The baby daddy traveled to God knows where. All you know, the young girl is spending time with the mother briefly as she recuperates and for now you are the man of the house. She doesn't have any feelings towards you whatsoever.
Your attempt to be funny or generous, are met with flat rejection and you already sense why men don't like raising other men's children.
The mother has been extremely cautious, not to hurt the child, but also careful not to overwhelm you or bother you with her past baggage. You are comfortable but the baby is really putting some considerable strain in your relationship. And it is only for two days. What happens when the child becomes part of your family?
You notice the child has the snobbery of the mother and the detached arrogance of the father. What a spoilt brat she will be! But you try to be calm about it, giving her personal space. You live in a world where four-year-olds need personal space. Incredible.
"How come you are not comfortable with her around, you have this weird, awkward relationship with Farrah?" you ask Carol.
"Of course, she doesn't live with me, so it will take time before we get along...," she replies.
"Are you really ready to take over the job of raising her?" you want to ask her, but you notice there is no need.
Now you have a philosophical question: Are there women who for one reason or another don't feel their biological children at all? Carol is a perfect example.
You have seen several women who have left their children with their mothers and they work, party all the while sending money back home to help in raising the kid. They have no maternal or emotional connection with the child. That is what you notice with Carol. She is everything, but motherly.
Luckily, at four, Farrah doesn't look like she is aware of what is going on. She lacks the cognitive awareness of her mother's detachment towards her. Her dolly and other electronic toys fill the void, as she waits to go back to school.
You thank God that there are schools to rescue children like Farrah who may never have had enough parental love. Friends can fill in that personal love. Tough road for her.
Now, there is no way you can lecture a single mother to love her child. These things ought to be natural. But Carol doesn't even attempt.
Is this what you really want to get yourself into? Being involved with a child who has taken the narcissistic traits of the father and mother, a mother so proud and a terrible baby daddy always lurking in the background? You can take Carol's pride, since it is just harmless, the usual snootiness that comes with the kind of beauty she possesses.
What you really pity is the child. Without any proper attention from her parents, you are already raising a broken child. How can you intervene? How do you teach a mother to love her child?
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