The reception tonight

[alt_molly]

I'm very much looking forward to seeing everyone tonight.

(Poppy, will you have Healers transporting those too wobbly to manage their own apparition? Because I'd be available to help with side along, if you could use another hand.)

Comments

Re: Private message to Hydra

[alt_hydra]

I received it, thank you.

This might be an odd question, but do you think that sometime soon, we might sit together while you hold Charlotte? And if you can please not occlude at all while doing so... I think I can keep to the tasks of caring for a baby well enough. But I want to make sure that

Sorry. I want to know if the things I feel and think are normal, too.

I suppose I'm just worried I might have something wrong with me, or be missing something? Because of how I was raised. And I know what a good mother you are.

I already know that I love her, but if she doesn't stop crying and I feel overwhelmed and stressed, for example, is that normal?

Re: Private message to Hydra

[alt_molly]

Oh, Hydra, dear.

It's perfectly normal. Babies cries are meant to be distressing, because how could babies survive if their mothers didn't rush to soothe the baby so they stop making those awful sounds? Feeling distressed when she is distressed is a sign that you'll be an excellent mother, because you truly care to keep her happy, do you see?

And yes, I imagine that will rather different than how you were raised.

It is possible to be a good mother, even if you had a terrible one yourself, trust me. Now, I was fortunate to have a loving family, but I know woman who had to teach themselves, or turn to mentors, because they have no happy memories of being loved by their own mothers.

I would be happy to do any experiment you would like, if that would help reassure you.

The key, remember, is that if you feel overwhelmed, ask for help. Which is exactly what you doing right here, right now, with me. So you see? You are off to a very fine start.

Re: Private message to Hydra

[alt_hydra]

So many people want to help. I suppose I can't really go wrong, can I?

My Aunt Narcissa and my grandmother Nanella showed me affection. So did Daddy.

But... I don't know if it can make up for not getting any from your mother.

Re: Private message to Hydra

[alt_molly]

I would never diminish the challenge and say that it would be easy, Hydra.

But dear, when we grow up, we learn that not only do we have the family we are born into, we have the families we choose. And those families we choose can teach us what we need to know, that we might not have learned in our first families.

I know, from watching the two of you, that you loved Justin. You truly did, Hydra, despite the fact that you had very little example of a loving marriage to follow from watching your own parents, isn't that right?

Forgive me for bringing it up, because (as a widow myself!) I know that thinking about what happened to him is incredibly painful. But take hope from that, from the fact that you knew how to love Justin, despite not having any example at home. Given that, you can trust that you will be able to love your baby.

Re: Private message to Hydra

[alt_hydra]

It is painful.

But thank you.