I remember when Cavan was born and during those first couple (sleepless, scary) weeks, I kept telling myself: It has to get easier or kids wouldn't be such a frequent bi-product of marriage! Those first couple months, I was lucky if I could accomplish one thing outside of the care of my newborn. Did I take a shower today? If yes, major accomplishment. I managed to wash all the dishes (and not just the bottles required for feeding my hungry monkey.) That's a good day.
And sure enough, life eventually got easier. I could balance the care of my baby with not only basic personal hygiene, but trying to look good as well. And I even learned how to go back to work full-time. And sure enough, Cavan started sleeping through the night, which gloriously improved my demeanor and productivity. But even during that first year, not so good at maintaining a house. How could anyone find time to clean when the kid is either attached to your boob or is crying to be held? It's one thing to try to fix lunch one-handed, but vacuuming. Nope.
Now that Cavan is two and a half (and I'm only working part-time), I finally feel like I've gotten the hang of this Mommy thing—all that it encompasses. I can shower daily, read and feed, go to work, come back home, play with Cavan all afternoon, fix dinner (at least for Cavan...sometimes myself and Hubby), clean up the house, bathe the kid, play hide-and-seek, say prayers, go to bed, snuggle on the couch with Hubby, enjoy a bowl of ice cream, write a blog, and hit the sack. I can even squeeze in gardening during nap time or when Cavan is playing outside. I don't feel frazzled anymore. Even being pregnant.
Being pregnant. I have less than two month before this pregnancy casts me right back to square one. Just when I finally figured out how to balance it all. But now I won't even be able to follow through with the "sleep when your baby sleeps" mantra. I have Cavan to entertain in addition to the basic functioning which allows zzzs-deprived moms to care for a newborn. Will it really take two more years before I can reclaim my sanity again?
7 months. That's how long it took us. Not coincidentally around the time regular sleep thru the nights started happening.
ReplyDeleteI'm pregnant with #2 also, so I can't say for sure. But everyone tells me that you find your legs faster this time around. The learning curve isn't as steep.
ReplyDeleteGood luck, with all of the transitions in your life!
It is my experience that life is only as difficult as your youngest child. So, as usual the baby will set the tone. Obviously my youngest is wearing me the hell out.
ReplyDeleteNever, once you have kids sanity is gone for good. You can only pretend your sane to food the neighbors.
ReplyDeleteI think it's pretty good that you actually think you have already regained your sanity. But, no worries. All subsequent children fit right into the mix much easier since you have already mastered the tough part - learning to juggle.
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