Nanny: “Nora should be holding her own bottle for her feedings.”
Me: “I KNOW. Believe me I’ve tried, but she just won’t do it.”
Nanny: “You just make her do it and she will do it.”
Me: “You think I haven’t tried ‘making’ her do it?! She won’t do it! Honestly, I don’t think she can yet. She’s not ready.”
Nanny: “She is ready.”
Me (annoyed): “Ok, I appreciate your input, but I think I know my own kid.”
One hour later:
That cunning little minx.
Me: “I think I’ve been a pretty reasonable parent so far. I just really want to avoid being the parent who cares TOO much– who hovers and obsesses and worries about every little thing her child does. But I definitely catch myself acting that way sometimes, so I fear I’m totally becoming that parent.”
Therapist: “You said you have a nanny part-time. Do you find it hard to relinquish control when the nanny comes to take care of Nora?”
Me: “Oh my god, NO. I count the seconds til she gets there and it’s an immediate hand off, as if we’re in a baton relay.”
Therapist: “Ok. And are Nora and the nanny always in sight when you’re home?”
Me: “What? No! The nanny immediately takes her out of the apartment.”
Therapist: “And where do they go?”
Me: “I have no idea.”
Therapist (10 second silence): “Yeah I don’t think you’re that parent who cares too much.”
Me: 
Therapist: “You might want to ask the nanny where they go.”
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