Mama Bear is in the House

Do you remember (those of you who are mommies, maybe some of you daddies, too) taking your newborn out into the world for the first time? Do you remember how the people who knew you oohed and ahhed and told you how pretty your baby was? Do you remember how even if your baby wasn't the cutest they at least tossed out a "how sweet"? And then, do you remember the first time someone ever criticized your baby (or your parenting)? Do you remember how you wanted to bat them with your paw-- maybe sharpen your claw before you swiped?

Yeah, well. Turns out that's how I feel about my new baby-- my novel. I just took her out in public for the first time. I had a critique come back (which I asked for) and it wasn't nestled in the pleasantries of ooh- look how pretty over here-- it was just plain ol' fix this, work on that, think about this... honest to goodness critiquing and it wasn't mean, at all. Still, I found myself sitting on my paws (so I woulldn't swipe) and saying, "thank you very much" and grateful my dropped-jaw didn't show through my monitor.

Hey, this is what it takes right? It's how we get our babies to grow up. It's how we learn to parent them better and to get the most beautiful, well-adjusted novels out of them, right?

And you know that thing *they* say- if you hear it once you can maybe ignore it but if you hear it from two or more people it probably needs tweaking? well. Don't tell my husband- but the thing he picked at first, was the very first thing that this critique pointed out. Sigh. He doesn't need to know he was right about it. Just between us, okay?

Is it strange that I just want to take my chapter back and cover her in kisses and tell her she's perfect (mostly)?

Never fear, my skin is thick and I mostly agree w/ the critique. So, off for more editing. Looks like my baby needs some help.