Out of Baby Seclusion

My wife and I have started taking Dmitri out of the house everyday so he gets some experience with the outside world. Maybe some day he’ll be one of those shut-in people you read about on the internet, but we want him to make that decision on his own after having had several chances to experience the world. Admittedly, my wife and I were a bit too cautious before about taking Dmitri out. “It’s too cold outside!” or “There’re germs!” But now that the weather’s been nice, and Dmitri’s flown on a plane (i.e. a germ tube), we feel pretty confident he can survive a trip to the supermarket or a cafe.

Getting out of the house isn’t just good for baby; it’s been a boon for my wife, too. She’s spent the past few months cooped up in the house watching Dmitri 24/7, which puts a damper on the ol’ mental health. It was strange to see her step out of the car in the supermarket parking lot like some new life form crawling out of its shell for the first time and experiencing sunlight. “What. . . what is this sensation?” It’s you no longer having to be cooped up in the house, darling.

Next week, my wife is starting some Mommy and Me classes. Ostensibly, the classes are so Dmitri can socialize with some other babies, but really I think the benefit will be for my wife to meet some other moms and get a mom network going. The part they don’t tell you about being a mom is that it’s a lot easier to be one when you have some other moms to hang out with. You know, sharing tips and all that.

Or just venting about their idiot husbands.