Friday, March 15, 2013

On crying over spilt milk

Do you have days where you feel like everything is out of your control, where the only progress you make is on adding things to the to-do list? Days when your youngest son gets into the bathroom and plays with the potty his older brother just used while you’re trying to make breakfast? And then while you’re cleaning that up, the glass of milk you just poured yourself to drink while the boys eat breakfast gets spilled all over the library book and iPad? You know that day, the type where the entire contents of the boys’ wardrobe gets rearranged all over the room while you’re trying hard not to cry over spilt milk, and all this in the first thirty minutes of your day?
 
Well, on these days I try really hard to remember to get dressed before buckling Thing 1 and Thing 2 into their car seats and driving, anywhere really, in the hopes that by doing so the house will still be standing when we return.
 
I hit the drive thru and order a decaf caramel mocha coffee because I’m not kidding myself, I know I don’t need any more caffeine, just a cup of liquid sugar to keep my outlook on life sweet while the kid in the backseat asks his 200th question of the day.
 
I keep the Goldfish crackers coming after strapping both boys into one of those giant carts at the grocery store that are impossible to navigate unless you’ve had a cup of sugar and the other store patrons avoid you like the plague due to the wild look in your eye.
 
I call up my husband to meet him for lunch, just to share with him how *my day is going*.
 
I meet up with a friend who gets it, as she has three boys, and then proceed to spend entire time with said friend retrieving one son from precarious positions on stairs and furniture while attempting to corral the other and keep him from getting us kicked out of the coffee shop.
 
And then I cry, when I’ve gotten home and both boys fall asleep simultaneously, allowing me 30 uninterrupted minutes of cleaning the house before a salesman rings the doorbell and wakes them both up.

 
Of course I ask myself why my husband couldn't have walked in the door ten minutes earlier, instead of while I'm in the process of scrubbing the floor and removing the entire contents of the bunk bed to the washing machine after an unfortunate accident that could have been prevented had I not been busy changing the diaper and clothes of another member of the household.

I ask myself what my degree is worth when I deal with cooking, cleaning and bodily fluids all day, wonder what has happened to the intelligence I'm pretty sure I had at one point.

I ask myself where I lost myself along the way, and wonder if it's something I'll find again once the kids have grown, like an unmatched sock in the dryer lint trap. Which I then remember I need to empty. Mustn't forget to empty the lint trap.

22 comments:

  1. Oh no...not the potty! I know exactly how you feel....being a stay at home mum is the hardest job I've ever had and there have been times when I've felt like I was drowning in the thankless world of domestic drudgery. It's not selfish to try and find some time for yourself....it's essential! In what feels like five minutes they'll be grown up so you have to make sure that there's enough of yourself left over...for you. Hopefully tomorrow you can steal some time for you. Rx

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    1. "Make sure that there's enough of yourself left over... for you" - That's precisely it. But I do wonder, what is going to be there of "me" after raising these kids? It will never be like it was before kids, will it?

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  2. We all have those days. The number of times I've turned to my husband as he is about to leave for the day for work and said "can we swap today?". You can get a feel for how the day is going to go from the first hour really, can't you?! One great moment was when I was serving up (yet another) meal that was rejected by at least one loudly complaining member of the family and my husband in a well intentioned way said "you know, mummy used to be really smart before she had you" to the children. I replied "I thought I still was?" Sigh. They do grow up in the blink of an eye, and then you wonder where it's all gone. Hope you have a peaceful night and a better day tomorrow. xx

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    1. Thanks for the words of encouragement Heidi! Especially since you're outnumbered in your household AND have half the house under construction... Sigh.

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  3. Some days feel especially LONG. But if it makes you feel any better, it does get easier as the kids get older :) BTW, I'd love to see a photo of your pallet salad idea - do you have one to share?

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    1. Hmm, someone told me it gets easier once they turn two... Is there a certain age? Promise? :)

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  4. Bonjour Liene. What you are doing is the hardest thing of all. Putting your dreams and aspirations on hold, while you are raising these beautiful trouble-makers. I have more respect for you while reading this story, than for any one who has achieved a successful corporate career! Hang in there. Everyone has those days. A piece of advice though: As soon as they are a bit older, and even before that if you can manage it, get involved in something you are interested in and do it just for you. it can be volunteering, or better yet, make you some money. Never forget who you are while raising your children... :-) PS: Speaking from experience due to recent changes in my family situation... Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

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    1. I will have to find other hobbies, that's for sure. All of mine seem to be incompatible with children: camping, hiking, reading... Even blogging, although they sure do make for good material :) Thank you for your kind words and insight Veronique!

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  5. Mīlulīt - my heart goes out to you - it IS so hard remembering who you are, your own hopes and goals, when Things 1 and 2 seem to be taking up ALL the space in your soul... but consider that the most important thing you do right NOW is feeding their trusting souls; it WILL get less demanding, less exhausting, less chaotic, and (I never thought I would hear myself say this) it's all past before you know it! Your degree right now is worth every new word added to your sons' vocabulary and every glimpse of intelligence in their eyes when they "get" something and the pride your husband has in his beautiful sons. You've NOT lost yourself - you're channelling, for now, for today. Let the house be a mess. Don't do the dishes until you run out. Read every chance you get - with your sons or by yourself. Play loud music; make everyone dance until they fall down. Find new play groups. Eat Cheerios for dinner. Go yard-saling every Saturday (by yourself). Tomorrow will be better, or different, or it just will be; and that's ok. BELIEVE it when people tell you that raising children is the hardest, the most demanding, and the MOST important job you will ever have. Lots, bunches, avalanches of love to all of you....

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    1. Hmmm, let the house be a mess... Will you speak to Roberts on that point (and the Cheerios for dinner one)?

      Paldies mammīt, can't wait to see you (and let you handle the two troublemakers for a bit)!

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  6. Awwww... Wish I could have you over for a cup of coffee and give you a hand. I've only ever had one, but I think all mothers have had more days like that than they care to remember. I marvel all of the time that we are out of that stage, and honestly, how nice that is. I do think about starting all over again sometimes, though. (But the memory of these kinds of days does not make me overly eager.) I will say, it gets to be a lot of fun when they are a bit older, which will of course happen quickly, as they say. Everyone's so different-- I know plenty of people who miss having a little baby, and I absolutely do not. I wish I could have a six year old forever, though!

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    1. I miss having a little baby - they were a lot quieter, and would stay where I put them! :) I think the 1-2 stage is hardest for me, I've caught glimpses of the fun I'll have with them once they are a little older. Thanks for the kinds words!

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  7. AARRGGHH!! That's me letting out a scream for you!
    Dr. Sara prescribes bubbles + bubbles... one long bubblebath to be taken with Champagne.

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    1. Tell me the kids aren't in the bath too...

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  8. Ouuu! I know these days! Like you I also try to go out home and do something to distract kids and me from crying loud and in public!:) And these saleman/postman/and others who are always come when you settle your kids!!!! But in the end - tomorrow always come with new challenges and the old ones forgotten soon!:) Anyway you are the best mum for your boys and best wife for your husband! :) Sara's prescribe is specially for you!

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    1. Only she forgot the chocolate... or ice cream... or both!

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  9. I relate so much I could cry and I only have one although the second will be along in just a few weeks now. A couple weeks ago the first 30 minutes of our day was such an utter fiasco that I looked at my husband and said "you need to take over now because I'm about to really lose it at our son and I really don't want to do that". Some days with little ones are so wonderful you want to cry and some days there is no wonderful at all, just crying. Ugh. Sorry that the day was so rough. I hope that you got many, many extra hugs that night when your husband came home.

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    1. Thinking of you these days... Any day now I guess? May you have a beautiful birth, and waiting to see some beautiful pictures on your blog.

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  10. I think all of us who do most of the housework and care for our children feel the same... I am learning that we need an ocean of patience to cope with this. Take a deep breath there will be better days, we miss you around here! Angie

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  11. Lienīt,
    Mana mamma palika mājās ar mums, and I think it made all the difference in the world. Of course not perfection, but closeness irreplaceable........

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    1. Paldies Kate. Viņai ar bija divi puiši, bet then again, viņai bija vecākā meita kas palīdzēja ieturēt kārtību! Bučas.

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