Life in the Circus

Jennie and I have an ongoing joke about us being monkeys now and Ada being the cruel monkey trainer of the Reese and Bros. Big Top Circus. We assume that her cries amount to something along the lines of "DANCE MONKEY, DANCE!" After a good two hour bout of screaming it is easy to feel like she is the one in control, especially when nothing we do seems to appease her. Add to the equation a cat that will only drink from a human bowl and requires refrigerated, filtered water every morning no later than six a.m. and at least five treats at two occasions during the day, and it is easy to feel like the inmates are running the asylum to quote a news headline I saw last night. The fact that none of your friends and family tell you about the dark side of parenting has been a constant conversation topic of ours lately. People love to tell you how much fun it is and how cute they are, and they may mention the lack of sleep a little bit, but no one tells you of the hours of screaming and face slapping that you are about to endure. They also don't share the part about eating separate cold meals while you play pass the baby and hide out in the lobby of restaurants.
 Yesterday, Jennie was eating at a restaurant with her sister when she noticed a pregnant lady staring at Ada in adoration from across the room, that is, until she decided it was time to make the monkey dance. At which point, the lady turned her nose up and looked away, as if to say, "that's never going to be my baby" Jennie was so mad and wanted to go pat the girl on the bad and just give a cryptic "Good luck Honey, you have no idea."
 I know it sounds like we are complaining a lot, and we probably sound like horrible parents. We actually love her more than life itself and would gladly eat a million cold partnerless meals for her, I think we are just for the first time in our lives figuring out how self centered and pampered we had been before having her. That is the amazing thing about being a parent, how much you learn about yourself and human nature in general. As much as we feel like monkeys,the truth is, she is screaming because she is scared, vulnerable, and helpless, which is probably the reason most people act out even after infancy. With that in mind it is nearly impossible to not want to act on her commands with love and compassion. Besides she is the cutest monkey trainer I have ever met. As for the Kitty, he is just spoiled...