When someone described parenting as a job, they were mostly correct. It is a lot of work. The part they seemed to have missed was that you are completely unpaid. And usually underappreciated. And you never get to leave "work". The job continues 24/7.
You may think when they go to bed at night that you have you're "break" time. I disagree. You are still on call. Those little munchkins may wake up crying or with explosive vomiting or diarrhea or with a sudden desire to pee/get a drink/eat a snack/change pajamas. I'm so thankful when we go 8 hours straight without an interruption.
The current stages we are in is definitely difficult. Paisley goes through weeks where she is so pleasant. She is funny and enjoyable. Then she can transform into this little terrorist whose sole purpose on this planet is to torture her mom. Right now, she doesn't like me. For real. She chooses my mom or Aaron over me ALL the time. I'm not a sensitive person at all but it has admittedly broken my heart a few times.
I'm doing some personal research on whether or not it's better to just let her avoid me and back off or if I should try to press on in trying to make her love me more. Neither seems to change things significantly. I guess the good news is that I'll be prepared for her teenage years.
Graham is still pleasant and funny, but has not been a fan of weaning. I completely cut him off a week ago now and he still gets mad about it in the morning which is the one time he was still nursing. Poor baby would have nursed FOREVER. He's also still not walking (almost 15 months) and I'm really ready for him to get going. He loves to be carried and I know that's why he sees no need in walking. But my arms are wearing out and it is so much harder to get things done while lugging around a 22ish pound baby!
Life is just hectic and exhausting around here. Nothing too crazy to report!
You may think when they go to bed at night that you have you're "break" time. I disagree. You are still on call. Those little munchkins may wake up crying or with explosive vomiting or diarrhea or with a sudden desire to pee/get a drink/eat a snack/change pajamas. I'm so thankful when we go 8 hours straight without an interruption.
The current stages we are in is definitely difficult. Paisley goes through weeks where she is so pleasant. She is funny and enjoyable. Then she can transform into this little terrorist whose sole purpose on this planet is to torture her mom. Right now, she doesn't like me. For real. She chooses my mom or Aaron over me ALL the time. I'm not a sensitive person at all but it has admittedly broken my heart a few times.
I'm doing some personal research on whether or not it's better to just let her avoid me and back off or if I should try to press on in trying to make her love me more. Neither seems to change things significantly. I guess the good news is that I'll be prepared for her teenage years.
Graham is still pleasant and funny, but has not been a fan of weaning. I completely cut him off a week ago now and he still gets mad about it in the morning which is the one time he was still nursing. Poor baby would have nursed FOREVER. He's also still not walking (almost 15 months) and I'm really ready for him to get going. He loves to be carried and I know that's why he sees no need in walking. But my arms are wearing out and it is so much harder to get things done while lugging around a 22ish pound baby!
Life is just hectic and exhausting around here. Nothing too crazy to report!
I love your always honest posts about how difficult motherhood is. And you are right- you are NEVER off the clock. I'm sorry P is breaking your heart a little right now. And I hope G gets over not nursing anymore very soon!
ReplyDeleteI can completely relate. Parenting is NEVER easy, but there are definitely seasons that are more pleasant. And then all the sudden it feels really difficult and exhausting and honestly not a lot of fun...then it gets a little better. It will get easier...maybe not super easy but a little easier. :) And what's the deal with these dramatic, opinionated girls??? Wear me out. I found it got tough for me when Mason was no longer my "easy" baby, like he started having opinions and didn't want his toys taken away and started throwing fits. That in combination with a difficult 3 year old is definitely exhausting. Hoping your getting lots of 8 hour nights of rest.
ReplyDeleteUgh, we are in such a hard phase right now! I'm sure it is part of the reason I don't write - my posts might come across as negative and not grateful and I just don't want to put that out right now. So...yeah, I am with ya' girl! Addy STILL nurses at night and we keep talking about the fact that when she's 3, she won't get to nurse anymore. It will break both of my hearts. I can't help but give a little unsolicited advice about Paisley...just in general, I would say, follow her lead. If she is pushing away, let her push and just use words about what you see in her and how you feel (without expecting her to do something differently). So... "Seems like you want mommy to stay far away right now. I can do that. I sure will miss hugging you right now. I love you." Something like that, but not with a tone that is meant to give her guilt but with an open acceptance of her desires and wishes and an expression of unconditional love from you. My kids do this when I go to work and sometimes after I get home they refuse to come to me, only daddy. I just say how much I love them and I'll be ready when they are ready to give me a hug. Breaks my heart:(. Anyway, I hope you find moments of calm and peace in the next few days!
ReplyDeleteOH and I just read through your post again and you talked about pushing her to love you more. In honesty, this behavior is a show of love from an opinionated little girl - she knows she can push away from you and that you will ALWAYS be there. Pushing her to do something different wouldn't be making her love you more, but it may make her begin to question her ability to be truly authentic with you (maybe, maybe not, just thinking out loud in your comment section lol!). Just my thoughts on that one:).
ReplyDeleteDavie Ann does the same hot/cold thing. Her #1 person is my dad (PopPop does no wrong and solves all problems - by always letting her do what she wants, of course); #2 is Nana (my mom); and lately, Troy (hubby) is #3 and I'm lagging at #4.
ReplyDeleteI understand she spends most of her waking hours with my parents, so she's close to them the way she would be with any caretaker she spends so much time with. So who better than my parents? Still, I get jealous when she's sick and cries for them. I want to be able to comfort her!
I really didn't help when I went through the 4 months of hyperemesis. I slept so much, and vomited the rest of the time. So of course, Troy had to take over most of Davie's care, and they are close. I'm starting to win ground again, but I hate it that I lost so much time with her.