Reviewer: MrsKHalpert Signed 
1
Date: March 12, 2022
Title: Chapter 11: Before and After
Wow, this chapter was just spot on perfect! You literally captured everything exactly right. Coincidentally, I read this during my first hour and a half alone from my children in about 8 months (since my own Cece was born), and felt basically every emotion Pam did. It doesn’t get any easier with the second!!
“…but to her own personal petrification years later. It wasn’t until she met Jim that she got a proper education in the subject of chemistry” I loved this analogy here.
“Raised two children… all my own too.” This made me laugh as my Mum literally says this to me all the time. She’s baffled my husband ‘helps’
“…pulled down her spit-up covered tee shirt” Loved this. Is there any other uniform for a new mum?
“But it was too late, the trip was abandoned the minute she heard the first peep and her mother hadn’t come running from the kitchen to check.” Again, spot on here! The details you’ve captured in this chapter are so so accurate.
“Even while showering, with the curtain left half open, Cece sat strapped in the bouncy seat on the ancient tiled floor” Again, perfect. I long for the day I can shower without at least one set of eyes on me!
“Could she be hungry?” Oh Jim. Oh Jim. What are you thinking? Never ask that
“Pam lifted Cece’s butt to her nose” I laughed so much as this line and how I swear I spend most of my day.
“She has replaced Michael in testing my patience.” This was an excellent line and I can imagine being so true
“..had become one of the presents Pam most appreciated.” I loved this. There really are those presents that you wouldn’t have thought of getting but they become indispensable. Again, such great detail.
“She willed herself to keep going but not without first looking at her phone to be sure she hadn’t missed a call from Jim summoning her back.” I know this feeling so well, after dropping my son off this morning, the first thing I did was to text my husband to ask how the baby was. Mum’s never stop worrying!
“…piles of laundry Pam still couldn’t keep up with.” Story of my life. Poor Pam.
The whole anxiety of the date and wanting to make it a take out was just perfect. I’m glad they got a couple of hours together, and even though Cece had her melt down, it was so important for them.
I thoroughly enjoyed this during my first proper ‘alone’ time and made me smile a lot. Great work and looking forward to the next chapter!
Author's Response:
OH Mrs. K - I both feel for and envy you. My babies are bigger than me now and I miss the days when they could sleep on my chest, even if it would up in a spit-up covered tee.
OH and so true -mom's never stop worrying...just wait until they start dating and driving and leave for college.
Thanks for the review and glad you enjoyed it.
