Is it the specific phrase of "thank you" that we are supposed to hear?
I just asked my dh and he was dumbfounded bc he thinks that "thank you" is inadequate and fairly inappropriate.
He still regales our dc with all the difficulties of our ds birth (butt first breach. Undiagnosed, c-section). He goes through the entire birth, complications, horror and usually ends with how grateful he is that we survived.
We can't get hung up on thinking a glowing, excited prince is the shining example of new fatherhood.
I think Prince William was a more realistic example; worried about the car seat, tired and you could see that he was concentrating on making sure that all were safe.
Harry was just a happy lad.
I prefer my overthinking, worried, serious, until he understood that all was well, dh. Thank you or not.
And mm's pr dept can pound rocks. This competition between the two families is not healthy.
Families grow up, separate and through stability and support, bridge disasters and disagreements bc teaching our children how to be a good sibling begins with being a good sibling.
Life as a competition is an empty life. In the end, when our children are grown, we still worry. They're even more vulnerable as adults than as babies sometimes. They need a loving supportive family to depend upon all through their lives. They don't get that if their fail to get along.
I am older now. I've lost most of my family and neighbors and friends. It didn't matter in their end who had the best clothes or brightest lamp. What mattered was who held their hand as they left this earth.
This mm competition is truly emptiness. A void of the best and most important parts of life. My gran's financial worth for most of her life was a fraction compared to my mil.
But the tears shed when she passed and beloved memories cherished? My Gran was the wealthiest person who ever called Earth home.
She lived for her family. She loved us and laughed everyday, even on the worst. She wasn't perfect. But she didn't make you feel unloved if you weren't either.
My mil complained everyday, wanted attention and demanded innumerable unreasonable things from us. She left a big house of fine furniture and my dh refused to mourn her bc of her unfairness. He wouldn't let me give a eulogy bc she was so cruel to me.
Life is far too short. I am so surprised when I look in the mirror! Who is that old woman looking at me?
Be kind when possible, cherish your happy days bc there are always bad ones ahead and don't compare yourself to others bc there will always be someone with more and someone with less. Money, happiness, jewels, power, or fame.
The only thing that I have that I treasure now is my family.