I'll be 62 years old in December when Joanna is five months old. This is no news flash, but physical conditioning and commitment will play a huge role in how effective and successful a parent I will be with Joanna. I'm trying to do my part with daily walks, no cigarettes, very minimal alcohol, tai chi, and pansy weightlifting for a balky shoulder and ailing back from my motorbike wrecks. I do my own damn laundry, cook when necessary, whip Phuong in rock-scissors-paper to do the dishes, and keep the kitchen and house pretty clean. The bathrooms are a little gritty, but I don't care since I don't eat or sleep in them. (Let me clarify: The bathrooms I use are gritty, the bathroom Phuong and Joanna use is immaculate.)
My employer, VMG, is understanding and trying to be as accommodating as possible with my schedule. Ideally, I wouldn't work at all, but I've felt that way my entire life regardless of parenting responsibilities or past employers. But in reality, I enjoy teaching and the students in Vietnam, so I'll work as long as I can. My 38-year-old wife Phuong is endless energy and has been waiting her whole life to have a baby. I can't say enough about Phuong's dedication and commitment to making Joanna's life incredibly wonderful and comfortable. But Joanna is developing a distinctive personality and Phuong and I must adjust. Joanna doesn't sleep as much as my other children did, if memory serves me well. And when Joanna is hungry, or lonely, or super tired (from not sleeping), she expresses her unhappiness in no uncertain terms, meaning she wails and screams at the top of her lungs and turns bright red in the process. On the other hand, when she gets a vaccination or smacks her head or face with a plastic toy, she hardly cries at all. Sounds like a tough kid (like mom) with a bad temper (like dad). She's only four months old, but she'll belly laugh when we play with her. However, she gets bored with our antics pretty quickly. Phuong and I like to say that Joanna is thinking: OK, that was funny once or twice, but now what are you going to do to make me laugh? She rolls over only from back to front, and only to her left. One time she rolled over so hard that she went from back to belly to back. Man, was she shocked. She likes to play with her toys by herself (thank you for the rattles, Joy) when she isn't demanding Phuong's presence. And when she expresses her need for company, Phuong is there faster than you can say whaaaaaa!
I mention all this because it brings back the wonderful memories of my four older children when they were babies and kids growing up. There were some rough moments, like in any family, but my kids turned out to be great people. Phuong has the utmost respect for my ex-wife Lynda, since Lynda raised our four children and did an incredible job doing so. I feel the same way about Lynda. The commitment shown by Phuong and Lynda to children and family is incredibly humbling. It's made me re-think my values, my commitments, my screw-ups in the past. Maybe the White Monkey should stop thinking ... and start doing.
I can say now that I'm blessed to have met Phuong and have another child, even at the age of 62. On second thought, make that: Especially at the age of 62.
No comments:
Post a Comment