sugabeats: Parenting Sucks

sugabeats (

sugabeats) wrote,
@ 2008-04-17 15:28:00

Current mood:	calm
Entry tags:	parenting

Parenting Sucks
So now that I got my birth story out there, I can reflect on the last three months. It's hard. It is so fucking hard, I had no idea. People kept telling me when I was pregnant that it would change my life...but I can't help but wonder what they REALLY meant. I met a woman the other day with a 10 month old baby. She told me how he was colicky (and to clarify, for those who don't know, colicky is defined as crying at least 3 hours a day for at least 3 weeks...), and nothing worked to calm him. And then she said he's the best thing that's ever happened to her. I didn't have the nerve to say really?? Why?

Simon is an easy baby, granted he doesn't sleep through the night, but he is not colicky at all and I still wouldn't say this is the best thing that's ever happened to me. Maybe that part comes after 3 months? I think the best advice I've gotten so far has been from my Mom who told me "it gets better". I guess this means I'm not really a "baby" person. I can't wait for him to be older so we can interact more and play. It's getting better, to be sure, but Erik and I both pretty much decided we don't want to do this again.

I feel obligated to note that I love Simon and he is absolutely amazing and wonderful. But sometimes I miss the absolute freedom I enjoyed before. I know we've been incredibly blessed with an easy pregnancy, birth, and a healthy baby. I just didn't expect raising a child to be so challenging and all-consuming. I don't know what I expected.

PS I'm getting really good at typing one handed.

(Post a new comment)

Erik's take on things.

erike
2008-04-17 11:51 pm UTC (link)

We just talked about this today at lunch, but I still can't help but get teary eyed when I read this. Parenting is such a difficult thing and parents do a horrible job of describing what it's like. It's weird when all people can say about having kids is "it will change your life," or "they're the best thing to happen to me"...that just doesn't do it justice and sometimes seems like the biggest load of BS.

I love Simon and I want to have a son, but having a three month old baby that requires so much constant attention is fucking hard and I can't wait until he starts to speak and tell me funny things. Watching him grow up is really cool and I'm excited to start teaching him things and learning about how he sees the world.

The advice "it gets better" is REALLY good advice...so we will hang in there and continue to give Simon what he needs and give each other what we need as well.

I love you!

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	Re: Erik's take on things. sugabeats 2008-04-18 12:12 am UTC (link)
	Thank you for chiming in - I love you too! Maybe we can come up with a word. I like Theresa's suggestion of intense. Parenting is INTENSE. (Reply to this)(Parent)

kikifitz
2008-04-18 12:17 am UTC (link)

I'm sorry but this post made me laugh :o)
I know what you mean though...noone REALLY tells you what you're in for but I think it's because they don't want to scare you with their horror stories and honestly....once you get through them and get past those sleepless nights....it's easy to forget how hard it once was. We had PLENTY of nights where he just wouldn't stop crying and neither of us knew what to do and it's hard to calmly communicate to eachother during those times....you just want to toss the baby at the other person and head for the hills!!

I didn't have a livejournal back when Jack was first born but you can bet a lot of my posts would have been "Eff this" "this effing sucks" "we're not having any more kids" but then it really does get better and you start to miss those early times when all they did was lay there! Believe me....sooner or later you will be saying this is the best thing that ever happened to you. Might be a few more months though :o)

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	sugabeats 2008-04-18 12:45 am UTC (link)
	LOL! I'm glad you're amused and not thinking I've got the PPP (postpartum psychosis). I can't believe so many people choose to have kids, much less more than one, but we all know I haven't reached the "best thing that ever happened to me" stage. I wish you had an LJ back then, it might comfort me to read more "Eff this' posts. :) (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	kikifitz 2008-04-18 12:56 am UTC (link)
	Just you wait til you see my posts come July! I'm sure they won't be all that pleasant :P (Reply to this)(Parent)

i've had my lj for six years

thesynergizer
2008-04-18 04:45 am UTC (link)

http://thesynergizer.livejournal.com/115040.html

http://thesynergizer.livejournal.com/118060.html

and this, just for ego reasons

http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2006/03/19/weeklyfeatures_sunday/features_sunday.2.txt

and this one is from way far in the future from where you are, but i think it's a good read anyway. get the book i mention. you will be a happier person, i promise.

http://thesynergizer.livejournal.com/123271.html

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Re: i've had my lj for six years

sugabeats
2008-04-18 08:55 pm UTC (link)

1. I love that he smiles back at me now! And as far as the sex, the first time we tried we mistakenly bought "warming" lube. I did not like that at all!! The last thing I wanted was a burning sensation!

2. OMG!!! That is hysterical!!

3. Awwwwww - so cute! And great photo of you two!

4. Ooh! Good news - I already have that book. Lots of good tips too...for later. I'm not ready to get up at 8am!

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Re: i've had my lj for six years

thesynergizer
2008-04-18 09:52 pm UTC (link)

1. holy dying death of insane horribleness. that's like my worst nightmare!!!!!

2. i know. everyone else seemed to think so. i figured you could use a little comic relief.

3. tee hee. he was so teeny tiny!!!!!

4. practice using the tips now!!!!!! especially putting him down for at least one nap awake. i know it's horrible and not very AP because you just want to hold him forever and cuddle forever and cuddle and hold him and stare at him while he sleeps because he's so very beautiful, but take it from me (and

katielovesjoel too, i'm sure) work on sleep BEFORE sleep is the only thing you can think about and you're feeling hopeless about changing anything.

maybe try getting up at 9? it's really true about babies and earlier schedules. and yes, i still have trouble and wish i could hit the snooze button. but hey, what are you going to do?

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thesynergizer
2008-04-18 12:29 am UTC (link)

i laughed too.

seriously, the reason it's nearly impossible to get pregnant when your baby is only 3 months old is because no one needs to go through it again that fast. but seriously, when simon does get bigger and can tell you stuff and you can teach him about the world, then you will look at your friends' little itty bitty babies and be nostalgic for when he was so teeny tiny.

no. really.

when he pours a gallon of red paint on your carpet. when he pulls the fireplace face down on himself. when he shoves kleenex up into his nose. when he jumps straight into the deep end of a swimming pool, or perhaps the pacific ocean. when he does it more than once.

you will miss the days of him just sleeping in your arms and nursing all day.

you forget about the crying. your brain blocks it for you. it's called "survival of the speicies"

PS: can't wait to see you guys tomorrow! if you want, we can swap kids for the afternoon :-P

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	sugabeats 2008-04-18 12:51 am UTC (link)
	LOL! If you say so :) I don't think I want to swap just yet...Ben would probably wear me out in 10 minutes! (Reply to this)(Parent)

amanda_mary
2008-04-18 01:03 am UTC (link)

Oh my god, everything you've said is completely true. Of course, I did have a colicky baby (or "high needs" as Dr. Sears would have it), and I'm not a "baby person." I mean, yes, they are amazing, and cute, and it's absolutely fascinating to watch a person develop from a squishy, crying lump into something with personality and free will and whatnot. But that doesn't do a lot to cushion the blow!

It really does get better, though -- your mom was right. So far, I've noticed that there are positives and negatives to each developmental stage. With a toddler, you can look forward to a lot more independence and less non-stop nursing insanity ... and you can also "look forward to" having an entire roll of toilet paper unfurled all over the dining room, and a box of baking soda emptied onto the laundry room floor in the span of five minutes. Not that I speak from experience ;-)

I don't know what I'm going to do with another one, though. Seriously. Don't even want to think about it most of the time!

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	sugabeats 2008-04-18 02:56 am UTC (link)
	Seriously! I guess I was expecting a prize or something for going through labor. HA! Oh wow. I can't even imagine life with a colicky baby! Congratulations to you for making it!! I also can't imagine two! Maybe with a full time nanny (free of charge, of course) and even then, I don't know...sorry I can't come up with anything more supportive. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	amanelle 2008-04-18 01:17 am UTC (link)
	Yeah, thanks for saying that. I'm feeling every bit of it today. Tommy is 2 and half weeks old and I'm tired of crying and wiping a poopy butt. I love him dearly and he was worth it, but never ever again. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	sugabeats 2008-04-18 02:57 am UTC (link)
	Seriously! (Reply to this)(Parent)

loveyoumom
2008-04-18 02:57 am UTC (link)

wow, I didn't laugh, I cried. Thanks for the compliment. You're right, parenting sucks, but its great, and it gets better and better. Sometimes life sucks, work sucks, home sucks. But other times it is beyond words - fantabulous (thats my made up word). What could be better that a beautiful grown daughter with a wonderful husband and son and the excitment of spending time with them. What could be more exciting then family outings to see the cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents - its life, and life is grand. This too shall pass, and way more quickly than you think. All of a sudden the babies are grown and gone and you say "oh my, I hope all goes well" cause I love you sooooo much. MOM

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totinette
2008-04-18 06:19 am UTC (link)

I thought I might never want to have kids after being 10 and 13 when my brother and sister were born. I got a really close-up look at how much work having a baby is, without even having to be the one up all night. Somewhere along the way my switch flipped and here I am...so you can remind me in the fall (when you're past this point and things are getting better - because I'm confident that they will) that things will get easier for me too, okay? :) And you may say you don't want to do this ever again, but I have a handful of friends who have said the same thing and now that their babies are older, are really wanting another one. Hang in there!

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	sugabeats 2008-04-20 09:32 pm UTC (link)
	Well at least you have an idea! I had no idea. I never even babysat a baby before. I will remind you for sure, as long as things do get better! ;) (Reply to this)(Parent)

tribaldancer
2008-04-18 06:22 am UTC (link)

I am so sorry that you are feeling tethered and tired right now. It's all the reasons I have known I don't want children (at least not now)--I am not ready for the commitment and sacrifices that you guys are going through.

BUT

You guys are gonna be having so much fun with this little guy--already I have loved bearing witness to you you both discovering Simon day by day, and how it has brought you both together (even if at times it may feel like it pulls you apart). There is magic in what you are doing, and magic is not effortless. It is draining and complex...and rewarding and deeply spiritual and colorful in every way you can imagine. And maybe you didn't really understand the depth of what you were getting yourself into, but of course in a year from now you will have a better grasp on it all. And years from now, you WILL get little longings and tugs to have another, even if you decided you never will. Because it is human instinct--your humanity will betray you! LOL I have friends who have multiple kids who say they never want to go through all that again..and they still get waves of "I want another baby" pangs. God gives you the first one as a "gateway drug" to get you to want more...LOL!!!

I think you guys are gonna be great parents! (not that I don't think you're good now, but that you will see how great you are, too, in time :)

Edited at 2008-04-18 06:25 am UTC

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	sugabeats 2008-04-20 09:34 pm UTC (link)
	Thanks Sharon, as always, you are such a wonderful friend! (Reply to this)(Parent)

chelseaskinbyrd
2008-04-18 12:37 pm UTC (link)

Every mom out there feels like this sometimes! If they don't admit it, it's because they are lying or taking too much Prozac. Being a mom is HARD. Really hard. It does get easier and you will fall more and more in love with him, but it happens in stages. I remember each time Takeshi hit a big milestone that he became easier to take care and (I hate to say it, but...) more enjoyable. When Simon walks up to you when you're having a bad day a year from now and gives you a big kiss and hug you will have completely forgotten about all of this.

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	sugabeats 2008-04-20 09:37 pm UTC (link)
	Thank you for the support! I am falling more in love with him, for sure :) (Reply to this)(Parent)

katielovesjoel
2008-04-18 02:33 pm UTC (link)

This post made me laugh, too. Oh my gosh, Amy. It does get better. I cannot tell you how many times we heard that when Rosemary was a baby (and she was colicky, and had a milk sensitivity, and could be comforted by very few things other than walking up and down the stairs for hours at a time). And "it will get better" was the only comforting thing anyone could say to us. Honestly, the first year of her life was really. really. hard. I mean, 6 months was easier than 6 weeks - but it was still hard.

But now Rosemary is almost 2 and she is such an intense part of me that I couldn't imagine it any other way - and I wouldn't want to imagine it any other way. And of course, now that she's 2, people keep saying, "isn't it almost time for you to have another one?" My response: "I'm only just now getting to the point where the thought doesn't mortify me."

If I didn't have the experience of my dad being an only child, I would probably be more gung ho about not having other kids. I just feel so bad for only children - my dad's father died young, and his mother had all sorts of issues. My dad was stuck taking care of her with no support from anyone. He had to go through all of it alone. And he also has all sorts of "only child" expectation issues.

Anyway, I'm not sure if I typed complaint posts in my LJ when I had Rosemary, but if I didn't it is only because I didn't have the energy for it. When Joel was home for the first couple of weeks after we had Rosemary, we had plans for him to build a fence. Hardy har. We barely had time to put the dishes in the dishwasher.

This response is kind of all over the place - but I also wanted to say that I really think consecutive children are a little easier. You know what to expect, you know what kinds of things you'd like to do differently, and it's not such an overall shock to your system. I have often heard that the first child is a shock to the system like none other.

And I also think that older children with siblings are probably a little easier to handle than only children. For example, say you want to go to the beach. Well, kid 1 and kid 2 can entertain each other while you lay on a towel with a book. ;-) If you don't have kid 2, then kid 1 needs a lot more attention ... and you probably don't get to read your book. :P

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	katielovesjoel 2008-04-18 02:34 pm UTC (link)
	P.S. Not all kids dump red paint on the carpet and pull down fireplaces. :P Rosemary's pretty much the easiest kid in the world as far as that stuff goes. We don't even have to put child locks on the cabinets, because on the rare occasion Rosemary opens a cabinet, all we have to do is ask her to close it please. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

thesynergizer
2008-04-18 05:59 pm UTC (link)

LOLOLOL!!!!!!!

it's true. mine is extra special. :-)

and also, you did post about rosemary and how you wanted to walk off a cliff quite a bit between ages 6 months and maybe 14 months? before she was a sleeper, she wasn't. you wrote about taking turns with joel, each of you walking her, holding her, shhhing her, giving her bottles, and nothing would get her back to sleep and you'd be up all night and miserable the next day.

i remember reading each one word by word and thinking "thank goodness i'm not alone in this"

Amy: It does get better. Once you start getting some sleep, you'll be in a much better mood to deal with the rest of it.

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	sugabeats 2008-04-20 09:44 pm UTC (link)
	Thank you for the support! I do want Simon to have a sibling, but I'm not sure I want to go through all of this again...you know? You know. If (and that's a HUGE if) we do have another baby, I want to be in MN as close to as many of our family members as possible. And maybe also a full time nanny. I've decided a 3:1 adult to baby ratio is good. :) (Reply to this)(Parent)

	thesynergizer 2008-04-18 06:00 pm UTC (link)
	i agree too, though i know you were thinking about having just one even before simon arrived, but even ben the disater-finder is a ton easier to handle when he has a friend to play with. sometimes i think he goes and finds trouble because he is bored. :-) (Reply to this)(Parent)

iloveaslan
2008-04-18 04:08 pm UTC (link)

I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. Adam and I both thought we were hit by a truck the first three months. I felt so guilty for just wanting an evening to myself, or just one whole night of sleep [please!], or just a couple hours of no responsibilty. Parenting was such a huge adjustment, and as much as I love my daughter, I wasn't ready for it at all.

It was especially hard [I think] because of nursing - I am the only one [besides a very occassional bottle] that can feed Winter, and it makes me have more responsibilty than my husband [At least, that's the way it feels]. I hardly think about it anymore - she is eating so fast and has less feedings - but the first 3 months that would make me really frustrated.

But I will chime in like everyone else and say that [at least for me] something happened after 3 months and things seem calmer, 'normal' [a new definition of normal], and fun. I still have days that I want just a little of my old life back, but it does seem to get better and better. And I actually have had the desire to have another kid, which I definetly didn't feel the first 3 months. :)

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	katielovesjoel 2008-04-18 04:40 pm UTC (link)
	You have??? Already?? That's amazing. You're a rock. It took me about a year and a half to want more kids. I had a little scare that I was pregnant when Rosemary was about 8 months old and I cried for a week. I had another scare a couple of months ago and I was secretly hoping I was. :-) (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	iloveaslan 2008-04-19 01:10 am UTC (link)
	I thought maybe you had a little scare, and I didn't want to ask in case you were and didn't want to tell anyone. :) Yeah, I'm not sure why, but I really feel good about more babies. We do want to wait 2 years, but we'll see what happens. :) (Reply to this)(Parent)

sugabeats
2008-04-20 09:52 pm UTC (link)

I agree with you about nursing. We have never even tried a bottle and most of the time I enjoy or at the very least don't mind feeding him. Sometimes I do wish Erik could whip out a boob too and share the responsibility! But not enough to try bottles just yet. One of the biggest things that have helped me is to try and relax. My "job" right now is to take care of Simon so I really don't have to be anywhere other than with him. If I try to relax a bit and go with the flow, I'm much happier. If things don't get done, whatever. I try to remind myself to relax if I'm getting a bit too stressed out.

I really like to read your posts about how you spend your day since Winter is just a little bit older than Simon. :)

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iloveaslan
2008-04-22 04:56 pm UTC (link)

I had to tell myself that a lot, too - it's my 'job' and that it's okay to relax and just enjoy baby. It's hard for me - I feel like I need to accomplish certain things every day in order to feel productive. Adam is great about supporting me in taking care of baby, but I still feel bad when he comes home from work and the house is a wreck and Winter and I are playing or something.

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	sugabeats 2008-04-22 09:59 pm UTC (link)
	I agree. I guess I feel like I'm working up to that. Ideally the baby would be happy, the house cleanish, and dinner close to done when Erik gets home from work. And we can all go on a walk after dinner. Every once in a while it works out that way :) It is so wonderful to have a supporting partner. I can't even imagine doing this alone. (Reply to this)(Parent)

poxlom
2008-04-18 05:40 pm UTC (link)

Nice. I am always hearing how fantastic it is, when it always sounded to me more like what you're experiencing. So by nice I mean it's good to hear something a bit more realistic-sounding about rearing a baby.

That said, I do believe it will get better, and if I'd reared a child, I might have some words of wisdom. But I didn't. So I don't. Oh, wait, I know. Here's my tip: whiskey. Lots and lots of whiskey. For all three of you.

You're welcome!

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	sugabeats 2008-04-20 09:53 pm UTC (link)
	LOL! Thanks for the tip :) (Reply to this)(Parent)

hipgal
2008-04-19 07:50 am UTC (link)

It does get better for sure. You are probably super sleep-deprived right now and that is making everything else seem so much more overwhelming.

My favorite baby age is between 6 months and 18 months. That is a pretty nice stretch before the "terrible twos" start up. It is too bad that people don't warn you about the "terrible zeros"! Newborns are definitely very very needy. Hang in there!

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	sugabeats 2008-04-20 09:56 pm UTC (link)
	I don't even know if I'm super sleep-deprived! That's a sad thing. I must be! Simon and I frequently "sleep" in so I can squeeze in more sleep, but generally I'm not the type to be in bed till noon! I'm looking forward to 6 months - I just found out we can take baby swim "lessons" at the pool once he's 6 months! Thank you for the support! (Reply to this)(Parent)

celisejane
2008-04-19 03:40 pm UTC (link)

It does get MUCH MUCH better. Honestly, you are coming around the bend right now. Primate babies are born being able to "hold on tight" for a reason. =) Newborns are clingy and needy and messy and loud at times. You are anxious for him to be interactive and that's understandable. He may not be able to talk very soon but let me tell you... he is going to be super interactive in just the next few months. By 6 months he will be sitting up and PLAYING. There are great things every step of the way. He is already starting to verbalize with responsive cooing right? That's so cool! Wait until the babble starts. It's like secret baby language and you can babble right back and he will think that's amazing. Right now, keep talking to him and reading to him. The more language you flood him with, the sooner he will be talking back to you!

When things would get sticky with Claire, or other babies I have cared for, I would always remind myself that one year from then, she would be a totally different baby. Simon will be a little walking, talking, playing, falling-down, silly, huggable, adorable toddler before you know it. It's hard right now, but it gets about a million times better. He will always be a top priority, and your life has changed but the good stuff is going to start coming in a rush before you know it. I promise!

Ask for help, ask for a break if you guys need it. You know you can call me anytime. I could come over and just hold him so you can both have free hands! You are wonderful and loving and attentive parents. You are both doing a great job!!! It's ok to want a little time for yourselves as well. I can help out... it's what I DO... and it's what friends do for each other.

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	sugabeats 2008-04-20 10:04 pm UTC (link)
	Thank you Celise! I really appreciate your kind words - you are such a great friend! And I will call you for help, to be sure! Thank you so much! :) (Reply to this)(Parent)

bassgoddess69
2008-04-20 01:31 pm UTC (link)

Awww. Your mom. She says it all. Love you MK! Although I will agree parenting is the most single handedly difficult thing I have attempted. It's moment to moment; day to day. You never know what is going to happen, and you feel like you are not prepared for any of it.... Some parts get better. Others. Hmmm. You're both doing a great job! Hang in there Kids. We are all rooting for ya!

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	sugabeats 2008-04-20 10:05 pm UTC (link)
	Thank you Cherre! :) (Reply to this)(Parent)

barbkraemer
2008-04-25 03:40 pm UTC (link)

I thought this was really cool...

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers
in their arms, wiping up barf laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry
Kool-Aid saying, 'It's okay honey, Mommy's here.'

Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying
babies who can't be comforted.

This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in
their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.

For all the mothers who run car-pools and make cookies and sew
Halloween costumes.
And all the mothers who DON'T.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see.
And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.

This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging
on their refrigerator doors.

And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at
football or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of
their cars.
And that when their kids asked, 'Did you see me, Mom?' they could
say, 'Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world,' and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery
store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for
ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten
instead, but realize how child abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and
explained all about making babies. And for all the (grand)mothers who wanted
to, but just couldn't find the words.

This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat.

For all the mothers who read 'Goodnight, Moon ' twice a night for a
year. And then read it again, 'Just one more time.'

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their
shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who
opted for Velcro instead.

This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their
daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a
little voice calls 'Mom?' in a crowd, even though they know their own
offspring are at home -- or even away at college -- or have their own
families.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with
stomach aches, assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only
to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick
them up. Right away.

This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find
the words to reach them.

F or all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their
14 year olds dye their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and
the mothers of those who did the shooting.

For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front
of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from
school, safely.

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be
peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad
hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a
shirt, all at the same time? Or is it in her heart? Is it the ache she
feels when she

watches her son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school
alone for
the very first time?

The jolt that takes her from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M.
to put her hand on the back of a sleeping baby?

The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when she just
wants to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in her
home?

The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for
young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation.

And for mature mothers learning to let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.
Single mothers and married mothers.
Mothers with money, mothers without.
This is for you all. For all of us...
Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can.

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The good, the bad and the ugly!!!
(Anonymous)
2008-04-25 03:55 pm UTC (link)

It does get better some days, but there are really tough days too. Today, Brooke threw a huge fit (one of the worst ones so far). I was so frustrated I could have screamed!!! But at the end of her twenty minute rampage I held her on my chest and she fell asleep after telling me she wasn’t ready to talk yet (after a tantrum or timeout session we talk about it). As she fell asleep on my chest I couldn't remember the last time she had done that; maybe two years ago? It felt really good to just hold her and it calmed both of us down! I love being a Mom! I also like remembering what it was like to not be tied down and to be able to leave the house in a second. Now, I am usually late, often forgetting something at home and it takes almost a half hour to prepare to leave. Plus, getting a 3 year old into a car is a job in itself!!! The reality is it gets better but there are always things to complain about! I can’t wait to have another child though because it is so worth it! Love you and hang in there! Can’t wait to see you guys!

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sugabeats
2008-04-25 06:35 pm UTC (link)

Thanks Barb - that made me cry!

It's funny, ever since I wrote this post things have been really good. Simon and I have been having fun and he's so very cute, you know! I'm glad I got it out there and received such wonderful support from everyone, it really made me feel a lot better.

I can't believe how well Brooke talks now! I chatted with her on the phone last weekend and was so surprised to hear how clearly she talks now - I guess I need to call y'all more often, geez!

I'm excited to see you too in July - Hooray!!

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	barbkraemer 2008-04-25 06:49 pm UTC (link)
	I cried too! It doesn't take much:D She is getting big thats for sure...she would love to talk to you!!! We watched the video of Simon and I think she thought she was making him smile because she kept saying "Hi buddy". It was really cute. (Reply to this)(Parent)

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