1890s: Christmas Time

 

This week has been entirely about the children. As Christmas came around so did several important milestones. Anna learns to crawl and she's pulling herself to stand all the time. Apparently eager to get moving on her own and be able to get out of the crib she so hates.

Alice on the other hand is busy just being a baby. In comparison to her sister, she is very undemanding. As long as she's fed and changed she's happy.

But one infant and one baby is a lot of work, and Dolly has to step in and help more with the child care.

Still, Ida and Frank are left an awful lot to their own devices, which turns out not to be such a good thing. They have a major falling out! Frank is left furious, while Ida is crying her heart out. Yet when Abigail asks, both pretend to be fine. In reality both are hurt, and both are resentful, and neither wants to apologize. As Christmas rolls around, Abigail is wondering about both children's level of empathy, especially Frank's, though Ida's is only partly better. Something has to be done!

On Christmas eve, Abigail plays the piano for her family, and they spend the evening together. But more and more, it's clear to Abigail that not all is well. Ida is losing confidence and there is still no resolution between Ida and Frank.

Abigail decides the only solution is teaching her children about those who have less in the world. She makes the entire family volunteer to help the poor. Nothing to teach empathy than seeing others who have nothing. Especially at Christmas time. It works, at least partly. More times will be required for Ida and Frank to realize how lucky they are, but it's a step in the right direction. Another result is the decision on Abigails part to join the charity comity in town.

As Christmas morning comes around, Alice ages up to an infant, and to Abigail's relief turns out to be a quiet and calm one. With Anna demanding so much attention, a calmer sister is a welcome help. When it comes to looks, they are much more alike, but Anna's hair has started to become longer.

As for the rest off Christmas, it's quiet, but nice. Frank and Ida are slowly getting to be on better terms (though neither is willing to apologize still), and Abigail is grateful that her sister-in-law decided to spend her Christmas at home. Not that she tells Joseph that, of course. Not in a million years. The family has a nice dinner as the infants sleep, and sings carols by the tree before opening their presents and heading to bed.

Boxing day is almost as quiet, if not more so than Christmas. Anna fusses so much that eventually she gets to sleep in daddy's lap instead of her crib. She loves Boxing day!

Joseph is getting a bit worried about his physical form however. With the increased knowledge about illness and health, a new ideal is starting to be more prominent in society, one where men are well trained and healthy. Isn't he getting a bit heavy? Maybe a bit of exercise would do him some good? 

For New Years, Frank makes a resolution to lose weight and get in shape for his health. Ida wants to complete an aspiration, Frank learn a new skill and Abigail just wants her children to be happy and to have time to actually go on a date with her husband. How long has it been since they woohooed? Since before Alice was born at least. Abigail would never say so out loud, but she misses it. But New years is a day that rushes by in a hurry, and no one in the family really gets to enjoy the full day as by the end of it they're all too tired to stay up and wait for the year to change. The biggest event of the day is Anna aging up to a toddler. One who ends up with the fussy trait, of course. More surprisingly she decides that she now hates to be carried. From having loved it all through infancy, this is a major change. Perhaps learning to walk and getting a toddler bed made her realise that she's no longer confined, unless she's held?

As the new year rolls around, the family is all sleeping soundly in their beds. Perhaps with Anna older and more independent, Abigail and Joseph can finally have some time to themselves again.