Some Mother Advice

Writers: Chelle, Miriah
Date Posted: 16th September 2013

Characters: Parale, Yriadha
Description: Yriadha and Parale have a chat
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 3, day 8 of Turn 7

Yriadha

With Parys still quite young and two other little girls to keep track of,
Parale had her hands full. Still some things were hard not to pay attention
to. With the new baby nursing, she hadn't bothered to ask for more for their
monthly food allotment from the Hold since Parys didn't eat anything solid yet.
However, Parale thought it might be good to go ahead and notify the Headwoman
so that when the time came, it would be a smooth transition.

Besides that, she was sort of curious to meet the woman. A new headwoman-that
could be a good thing and a useful ally in the future.

Yriadha sat in her small, spartan office, her face smooth as she
flicked from hide to hide, making needed notations. She heard a rustle
at the door and looked up. "Yes?"

"Hello Headwoman. My name is Parale. I live here in the Hold with my
husband and daughters." She waited to see if the woman had time to speak
to her. Parys was in a sling, hanging around her middle, though her eyes
looked out and one could see a little hand against her mother's belly.

One fine brow arched, but she waved the woman in with a fine boned
hand. "I see. Well, it's a pleasure. Come in. I've a feeling you're
here about an issue you need to address?"

"Well it's more of a preventative visit really. You see, with the new baby,
I imagine in some months down the road when she's eating solid foods, our
food allotment will need to be changed. Right now she's nursing of course
so it isn't a concern, but I thought a heads-up would be better for you."
Parale had never had children so this was a first for her.

"Indeed." Yriadha pulled out a hide and made quick notations. "It will come
before you know it and some children start early. How many are in your
household now?"

"Three girls, my husband, and myself," she answered quickly. Parale was
proud of her little family.

The Headwoman made quick flicks against the ledger, her brow smooth. "A
large family. It's good for the Hold." She looked up and finally smiled
thinly as her eyes fell on the small child. "It will be some months, but it
will be here before you know it."

"That's what everyone says. We're all sort of hoping it takes a bit though.
It's fun watching her grow and do new things. My older girls are helping too
so they're learning." Parale couldn't imagine Parys all grown up, or even
Syren either.

"It's true. I have seven children. " She made another notation. "Very well,
I will schedule you an increase in your food allotment within say..." She
eyed the child. "six months."

"Thank you headwoman," Parale told her, thinking about seven children.
She had always wanted a big family but since she'd gotten such a late start
she didn't know if that was possible. "I'd like to have a boy someday I
think."

Her reply was smooth. "Everyone does, but let me assure you, they are more
of a handful than girls."

"You know..I've heard exactly the opposite from others." She thought of both
Syren and Venrys and what they were like. "It would be good though, to have
a son and daughters. Brothers can protect their sisters sometimes."

A thin brow arched. "They can. At times. But don't put your hopes into
that."

"Why do you say that?" Parale had never had siblings like the rest so she
didn't really understand though she had had friends.

Yriadha remembered her own experience with her brothers. "Sometimes
rivalries can be vicious."

"Hmm..." Her girls didn't always get along but there was nothing like that
really. "Why would a boy ever compete against a girl though?" In her mind,
there was no reason since a boy could always do so much more. They could
craft or have their own holding.

"Attention." Yriadha sat back and then gestured to the seat across
from her. She was grateful, at least for the moment, to have a
distraction from the mounds of hides at her desk. "Affection. Simply
childish pettiness. It varies."

Parale sat down, considering this. Her own girls sometimes competed for
attention, though sometimes that was mostly Syren. Venrys was coming into
the stage where she was more concerned with herself. Neither of them seemed
jealous of the baby, so she didn't have to worry about that. "And what might
prevent that?"

She shook her head. "It's natural. Most parents with boys and girls go
through it; it's only a rarity that it doesn't happen. Sibling rivalry is
common. What worked with my own was to keep them busy and make sure they
knew that I loved all of them."

"I was always more worried about sickness and injuries than rivalries." For
a post-plague southerner like Parale, the shadow had always loomed all over
everything. That was why she made careful nutrition choices and always
watched for signs without thinking.

"As well you should worry about them more." Her lips thinned. "It's
difficult not to in these times. But just remember, when it happens, I can
assist you in dealing with it."

**Oh that's nice! A new friend!** "Well thank you Headwoman, I appreciate
that." She didn't want to take up too much of Yriadha's time since she was a
busy woman, but Parale didn't want to be rude and just stand up. Of course
Parys was getting hungry.

"You're very welcome. Do you need anything else that I can help with?"
Yriadha didn't smile, but spoke with a straight, unruffled expression.

"Not at the moment I don't think. I better get going and leave you to your
work." She stood up and adjusted the baby who was beginning to make noises.
"Have a good day!"

Last updated on the October 5th 2013

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Some Mother Advice