OK, I stole that from one of my all-time favorite movies, "One Fine Day." But it's true, this whole mom thing is a juggling act, between the baby, trying to work from home and taking care of the house.
You wouldn't think it would be so difficult. My baby isn't even three months old yet, it's not like I'm chasing her around the house. She can't even roll over. And yet there are days that the clock strikes noon before I'm even out of my pajamas. Sometimes I don't brush my teeth until 4 o'clock. And I've eaten lunch one time - count it, one time - so far this week.
This week has been rougher than most - deadlines abound in my freelance gig, and we have contractors stopping by periodically to give estimates on a bathroom project. To top it all off, my worst enemy has returned - gas. My little one is in between nipple stages, which is apparently a fate worse than anything I can think of at the moment.
We seem to be getting the gas under control, and the stories are flying out the door left and right to satisfy those deadlines. I think we've seen the end of the contractor estimates for now. So the only thing left to do is - well, wash and dry the thousand bottles that have stacked up, and the laundry, and vacuuming up all the dirt tracked in by the contractors. Oh, and God only knows where the cats have left hairball presents recently.
It never ends! Where's that Calgon when you need it?
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Trying times
"These are the times that try men's souls."
Thomas Paine wasn't actually talking about the American Revolution, he was talking about his marriage after having a baby.
Well, he could have been, anyway. When my husband and I got married, I thought it was great because nothing changed between us. We had been dating for years, and knew each other very well. So when we found out we were having a baby, I thought only a few things would change - we wouldn't go out to eat as much, we would save more money, etc.
Wow, how naive can you be? With a child, everything changes. Not all for the bad, I might add. There are wonderful moments where all three of us are together, our close-knit family unit bound together by a powerful love.
But there are also difficult times, mostly times when something is wrong with our little one and we can't figure out what it is. The frustration is driven by a desire to help her, so it always has good intentions.
I have found, though, that once we get through those times, our marriage comes out much stronger on the other side. It's a tough road, this parenthood. There are underlying factors, too, that contribute - the baby blues in the beginning, sleep deprivation, constant crying (the baby, and sometimes mom).
As a stay-at-home mom with a freelance business, I find that the less busy I am, the more time I have to fret about the little noise my girl just made, or whether or not she's eating enough, sleeping too much, etc. The busier I am, the less I worry.
I'm not the only one who's experienced this - there are posts all over baby-related message boards. It can by trying for even the strongest relationship. It seems patience and communication are the key. The couple has to stay focused and communicate, so they don't become overwhelmed by the situation. Just my thoughts for the day!
Thomas Paine wasn't actually talking about the American Revolution, he was talking about his marriage after having a baby.
Well, he could have been, anyway. When my husband and I got married, I thought it was great because nothing changed between us. We had been dating for years, and knew each other very well. So when we found out we were having a baby, I thought only a few things would change - we wouldn't go out to eat as much, we would save more money, etc.
Wow, how naive can you be? With a child, everything changes. Not all for the bad, I might add. There are wonderful moments where all three of us are together, our close-knit family unit bound together by a powerful love.
But there are also difficult times, mostly times when something is wrong with our little one and we can't figure out what it is. The frustration is driven by a desire to help her, so it always has good intentions.
I have found, though, that once we get through those times, our marriage comes out much stronger on the other side. It's a tough road, this parenthood. There are underlying factors, too, that contribute - the baby blues in the beginning, sleep deprivation, constant crying (the baby, and sometimes mom).
As a stay-at-home mom with a freelance business, I find that the less busy I am, the more time I have to fret about the little noise my girl just made, or whether or not she's eating enough, sleeping too much, etc. The busier I am, the less I worry.
I'm not the only one who's experienced this - there are posts all over baby-related message boards. It can by trying for even the strongest relationship. It seems patience and communication are the key. The couple has to stay focused and communicate, so they don't become overwhelmed by the situation. Just my thoughts for the day!
Toilet training from birth
The practice is called elimination communication, and there was a story about it on the Today show this morning.
I'm sorry, but these people are full of ... well, let's avoid that bad pun. There is no way this can work. How much time do you have to spend watching your infant to determine the "pee pee" face and the "poopy" face?
I can only tell when my daughter is pooing because her face gets all red and she starts grunting. I certainly can't tell BEFORE the act, only during. And to tell if they are urinating is virtually impossible. I could stare at her for ages and not determine that. One minute the diaper is clean, the next it feels like there's a brick in it.
Yeah, it would be great to not buy diapers, and to save the environment. But let's be realistic. You would spend hours of your day watching for the slightest change in expression so you could rush your baby to the toilet and dangle them over it.
Sorry, I hate to say it, but I'm going to have to destroy the environment. I can't handle elmination communication. Hell, it's hard enough to communicate with her now!
I'm sorry, but these people are full of ... well, let's avoid that bad pun. There is no way this can work. How much time do you have to spend watching your infant to determine the "pee pee" face and the "poopy" face?
I can only tell when my daughter is pooing because her face gets all red and she starts grunting. I certainly can't tell BEFORE the act, only during. And to tell if they are urinating is virtually impossible. I could stare at her for ages and not determine that. One minute the diaper is clean, the next it feels like there's a brick in it.
Yeah, it would be great to not buy diapers, and to save the environment. But let's be realistic. You would spend hours of your day watching for the slightest change in expression so you could rush your baby to the toilet and dangle them over it.
Sorry, I hate to say it, but I'm going to have to destroy the environment. I can't handle elmination communication. Hell, it's hard enough to communicate with her now!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)