Karla, here's my take on your situation with the dolls on display. As I am childless also and have many beautiful breakables about my house, I, too, empathize with your concerns. But my experience with guests who have children is that they are more nervous about my breakables than I am. This is precisely what I like. But assuming your guests are not so nervous (which I fully expect they will be, too), when they walk into your living room and see all the wonderful dolls, they will be enthralled and will want to act responsibly to preserve your beauties. The baby will be controlled because they will want to enjoy your home as much as you do.

The best offense is to gently remark that you've been anxious about the trip and how the baby would do around all your dolls. But there's no time like the present to introduce the baby to the wonderful hobby of doll collecting--and that includes teaching everyone about not touching dolls because of the oils in our hands. This makes you sound very experienced and you minimize your concerns about your dolls' survival. Obviously, Giorgio has learned how to behave, there's no reason that the relatives can't behave, too. The other thing you can do is to introduce mother to collecting by giving her a gift of a doll. Maybe a doll to put in the baby's nursery. Still, I've never had any mishaps with kids in my house. However, I am honest and make it very clear I expect the best

behaviour from child AND parent. Us childless types bring out the best in people because they're kind of afraid of us, I think. Regards, Pat Brown

-- Original Message -----

Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2002 8:15 AM

Subject: Nervous in New Jersey - Help!-

I really am a Mother to my 7 year old toy poodle named Giorgio. However, I am a real Grandmother to my stepdaughter's little girl, Emily and I also have alot of nieces and a new nethew . I'm hope I am not going to bore you all to death but there is something I wanted to tell you and mabe get some suggestions.

My Stepdaughter Angie, her Husband Dan and Emily live in Utah and I live in New Jersey so it's so hard not to have Emily with my husband and I, especially st the Holidays. Angie is a great step-daughter and she is always sending updated pictures and we talk alot on the phone. But, here's the thing - She is coming to visit this Wednesday (oh My God, that's tomorrow) and we will be with them Tommorow evening and Thursday until about 4:00. I AM A NERVOUS WRECK!! I never had any children so I feel like a fish out of water. I did see her when she was first born at 5 weeks but now she's going to be toddline all over the place now. Tomorrow night we wil will be picking Angie and Emily up from the Airpopt in Philadelphia and going straight to my Sister-In-Laws house for a little familiy reunion which is great ( she is a great hostess and I am not!) and then when we see her on Thursday they will be coming to my house to open Birthday presents (Emily will be 1 on August 10th) and then we are going to brunch! I know I am going to have trouble with conversation, etc, with Angie let alone the Baby!! I really want to enjoy this trip because I cannot get on a plane so I don't know when the next visit will be. Also, my living room is filled with porcelain dolls - some as big as 3 feet tall. They are anchored to the wall but all the other ones - also large enough that I have to have them standing - are just by my window in the living room. Mt friends think I should put the dolls "away" because of the baby coming but once my dolls are situated I don't like to disrupt them - Barbies and Candies are downstairs in their own little world,

Any suggestions from you Moms out there on topics of conversation or just suggestions on being a Grandmother. I am concerned about the dolls all over and I don't want to sound like a mean Grandmother saying, no Emily, no if she wants to grab onto one them. My step-daughter is not a doll person at all. This is supposed to be a fun time and I am ruining it with worrying so much! Hope I haven't bored anyone but I would greatly appreciate any info. you can help me with.

Nervous in New Jersey