Now I understand why people think mothers of toddlers are scatterbrained. I know people think this, because I used to think it. Mothers of toddlers carry on conversations while our eyes dart back and forth and our heads swirl around, like Linda Blair in The Exorcist, all in an attempt to keep track of our children. I imagine my husband, however, glancing up from his conversation just in time to see Katherine scooped up by the mom closest to the wood-burning stove. I guess each parent gives the child what he or she can.
Mom is there to cuddle, kiss boo-boos, and protect from life's small dangers.
Dad is there to throw her up in the air until she's giddy and nauseous, let her explore new terrain, and protect her from the big dangers-like a pterodactyl invasion, perhaps. He honestly thinks he's attentive enough and that I'm overreacting. My friend Dawn's husband does the same thing. We were at a party, and I said 'Mike, I have to go to the bathroom. She imitated his facial expression and the contorted look of exasperation she used was comical.