The Witch's Tale

Living and Learning

As a precursor ... I don't do the 'baby cocoon' thing forever ... Heck, I rarely do children in my games. But ... We're going to do something a little different this time, although it won't include not letting Hanna age up after three Sim days of being a baby ... 🤣😂

For Background ... Hanna's birth went fine, and I was allowed to pick two traits. I picked two that both her mother and father share ... And traits that would most likely be influenced as much by the environment she will be raised in from birth, rather than any desires she may develop. Although children may rebel at some point in their life ,,, They don't get to pick their parents ... 👍

Hanna's two current traits are Athletic and Good ... Her favorites, which I didn't adjust at all, are currently Kids Music, Pumpkin Pie and the color Lime (which really won't make a difference until she goes to the store, buys the paint, and paints her own room ... At that point, if Hanna shows that kind of determination and commitment to afford her own desires, Rebecca will most likely let it slide).

Hanna was growing and maybe a bit faster than her mother would like. Rebecca's friends commented on how Hanna's father may be a mystery, but there was no doubt Rebecca was her mother. Hanna was turning out to be precious, a blast to be around, and probably one of the happiest toddlers Rebecca had ever met.

Some of that might have had something to with the fact that as a toddler ... Hanna never cried about anything. That was achievable because Rebecca had the liberty to do what was necessary, as well as she was a pro at managing their schedules and still accomplishing just about everything she wanted or needed to do. The day room Rebecca had set up on the top floor of her small house was fully capable of handling most of the day's activities when they were at home.

That's not to say that there were not times Rebecca's desk in the dayroom did not start to look a lot more like a kindergarten room than where a successful Author grinds away at their trade ... But you know, "Mr Baa-Baa the Lamb needs a little lovin' too". Hanna was also not against the idea of playing with every toy in the toybox.

Hanna did fine potty training, learning to walk and talk ... And even playing with the educational toys. However, things kind of changed one day when she was playing with her purple dinosaur and figured out she could make it disappear and reappear.  Hanna decided that was just awesome ... And it suddenly became a pretty regular form of entertainment.

With their schedules in sync, they stayed busy and happy as larks. Managed properly, Rebecca could wake up earlier than Hanna, knock out the basement garden, and be finishing up about the time Hanna woke up and was ready for breakfast. They both went to bed at the same time every evening, everything taken care of, and ready to get some rest for the next awesome day.

Rebecca was also interested in showing Hanna there was a world to explore outside the boundaries of the day room. It was winter and the snow was deep, so there wasn't much Hanna could enjoy outdoors. Rebecca still took Hanna to the Festival, and Hanna also got to watch her mother talking to friends ... What they talked about and how Rebecca interacted with them ... Front row seat.

They would also visit places like the Public Library. Rebecca showed Hanna everything that was available to her. They read books together, talked about the artwork and Hanna became comfortable with her surroundings. Rebecca recognized that she probably needed to do a little growing as well, since it would not be long before Hanna would have to go to school. 

Rebecca needed to learn how to let go sometimes ... She could manage everything around the house and ensure things fell into place, but Hanna was going to have start learning how to manage the world, and when mama wasn't there to show her everything. It took everything Rebecca had in her to make sure Hanna felt comfortable in the children's section of the library ... Then leave her there, walking across the foyer to talk to some friends in the other room. 

The only thing that made that possible was that Rebecca could still see the front door and only a higher power could save anyone that messed with her little girl. It's safe to say that Rebecca was taking the whole letting go idea with baby steps ... And Hanna didn't help any when Rebecca came back around the corner looking for her, and she was hiding in the toybox.

Everything might have had a few ups and downs, but those two had been doing it for a while. Although Rebecca always acted like a mom, her and Hanna were just as much partners or teammates ... Exploring the world and having as much fun as possible and the winter would allow.

One morning, Rebecca had just finished tending the basement garden and was trying to figure out what to do for the brief period of time before Hanna would wake up.  She had weird feeling that there was going to be something different about that day ... Just something gnawing on her. Absolutely certain she was definitely not pregnant again, Rebecca was able to dismiss it and carry on as usual for a while.

As kids grow and learn, they often figure out few things on their own. Plus ... Once they learn to talk, sometimes it's hard to get them to shut up. That morning, after breakfast and while they were chatting and trying to plan the day ... Hanna blindsided her mama with a bunch of questions Rebecca didn't really want to answer.

"Where's my daddy?"

"I am not really sure where your daddy is, but if I know him, I am sure he is working hard and okay ... I just talked to him a few days ago and sent him some pictures.

"What's he doing?"

"Well sweetie ... He's probably saving the world or shooting bad guys in the face"

"Why does he want to shoot bad guys in the face?"

"Oh, I don't think your daddy really wants to shoot them ... There are just some bad guys that really don't want to go to prison."

"Is my daddy a bad guy?"

"Hanna ... Your father is a fine man, and one of the best men I have ever met ... Don't you ever think he is anything less."

"Why does he not come see me?"

"It's complicated sweetheart ... But it's not your fault at all."

"What's compotated?"

"You know what ... I'm not really sure what compotated is either."

Rebecca did the best she could and navigated the next 100 questions with a little more care as to what she was saying. They spent a good part of the morning chatting and ditched the idea of going anywhere else for the time being. After a short period of recovery, and trying to get her head straight with what was going on with Hanna ... Rebecca noticed she was also thinking about Kris. She knew this day had been coming ... She wasn't really thrilled it had arrived ... And it stirred something in her again for the second time that day.

After dinner that evening, she set Hanna up in the day room to do whatever she felt like before bedtime, and Rebecca skipped her normal workout to make a call that had been a long time coming.

"Hey Kris ... Hanna was asking about you today ... Wondering where you are and what you are up to. To tell you the truth, I was thinking about you too. Hope I didn't catch you at a bad time ... We need to talk."

.....

For anyone out there that may be torturing themselves trying to read this mess ... And want to know how that phone call worked out ... You're just going to have to be like Hanna and wait to find out ... Neenar-Neenar-Neenar ... 😝

Happy Simming ... 💖