When you’re a first time mom, you want everything to be perfect. You follow all the “tips for raising great kids” found in those annoying magazines. You call the doctor for every sniffle or fever, and your kid will not even taste the likes of sugar or junk food until he/she is at least 2. And even then, it’ll be “just a treat” reserved for “once in a while”, on a sunny day when there’s rainbows and joy for miles. Your child is always clean, and dry. You take walks, sing songs, do crafts, read books, and maybe even join some group or activity like gymnastics for infants(what is the purpose of this again?) or kindermusic (again, the purpose?). You read somewhere that if they listen to classical music, they’ll be smart. So you stock up on Bach, and Beethoven. Everything is structured and life is just so wonderful and fulfilling now. You mature to a new level of responsibility. You begin to lecture your childless friends on things like structure and schedules, growing up and “settling down”. Then you do the unthinkable….decide to have another.
Transition from the first to the second child is a bit nuts. There’s things that are good, and then there’s things aren’t so good. You have a bit of an idea what you’re doing this time around, so there’s less calls to the doctor, less worry, and more of a relaxed feeling. You already know that you won’t sleep at first, but it soon passes, and that sometimes they cry and you just don’t know why. But there seems to be less of a schedule, and it seems harder to stick to. There’s less walking and singing, and reading books. It seems a bit harder to find the time now. Beethoven and Bach get replaced by Time Life Kid Songs CD’s and Sesame Street Jams. You end up getting Happy Meals more often, and even start to use those sweets as a bribe or reward for good behavior in the store or at the doctor’s office. Still, it’s pretty nice and even though you don’t really get to see those childless friends of your, you really like the way things are. Besides, they’ll have kids soon enough, and then you can rekindle that friendship at play dates and birthday parties. All in all, kids are pretty fun, and having a family still ROCKS!
One day you’re sitting on your couch at the end of a long day wondering when and where you lost your mind. You used to be multi-tasker, but somehow, it just doesn’t seem to work anymore. The house is still a mess, and you haven’t watched that show you used to like in ages. You haven't hung out with adults or left the house to do somethig other than errands in months. What is free time again? You seem to have forgotten. You haven’t’ combed your hair today and your lucky you even got to shower. You think about hanging out with your husband, but you reek of Tilex, and desperately want to defunk yourself. On your way to the stairs, you make your way through the kitchen. You refill the candy dish, you’ll be needing that tomorrow. You put away what’s left of dinner, and set the coffee pot for 0:dark thirty. You clean the crayon off the walls. That was the latest project that kept them quiet just long enough for you to throw something edible together and call it dinner. And just when you think you’re home free, and that hot relaxing shower is steps away…..the THIRD child wakes up thanks to teething.
Better put a few extra scoops in the coffee pot.
P.S. This is how you get diner done now….wanna go for #4?
Dinner Time Distraction
3 comments:
hahaha.
Your right, Tammy!
But, I still have my moments of insanity when I want that #4! They're all such a blessing, why not? Yeah, so I won't have perfect/edible dinners on time every night, or have my house in tip top shape(feet not sticking to the floor, being able to find a place on the counter top for those last minute lunch time peanut butter sandwiches), or even brush/ clean my hair every day(or every week)...is that all that important?? I like being a mommy, 3 isn't such a big number, is it? And there is always something sweet for the baby to eat while I mop.
Yeah, they are definately blessings, I agree with you on that one. I do love my kids, and I love being a mommy too. And I don't expect to have a nice house at this stage, or be a gourmet cook, I just want some semblance of order, or clean. I guess 3 isnt a big number, but that depends on the kids. If I knew that I could have a baby with out colic, stomach problems, separation anxiety, and other stuff, I would probably want more too. Mine just seem to get worse as it goes. Plus I think that I'm just not made to handle the chaos. Not to mention, we move like every other week(every year really, but it feels the same) and it's impossible to get into a routine, get settled, have the place in working order, etc. when you have to always be packing, moving, and unpacking in between having babies and homeschooling. It's a prescription for insanity. Who knows, maybe one day we'll be owning a house, Chris will go to school,things will be stable, and I'll end up wanting to have another. YOu never can tell what the future holds :) I just talked to someone else who getting started on #4.
Haha! I enjoyed reading this in light of the fact that you are now expecting your 5th!! I always thought that you were just cut out to have lots of kids...you're just so good at handling it all! Right now I could write your comment above mine almost word for word!
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