oh sorry got carried away on beetles...
So yesterday, I wanted to post this in the moment, when all of my memories, excitement and frustations were fresh, but after 15 long hours of parenting, i collapsed in a heap of defeat and fell asleep.
As I layed there last night trying for 2 hours to get my normally very easily put to sleep baby to sleep I felt so sad about the day. Of course I was thrilled on a huge level about the end of a horrible 8 years.... 8 years that led to two costly, injust wars, a struggling economy, failed schools, a city under water, and i could go on and on and on....I was deeply touched to watch with my mom and Charlie Obama become our first Africa-American pres, and felt so proud that I was on the right side of history as far as supporting him in this whole messy election process.
But as far as my day as a mother of two young children, it was hard. I felt tired, and frustrated, and a bit like a failure, so as i laid there and tried to nurse to sleep my sweet kate for the millionth time I thought about what was good about my day and what was bad, and as i made this mental list I realized just like I used to realize all the time as a teacher, that the good way out weighed the bad. Here was my list.
What was hard about my day:
1. Charlie and Chloe fought over a bowling ball at playgroup, there were two balls so in my rational mind this shouldn't have been a problem...but they both wanted the red one. I never know exactly how to handle it. who had it first? I dont know. who took it away? I don't know.
2. Charlie got tangled up with two other little girls at playgroup and ended up somehow kicking one of them in the stomach. He has never done anything like it, and I was really upset.
3. Adam played tennis before and after work, which meant I was pretty much the sole parent from 7 am until 745 pm, and he couldn't come home for lunch.....
4.Charlie hit the baby a few times.
5. I had to do dinner, bath, and bedtime alone.
6. while charlie fell asleep in 20 minutes, I had this stupid idea that on this very day after months I would put kate in her crib for at least a little bit. after 3 failed attempts, she decided her 6 minutes of sleep meant she could play for 2 more hours.
What was great about my day:
1. I had a fun morning in the playroom with both kids.
2. they both ate eggs and oatmeal for bf
3. kate took a 45 minute morning nap, and we managed to go to playgroup
4. Charlie walked with me to playgroup and back
5. Charlie played very well for 1 hour and 20 minutes of playgroup
6. Both kids ate a healthy hearty lunch
7. we all took a 2 hour nap together
8. charlie played with mama for an hour while I took a great long walk to bank and bookstore with kids
9. I managed to feed both kids dinner, play, give bath, read stories, and get one kid asleep on my own.
10. We have a new president who I respect, trust, admire, and think is adorable.
11. we no longer have a president who lies, cant put a sentence together, and got us into two horrible wars where innocent people die daily.
so as you can see after going thru my list i realized, damn sarah that was a good day.
2 comments:
Days like this are rough! As a mother the lows are very low and the highs are very high...an emotional ride! You always seem to keep a good attitude, Sarah. I admire you for that:)
Thanks Amber, I do think attitude is everything, and I try to see the big picture and not get caught up in any one moment. Hard moments are usually followed by wonderful ones. Man, this is the toughest job I have ever had though. Hope you guys are well!
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