I own no rights to "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" show.

Captain Gregg on Fatherhood

Captain Gregg quietly eased the bedroom door to the master cabin closed. Carolyn was resting after giving birth to their child just a few hours earlier. A miracle child that lay in his arms. A brand new Gregg. The tiny newborn wrapped in a swaddling blanket amazed him.

Taking the little one into the nursery, he sat in the rocking chair and instinctively rocked ever so gently. The rush of the big day had eased into quiet bliss.

Daniel was going over the days events in his mind. So many things going on all at once. Yet, it all surrounded one small precious person who had made their debut. He had never seen an actual human birth before—let alone his own child, so his anticipation had been immeasurable.

There seemed to be more instructions for the mothers and very little for the fathers.

'Surely, fathers should be made aware of what to expect,' he thought.

'I can write some things down in my log later that I have learned today.'

-Make great attempts to remain calm.

-Do not eat anything just prior to the birth event.

-Hide a flask of rum on your person. (Perhaps two flasks if more than one child is expected)

-Make greater attempts to calm your wife.

-Refer to 'birthing book.'

-Throw blasted 'birthing book' out of the window.

Captain Gregg softly chuckled about the silly book. When it came down to the big moment, the book proved very little use to him.

-Under no circumstances allow your wife to get a hold of your dirk or any

other sharp objects if you desire to keep your appendages in tact.

The thought of that made him wince and shudder.

-Rub your wife's back until your fingers fall off.

-Absolutely do not tell your wife that her discomfort 'can't be that bad.'

-Do not look at the afterbirth. (His face blanched at the memory.)

-If your wife wants you to cut the cord, do not use your dirk. (It could upset her.)

-Allow your wife to scream obscenities at you. (Do not return fire.)

Captain Gregg had to pause his thoughts. Baby was getting fussy. He recalled Carolyn showing him the different positions baby may be comfortable. He had removed his pea coat and laid the child on his chest, gently rubbing baby's back. Gas was released and the fussing ceased.

"Yes. I'll bet that does feel better, little one." He whispered. "Now. Where were we? Oh yes! The log book entry."

He picked up his thoughts where he left off.

-Be very mindful of the faces you make when your child is coming into the world.

-Do not wipe your wife's brow with sailing canvas. (It's too rough.)

-Do not threaten birth attendant when they hold your newborn upside down by the ankles and spank the bottom. (This can also upset your wife.)

-Agree with everything your wife may say during this time. She will forget

most of it later.

Carolyn did forget many of the things that she said during her time in labor. Thank goodness!

-Keep cigars in your pocket for after the birth.

-Do not let your wife know that you have cigars in your pocket.

-If all else fails, stay out of your wife's face. She's busy.

Daniel recalled having to duck a flying slipper that was headed his way!

-Hold your wife and newborn child in your arms. Never let them go!

'These will be most helpful for fathers.' The Captain was pleased.

He gazed down at the child who captivated his attention. The infant's face turned red and scrunched up. Tiny grunts followed. A loud 'squishing' sound ensued. The air became foul.

Captain Gregg stood up and went downstairs.

"Martha? Martha!"

Chapter 2

In the six weeks following the birth of their child, the Gregg family had made a life style change. Babies do that to families. The changes were easier for Carolyn as she had prior experience with Candy and Jonathan. Captain Gregg was having to make more of an adjustment and Carolyn was patiently teaching him.

'How can one baby cause so much disruption and change?' He was pondering the thought while folding the diaper cloths.

In his day, all of this was considered 'women's work'.

'How on earth did they manage?'

Once again, Captain Gregg decided to make a written log that could prove helpful to fathers.

'Perhaps Jonathan would find it useful when he becomes a father.'

Right now, Jonathan had little interest in the fairer sex. Given more time, that would change.

-Resign yourself to the fact that babies are no longer just 'women's work'. To insist otherwise will land you in the brig for an undetermined amount of time.

-Be prepared to draw baby's bath water twice. Baby will potty in the first bath the minute you lay them in it! The water will therefore be soiled and need to be discarded.

-If your wife chooses to nurse, try not to stare at her enlarged breasts. They are full of milk and serving a different purpose for now. You will get them back in due time.

Captain Gregg found out the hard way not to touch Carolyn's milk filled breasts. When he had, the milk let-down and made quite a mess.

-Always keep a towel, nappy/diaper cloth on your shoulder when burping baby. What goes down is bound to come back up.

-Sailing canvas is not an adequate substitute for diaper cloths. Neither is your wife's blouse no matter how handy it is at the time. Wash the diaper cloths every day.

-When changing a baby's diaper/nappy, keep a cloth on their privates at all times or you will have more to clean up than what you started with.

-Let your wife rest as much as you can. She needs her sleep and is more likely to engage in intimacy, after being well rested. After all, it's been six weeks. Right?

—-

"Martha! You are finding this entirely too amusing!" Daniel Gregg was loading the washer with more diapers. He turned his head away from the stench.

"I'm sorry, Captain. I never thought that I would see you doing laundry—let alone diapers."

She was in side-splitting laughter at the ghost's ship being turned into a nursery. It was good that the ghost Dad was becoming more pliable and less rigid. When her and the Muir's had first arrived at Gull Cottage the Captain was as stiff as a ship's mast!

Martha was holding down the rest of the fort. She helped where she could, but her regular duties kept her busy.

Carolyn and Daniel held the responsibility of caring for their infant. The child lay in his former cradle. It was also his father's cradle and his father's father's cradle, coming down the line of Gregg's.

One afternoon he happened upon Carolyn expressing milk into a baby bottle. It caught him by surprise and the look on his face proved it.

"My dear, what are you doing? Shouldn't you be giving that to the baby?"

She smiled at him. "It is for the baby. I am putting some of my milk into bottles. That way you or Martha can help with feedings."

Something new to learn.

Late log entry.

-If your wife is expressing her milk into baby bottles, don't watch. You may have mixed reactions!