Infant Hour at the Wi Fi Café

11:30am and the quiet, focused click clack of computer keys is drowned out by the slightly shrill voices of young moms talking about nipple shapes, shopping deals and baby rashes. There is the cooing of little guys who find it thrilling to gnaw on a leather wallet, drooling over zipper and stinky old leather alike while mom attends to brother or sister. Squeakie sqeakie. Perhaps a rubber duckie? High fives all around from tiny hands for Josh who serves moms much needed cappuccino. Many "pleases" and "thank you's" – more than you'll hear from any other table. Six moms, seven children aged, what? About six months to eighteen months? Every high chair in the café is filled and the heretofore quiet cafe is abuzz and with activity, mom chat and feeding.

The moms are without make-up, although most never wore it, with Birkenstocks, clogs and Sorell boots. This is, after all, Vermont. Long hair in permutations of buns and poney tails. One mom who has braved loose tresses has tiny hands entwined in a grabable bunch. All, with beautiful cherubs. And this, the Spiral Press Café is the place of choice to bring them so mom can have an adult moment where all will be happy. Did I say, all?

Are we, the moms whose babies now wear braces and choose their friends over a café excursion with mom, are we, the moms gone back to work or grad school and the book club members and older gentlemen working on something very important and the young executives and local business folks (various insurance agents, attorneys, etc.) meeting with colleagues, are we adverse to the cacophony of baby and young mom sounds chasing after falling sippie cups and cookies? All appears ok. Heads are still down after a moment of acknowledgement that the guard has changed. Everyone seems to have noted that the babies are cute, and, well, back to work, baby noises and all.