1940s: Christmas, family obligations and a new baby
As Betty's pregnancy progress, so does the cold war. In Berlin, the blockade has ended, but tension is still high and it's made worse when the government announces that the Soviets now have an atomic bomb of their own:
Johnny is grateful he built his shelter already in the war, as more and more people across the US start planning for their own shelters. But for a lot of the family the news that Harold and Bernadette are choosing to stay in Germany in spite of all this more worrisome, but Harold likes his new position and he has no intention of working with something else. The news that they are now dating is much less surprising. "Took them long enough to figure that one out," Alice says in a conversation with Anna. "Neither one of us should talk," Anna retorts. "Took us some time to figure things out as well."
Betty might like the gossip, but to be honest, she doesn't really care about people she never met. She has her own worries. The pregnancy is hard on her, and morning sickness is more like "all-day sickness", she feels worn out and cannot wait for the baby to arrive.
The family does their best to help. Josephine is delighted at the fact that she's now going to be a grandmother for the first time.
But Betty misses her own family, and more so when news reaches her of the death of her grandmother. Thomas does his best to console her, and the two drive up the coast to where she wanted to be buried. It's with a heavy heart Betty sees her grandmother's final resting place.
Coming back home, Thomas orders rest for his wife, and the two try to take things easy. They read, Betty tries to teach herself knitting, but family is family and even though Betty needs to take it easy they cannot skirt obligations, and Arthur is about to come of age.
Josephine has prepared a fantastic meal for the family, and baked the cake for his party. While Thomas is uncertain about whether or not Betty ought to attend, she is adamant. This is family, of course she will attend! Besides, it will be nice wearing something else than those horrible maternity frocks! The party is, of course, a success, and everyone has a great time. Arthur ages up to become a perfectionist, but no one is really surprised by that. "So what do you want to study?" Anna asks. "Physics and Engineering," Arthur answers. "Caltech has some great programs."
As Christmas is coming up, Thomas decorates the house and the tree. He even buys string lights and puts on the house, a novelty that has started to become more popular. Still they are the first on their street to do so. On Christmas Eve, Betty's family comes for a dinner, as Christmas Day is dedicated to Thomas's family. Hazel is getting to arrange her first Christmas Dinner.
It's a bit of a somber mood, as it's the first Christmas without their grandmother present, but it's still a nice evening. Still, Betty is exhausted by the time it is over and she can send her family to the motel where they are staying for the night.
But if she thought she'd get to sleep, she was wrong. In the middle of the night, she goes into labour. With a husband for a doctor, there is no doubt that she will be giving birth at the hospital. Thereby she becomes the first woman in their family to do so. She only wished it wouldn't take so long to get signed in!
Thomas, being a doctor himself, is allowed into the delivery room.
And so he gets to great their little baby boy the moment he's born. They name him Michael, as so many other parents does at this time. Like most of them, they of course think that they're choosing something unique.
As Betty rests after her ordeal, Thomas cuddles his baby boy.
It's Christmas morning when they come home, but if they thought they were getting the morning to rest, they have another thing coming. Just hours after coming home, Betty's family comes rushing through their doors, suitcases in hand. "We've come to stay and help you with the new baby!" they say as they file through the door. You can't really say no to that, now can you?
So now the house is filled with people once more. But apart from introducing her mother to baby Michael, Betty doesn't really get involved. Instead she takes a nap, exhausted after being in labour most of the night. Instead socialising is left to Thomas. As they all brought presents, he makes sure the kids get to open theirs.
As morning turns to afternoon, it's time to head over to Hazel's. She's been working tirelessly all day to prepare for Christmas. Betty opts to stay at home with her family and baby Micheal, but Thomas cannot get out of going to his sister's first ever Christmas Dinner. She'd never forgive him if he didn't show up.
As nice as the celebration is, Thomas is pleased when he can finally go home to Betty again. As baby Michael is put down for the night and her family has finally withdrawn into the makeshift guestroom, Thomas and Betty take the time to exchange their gifts. She has bought him a better camera, to take pictures of their growing family and he has bought her the newest copy of The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care, by Dr. Benjamin Spock. The most sold parenting book of the time, second only to the Bible in popularity, and a dramatic shift in parenting from strict feeding schedules and authoritative parenting to a more empathetic and flexible parenting style. Betty loves it, and as they settle in for the night, both Thomas and Betty feel that they have gotten exactly what they wished for Christmas.
Johnny is grateful he built his shelter already in the war, as more and more people across the US start planning for their own shelters. But for a lot of the family the news that Harold and Bernadette are choosing to stay in Germany in spite of all this more worrisome, but Harold likes his new position and he has no intention of working with something else. The news that they are now dating is much less surprising. "Took them long enough to figure that one out," Alice says in a conversation with Anna. "Neither one of us should talk," Anna retorts. "Took us some time to figure things out as well."
Betty might like the gossip, but to be honest, she doesn't really care about people she never met. She has her own worries. The pregnancy is hard on her, and morning sickness is more like "all-day sickness", she feels worn out and cannot wait for the baby to arrive.
The family does their best to help. Josephine is delighted at the fact that she's now going to be a grandmother for the first time.
But Betty misses her own family, and more so when news reaches her of the death of her grandmother. Thomas does his best to console her, and the two drive up the coast to where she wanted to be buried. It's with a heavy heart Betty sees her grandmother's final resting place.
Coming back home, Thomas orders rest for his wife, and the two try to take things easy. They read, Betty tries to teach herself knitting, but family is family and even though Betty needs to take it easy they cannot skirt obligations, and Arthur is about to come of age.
Josephine has prepared a fantastic meal for the family, and baked the cake for his party. While Thomas is uncertain about whether or not Betty ought to attend, she is adamant. This is family, of course she will attend! Besides, it will be nice wearing something else than those horrible maternity frocks! The party is, of course, a success, and everyone has a great time. Arthur ages up to become a perfectionist, but no one is really surprised by that. "So what do you want to study?" Anna asks. "Physics and Engineering," Arthur answers. "Caltech has some great programs."
As Christmas is coming up, Thomas decorates the house and the tree. He even buys string lights and puts on the house, a novelty that has started to become more popular. Still they are the first on their street to do so. On Christmas Eve, Betty's family comes for a dinner, as Christmas Day is dedicated to Thomas's family. Hazel is getting to arrange her first Christmas Dinner.
It's a bit of a somber mood, as it's the first Christmas without their grandmother present, but it's still a nice evening. Still, Betty is exhausted by the time it is over and she can send her family to the motel where they are staying for the night.
But if she thought she'd get to sleep, she was wrong. In the middle of the night, she goes into labour. With a husband for a doctor, there is no doubt that she will be giving birth at the hospital. Thereby she becomes the first woman in their family to do so. She only wished it wouldn't take so long to get signed in!
Thomas, being a doctor himself, is allowed into the delivery room.
And so he gets to great their little baby boy the moment he's born. They name him Michael, as so many other parents does at this time. Like most of them, they of course think that they're choosing something unique.
As Betty rests after her ordeal, Thomas cuddles his baby boy.
It's Christmas morning when they come home, but if they thought they were getting the morning to rest, they have another thing coming. Just hours after coming home, Betty's family comes rushing through their doors, suitcases in hand. "We've come to stay and help you with the new baby!" they say as they file through the door. You can't really say no to that, now can you?
So now the house is filled with people once more. But apart from introducing her mother to baby Michael, Betty doesn't really get involved. Instead she takes a nap, exhausted after being in labour most of the night. Instead socialising is left to Thomas. As they all brought presents, he makes sure the kids get to open theirs.
As morning turns to afternoon, it's time to head over to Hazel's. She's been working tirelessly all day to prepare for Christmas. Betty opts to stay at home with her family and baby Micheal, but Thomas cannot get out of going to his sister's first ever Christmas Dinner. She'd never forgive him if he didn't show up.
As nice as the celebration is, Thomas is pleased when he can finally go home to Betty again. As baby Michael is put down for the night and her family has finally withdrawn into the makeshift guestroom, Thomas and Betty take the time to exchange their gifts. She has bought him a better camera, to take pictures of their growing family and he has bought her the newest copy of The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care, by Dr. Benjamin Spock. The most sold parenting book of the time, second only to the Bible in popularity, and a dramatic shift in parenting from strict feeding schedules and authoritative parenting to a more empathetic and flexible parenting style. Betty loves it, and as they settle in for the night, both Thomas and Betty feel that they have gotten exactly what they wished for Christmas.
Comments
Post a Comment