Allow me to bitch a moment

“I’m really not having fun.”

I made that comment to Margie Sunday. And, with provisos, that’s actually true.

And it’s all Katherine’s fault. Or the fault of her presence, since she’s fairly innocent in all of this.

That’s the problem, of course. She doesn’t understand. The good times are no more meaningful for her here than they would be at home. Look, an interesting plant! Look, a bunny on the grass!

In the meantime, all she knows is that she’s either confined to a little hotel room, or else stuck in a stroller or a high chair. Unhappy-making. Her schedule is disrupted.

Meanwhile, Margie has to deal with her all day. And we both have to deal with her in the evening (which largely means trying to get her to sleep, and then tiptoeing around the room the rest of the night).

Margie is getting night duty with her, first because I have to go to “work” in the a.m., second because Kitten has taken to screaming more loudly when I pick her up out of the crib (whic does have its advantages to me, but also its guilt). Margie’s duty is only slightly offset by the hilarity of Dave stumbling around by nightlight to get shaved, bathed and dressed without Waking The Baby Three Feet Away.

In other words, every moment in Katherine’s presence is dominated by her interests. Is she hungry? Thirsty? Poopy? Ready for bed? Into somwthing she ought not to be? Stir-crazy? Is the bathroom door shut? The bottle put away? Everything out of reach (everything that hasn’t been pulled onto the floor)? Why is she howling again, and are you sure the neighbors can’t hear?

And when you’re out with her (like at a theme park), things get even more interesting.

Not fun.

And the bitch is, she won’t remember this trip. We’ll talk about it. She’ll see pictures. But the fun parts of this trip — what could be good memories — are no more part of her than the thrills of the Haunted Mansion were (she
fell asleep).

This is a good conference. I’m glad I don’t have to miss Margie and Katherine. And there have been some fun times. And someday I’d like to come back, both when Katherine’s old enough to appreciate the place (and for us to appreciate her appreciation), and when Katherine’s out of the nest and it can Just Be the Two of Us. The Disney Resort thang can be a very enjoyable time.

But I’m looking forward to being back home.

Okay, enough self-pity! On with more blogging!