid could be so difficult. Certainly _he'd_ never been
so much trouble for _his_ parents... had he? Just the thought of his
parents made Edmun think it might be good to have either his mother or
Lorey's come visit for a while, at least they would know what to
expect and perhaps it would give Edmun and Lorey a moment's rest.

Looking up at the mantle of the small fireplace, Edmun stood, "I'm
afraid I have to be off," as a crafter he still had a job to do, "but
it was so nice seeing you again Lady Parme. Thank you again."

"You're very welcome, Edmun, you have a good day," Parme said with a
nod as the man got up to leave. Still holding the baby, she didn't get
up to shake his hand, but the warm smile was a clear greeting.

Last updated on the April 10th 2012

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The Trouble with Parenthood