Why It's Best if There Are Two...

Daniel and I are a good team.  Our strengths compliment each other.  Our weaknesses don't tend to overlap too much.  One situation where this recently became apparent is depicted in this photo.
 

The back story: Lucy picked up one of Elliot's bottles of breast milk the other day and helped herself to the leftovers.  I was curious to see what she thought of it, so I let her try it.  I was on the phone at the time and therefore somewhat distracted.  When she begged "moh pees, MOH PEES, MOH PEES!!" I gave her an extra ounce, and then another 2 ounces.  Basically, I let her finish the milk I had pumped for Elliot.  She was ecstatic about it.  I haven't seen her that excited about consuming something since the collard greens.  She was what I'd call an "easy weaner."  When I weaned her from nursing (against my will, due to supply issues when I got pregnant with Elliot), she was fine.  She couldn't care less.  I was sad.  So sad.  So, to see her ecstatic about Elliot's milk was somewhat restorative to my sense of purpose as a provider and mother.  And the more frantic she got to have more, the more distressed I began to feel.  In fact, so distressed was I beginning to feel that I honestly considered thawing a bag of frozen pumped milk, so I could give her more.

And I'm convinced that's why God intended for there to be two parents.  When one parent hatches a crazy short-sighted idea, the other parent can point out (ever so gently), "I mean... do you really want to do that?  Where does it end?"

With that, I remembered the truly desperate feeling of not having breastmilk for Lucy when she was 9 months old and unable to drink cow's milk yet.  The whole idea of thawing breastmilk intended for an infant... to give to a tantrumming toddler... is pretty ludicrous to me now.  We held a firm line with Lucy and offered her water, and eventually she calmed down and went about her day, as toddlers do.  Elliot, your milk is safe in the freezer.  And in this craziness that is parenting, I have a renewed appreciation for my partner, Daniel.