If I have learned nothing else from being a mom, it is that my daughter is constantly changing. Nothing about her is static. Everyday she learns a new word (today it is "happy"), tries out a new skill, and changes her mind about what food she likes.
Our newest and most challenging change for me is nap time. For the last almost five months, since cutting down to only one nap, our routine before nap has been very simple. After lunch and a little play time, we go up to her room, close the curtains, and nurse to sleep. Of course, some days when we're out and about, she'll fall asleep in the car, and then I'll carry her to her crib where she continues to sleep. Unfortunately, this past week, nursing to sleep has been wholly unsuccessful. Mind you, she'll fall asleep while nursing; its during the transfer where she wakes up, stands up in her crib, and screams bloody murder.
Today, we tried a completely different approach. After church, she decided she really wanted her "boobies". Ok, fine. So I told her that she could have her boobies now, but then she would have to eat lunch and for nap time she would not get boobies. She agreed, but I was skeptical. As nap time approached, I could tell she was getting quite tired. I told her again, we would go upstairs and read books, but then she would have to close her eyes and go to sleep.
Amazingly, it worked! I mimicked our bed time routine with the exception of a bath and putting on pajamas. We put on her sleep sack, turned on her music, sat in the rocking chair, and read three books. After our three books, and a quick diaper change due to an unexpected poop, I laid her down in her crib and told her night-night. I did not hear a single crab or cry on my way downstairs. I'm sitting here typing and checking the monitor and feel like I was just granted a miracle!
I'm sure with time, this wonderful stage will end and another will begin. I was once told never to get used to any stage, good or bad, because before I know, it will pass. For now, I will enjoy this small victory until the next battle begins.
Showing posts with label parenting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parenting. Show all posts
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Doing it Alone
I have to give a lot of credit to single parents, parents whose spouses are deployed in the military, and parents whose spouses travel frequently for work. I honestly don't know how they do it.
My husband is traveling this week for work. This means I am alone with our child from the moment she wakes up in the morning until she utters her last whimper at night. At 19 months old, she is exhausting! If I had to do this week in and week out, I think my life expectancy would be cut by at least 20 years. Thankfully, my husband's job doesn't require him to be gone more than a few weeks out of the year.
I enjoy evenings with my husband. When "daddy's home" it signifies a milestone of the day. The energy of the house changes and it's like we all (the child, the dog, and I) take a deep breath and know that someone is here to save us! to entertain us! and to distract us from our crabbiness. My daughter looks forward to having someone else to "UP!", and I enjoy not being the only arms around. Not to mention the fact that I finally have someone who can talk to me in fully intelligible sentences... well, mostly. Even if he has to go straight to his office and continue working, I feel a sense of peace knowing he's here.
My husband thinks his job is hard. I know he works hard. He starts his workday at 6am and works until 5pm and often later. He deals with impossible demands and constant complaints from customers and disgruntled and uncooperative coworkers each and every day. But he gets to talk to adults, eat real food at restaurants (and often gets reimbursed for it), and since he's in sales, his scenery is constantly changing. And most importantly, every other week his employer deposits a whole buncha money into our checking account for his efforts.
Being a stay at home mom has much different perks. I wouldn't change it for the world. But I also am grateful, each and every evening, for my teammate to come and help me with this teeny tiny Tasmanian devil we call our daughter.
My husband is traveling this week for work. This means I am alone with our child from the moment she wakes up in the morning until she utters her last whimper at night. At 19 months old, she is exhausting! If I had to do this week in and week out, I think my life expectancy would be cut by at least 20 years. Thankfully, my husband's job doesn't require him to be gone more than a few weeks out of the year.
I enjoy evenings with my husband. When "daddy's home" it signifies a milestone of the day. The energy of the house changes and it's like we all (the child, the dog, and I) take a deep breath and know that someone is here to save us! to entertain us! and to distract us from our crabbiness. My daughter looks forward to having someone else to "UP!", and I enjoy not being the only arms around. Not to mention the fact that I finally have someone who can talk to me in fully intelligible sentences... well, mostly. Even if he has to go straight to his office and continue working, I feel a sense of peace knowing he's here.
My husband thinks his job is hard. I know he works hard. He starts his workday at 6am and works until 5pm and often later. He deals with impossible demands and constant complaints from customers and disgruntled and uncooperative coworkers each and every day. But he gets to talk to adults, eat real food at restaurants (and often gets reimbursed for it), and since he's in sales, his scenery is constantly changing. And most importantly, every other week his employer deposits a whole buncha money into our checking account for his efforts.
Being a stay at home mom has much different perks. I wouldn't change it for the world. But I also am grateful, each and every evening, for my teammate to come and help me with this teeny tiny Tasmanian devil we call our daughter.
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