househusband fairytale

The main reason we started prenatal storytime is so that Benjamin will be born knowing my voice. It turns out that the sounds babies regularly hear in the womb are the sounds that calm and comfort them in the first few months of life. The two sounds all babies know most intimately are the sound of mother's heartbeat and the sound of mother's voice. I'd like to make papa's voice a close second (close third?) for Baby B.

But Benjamin's parents are developing their own emotional attachment to the routine. It is time together every day where we put aside 20 or 30 minutes from everything else that's going on and get to relax as a family. We're determined to keep this up for the next 10 or 20 years. Maybe we'll keep doing it even after Benjamin has grown up and moved out.

I've been reading The Marvelous Land of Oz (1904 sequel to the Wonderful Wizard). Nathalie and I are regularly laughing aloud at this story. It's hard to tell sometimes how much we're laughing at or with the author.

An army of girls from throughout the land of Oz have taken over the Emerald City. His Majesty the Scarecrow fled the city and sought the aid of his old friend The Nickel-Plated Emperor (formerly known as the Tin Woodman). The Emperor has promised to return His Majesty the Scarecrow to his rightful place on the throne of Emerald City ...

Then, swinging his axe in a great circle to right and left before him, he advanced upon the gate, and the others followed him without hesitation.

The girls, who had expected no resistance whatever, were terrified by the sweep of the glittering axe and fled screaming into the city; so that our travelers passed the gates in safety and marched down the green marble pavement of the wide street toward the royal palace.

"At this rate we will soon have your Majesty upon the throne again," said the Tin Woodman, laughing at his easy conquest of the guards.

"Thank you, friend Nick," returned the Scarecrow, gratefully. "Nothing can resist your kind heart and your sharp axe."

As they passed the rows of houses they saw through the open doors that men were sweeping and dusting and washing dishes, while the women sat around in groups, gossiping and laughing.

"What has happened?" the Scarecrow asked a sad-looking man with a bushy beard, who wore an apron and was wheeling a baby-carriage along the sidewalk.

"Why, we've had a revolution, your Majesty as you ought to know very well," replied the man; "and since you went away the women have been running things to suit themselves. I'm glad you have decided to come back and restore order, for doing housework and minding the children is wearing out the strength of every man in the Emerald City."

"Hm!" said the Scarecrow, thoughtfully. "If it is such hard work as you say, how did the women manage it so easily?"

"I really do not know" replied the man, with a deep sigh. "Perhaps the women are made of castiron."