We’re a few days back in the proverbial trenches of babyhood, and so far it’s been…
Surprisingly smooth.
Yes, Master Liam can’t help but terrorise Nathan (and the world at large), and I do concede that spinning an extra plate does present its challenges even for an immortal like me, but for the most part, the newborn phase has been kind to us.
It was for Liam, and so far, the same is true for his little brother.
All newborns need is milk, sleep, and cuddles.
No Ms Rachel… no nursery songs on repeat… no ball pits you have to tidy up five times per day… no nailing down wires or installing drawer stoppers.
Just food and rest.
Laura and I would often look at each other, wondering what the hell everyone else was smoking when they told us newborns would wreck our sleep. Sure, it was disrupted, but it wasn’t horrendous.
A toddler, on the other hand?
Different beast.
Just like his father, Liam needs constant attention and constant aggrandisement… and much more of it now that he’s gone from having two naps a day to NONE. Throw in some teething for good measure, and not even the Bible can save us.
But you know what?
I wouldn’t change it.
Sure, it’s not always easy, but the thing I always remind myself of is that one day, they won’t be these curious, innocent babies anymore. They will be zitty teenagers slamming the fridge door when they don’t see their favourite treats in the weekly grocery haul.
Take this email, for example:
I’m dictating this whole thing on my phone while watching Liam gather sticks and chase crows on an empty field. The boy couldn’t be happier right now, and there’s not a TikTok or video game in sight.
Just me and him…
This glorious blue sky…
And a field totally devoid of dog walkers for once.
What Nathan will have in store for us once that first tooth sprouts — or we hit that first sleep regression — is a concern for another day. Predicting the future is a tough gig, and one I’ve failed at more times than anything else.
All that matters is what’s in front of me.
NOW.
And in case there is no empty field and no toddler harassing the local wildlife in your line of sight, how about I plop something a walk in the sun won’t give you?
It’s called The Great Betrayal.
A novel more than twice the length of the longest book in The Divided Region so far (Exiled) — and one that many are begging me to release as an audiobook (fret not, it’s top of my to-do list when I get back to my writer’s corner).
A lot happens in this one.
Lots of twists, turns, tragedies, and triumphs — not necessarily in that order, however.
In many ways, I wish The Great Betrayal had come earlier in the series because there’s just so much action and adventure crammed into this sequel that would make some thrillers blush.
Anyway, enough rambling.
You can read the first chapter for free here:
https://djjwatsonstore.com/products/The-Great-Betrayal
DJJW