Reflexes

Grandma Marian once told me a story about a time when Grandpa Glenn was feeding James, when he was a baby. As Grandpa moved the spoon closer and closer to James’ little mouth, Grandpa’s mouth would open wider and wider until… the spoon went in! Then James’ mouth would close, and Grandpa’s mouth would close too. Its funny to picture it, but there’s something reflexive about this - I do the same thing when I’m feeding Shelly and no matter how hard I try, I can’t keep my mouth closed as I move the spoon to her mouth. it’s a reflex, impossible to control. Just like when we were riding in the car with Mom, and if she had to suddenly slow down, she always put her arm out, across me, to protect me. And when a mom hears a kid scream she immediately asses the noise - excited or injured? My kid or someone else’s? Major injury or minor?