Cue Enya-style Titanic music...
"It's been over two years, and I can still feel the keyboard beneath my fingers..."
I suppose there are people I could apologize to, the way I apologize to myself, or my future grandchildren, whenever I'd go months without updating my journal. I haven't really thought about this blog for ages, and a lot has changed since I created it. Well, that's sort of true. I actually just spent the last 5 minutes or so reading the only two posts I made back then, and actually, it's not too different. New baby? Check. Big life goals? Sure, still there. The scenery is sure different. As is the company. While Little is in her room (not napping, mind you, for the fourth day in a row..), I'm typing this with one hand, as I've got a 4-week-old asleep in the other.
That's the real change. I'm now the stay-at-home mom in Utah Valley of a spirited toddler (Little) and brand new baby (Mouse). And it's friggin' hard. Like, SO hard. So hard that cleaning things in my home now
comforts and calms me. Let that sink in for a minute! I've been scouring the internet lately for any bits of advice on transtioning from one child to two and the best, most comforting thing I've read so far is this:
There will be moments of chaos
It will happen. Things will get crazy, people. Both kids will be screaming their lungs out for different reasons and you will have to assess which crisis is the most critical to address. Or they will both be in the car and each other’s crying will just escalate the other’s fit. Or your toddler will have a massive tantrum at the exact time your baby decides to have a massive blowout while you are changing him. Or they both will be at their wit’s end in need of a nap and you have to decide who to put down first and who to let cry until you can put them down. Just know there will be crazy moments. What has helped me get through these moments is a little trick I learned from the book, Loving the Little Years. In the midst of chaos, tell yourself, “This moment will pass. In 10 minutes this will be over…” This little phrase has kept me sane through quite a few insane moments. [x]
I read this a day or two after having my first completely insane moment.
I'll share it by first stating that whoever invented the phrase "sleep when the baby sleeps" only had
ONE child. That crap is pretty much impossible with two, but I was tired and hoping this was the day I could make it happen. I was wrong. Mouse was sleeping and Little was, unfortunately for me, fighting her nap. I have to check on her regularly to gently remind her to that it's time to sleep, and to make sure she hasn't dug into her diaper. It was time again and the second I hit the hallway, I knew it had already happened by the smell. It was bad. How many times can one clean poop from crib rails before it's unusable? I put Little in the tub and let her play, unsupervised while I cleaned up the mess. (Drowning hazard, anyone?? Parent of the Year award!) About halfway through cleaning, Mouse woke up demanding to be fed. I finished as quickly as I could and moved on to clean and re-dress Little in the bathroom. All the while I could hear this newborn screaming her little lungs out. I then took the time to wash my hands with the scalding water from my sink, and still they smelled no matter how hard I scrubbed. I finally made up a bottle and got to Mouse and fed her with my stupid poop/soap hands. It was too late in the afternoon to try to get Little to nap, so she ran freely about the house, getting into who knows what, in full knowledge that I couldn't leave my post to stop her. I was angry, tired, grossed out, and so overwhelmed by what was taking place. I fed the baby and just sobbed. Little would run in, look at me, and then disappear. I wondered what goes through tiny children's minds when they see their parents cry. I said a silent prayer and quickly calmed down. It was over, but I was convinced I'd gotten myself into something I was not equipped to handle now or ever. After all that, I began to clean up the house knowing that in 30 minutes Nathan would be home and I wouldn't be alone in this crazy scenario (ever again, I hoped).
But I learned quickly that it probably will happen again. And again. And again. And that's okay, but I doubt it will get any easier. That's when comfort comes from other places:
“You are doing God's work. You are doing it wonderfully well. He is blessing you, and He will bless you, --even--no, especially--when your days and your nights may be most challenging. Like the woman who anonymously, meekly, perhaps even with hesitation and some embarrassment, fought her way through the crowd just to touch the hem of the Master's garment, so Christ will say to the women who worry and wonder and weep over their responsibility as mothers, `Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.' And it will make your children whole as well.” - Jeffrey R Holland
I'm genuinely feel like I'm doing the best I can throughout this big change, and I don't think anyone would argue against that being enough. I know that these are the experiences that bridge the gaps between the beautiful and rewarding times.
Until we move on to the next super-hard phase, I'll pick up some good cleansers, buy stock in
EscapeeJays, and find solace in knowing that these chaotic moments will absolutely soon pass.
-Teri
3. There will be moments of chaos
It will happen. Things will get crazy, people. Both kids will be
screaming their lungs out for different reasons and you will have to
assess which crisis is the most critical to address. Or they will both
be in the car and each other’s crying will just escalate the other’s
fit. Or your toddler will have a massive tantrum at the exact time your
baby decides to have a massive blowout while you are changing him. Or
they both will be at their wit’s end in need of a nap and you have to
decide who to put down first and who to let cry until you can put them
down. Just know there will be crazy moments. What has helped me get
through these moments is a little trick I learned from the book,
Loving the Little Years.
In the midst of chaos, tell yourself, “This moment will pass. In 10
minutes this will be over…” This little phrase has kept me sane through
quite a few insane moments.
- See more at: http://thrivinghomeblog.com/2013/09/expect-transitioning-one-kid-two/#sthash.GP1Msrr4.dp
3. There will be moments of chaos
It will happen. Things will get crazy, people. Both kids will be
screaming their lungs out for different reasons and you will have to
assess which crisis is the most critical to address. Or they will both
be in the car and each other’s crying will just escalate the other’s
fit. Or your toddler will have a massive tantrum at the exact time your
baby decides to have a massive blowout while you are changing him. Or
they both will be at their wit’s end in need of a nap and you have to
decide who to put down first and who to let cry until you can put them
down. Just know there will be crazy moments. What has helped me get
through these moments is a little trick I learned from the book,
Loving the Little Years.
In the midst of chaos, tell yourself, “This moment will pass. In 10
minutes this will be over…” This little phrase has kept me sane through
quite a few insane moments.
- See more at: http://thrivinghomeblog.com/2013/09/expect-transitioning-one-kid-two/#sthash.GP1Msrr4.dpuf
3. There will be moments of chaos
It will happen. Things will get crazy, people. Both kids will be
screaming their lungs out for different reasons and you will have to
assess which crisis is the most critical to address. Or they will both
be in the car and each other’s crying will just escalate the other’s
fit. Or your toddler will have a massive tantrum at the exact time your
baby decides to have a massive blowout while you are changing him. Or
they both will be at their wit’s end in need of a nap and you have to
decide who to put down first and who to let cry until you can put them
down. Just know there will be crazy moments. What has helped me get
through these moments is a little trick I learned from the book,
Loving the Little Years.
In the midst of chaos, tell yourself, “This moment will pass. In 10
minutes this will be over…” This little phrase has kept me sane through
quite a few insane moments.
- See more at: http://thrivinghomeblog.com/2013/09/expect-transitioning-one-kid-two/#sthash.GP1Msrr4.dpuf
3. There will be moments of chaos
It will happen. Things will get crazy, people. Both kids will be
screaming their lungs out for different reasons and you will have to
assess which crisis is the most critical to address. Or they will both
be in the car and each other’s crying will just escalate the other’s
fit. Or your toddler will have a massive tantrum at the exact time your
baby decides to have a massive blowout while you are changing him. Or
they both will be at their wit’s end in need of a nap and you have to
decide who to put down first and who to let cry until you can put them
down. Just know there will be crazy moments. What has helped me get
through these moments is a little trick I learned from the book,
Loving the Little Years.
In the midst of chaos, tell yourself, “This moment will pass. In 10
minutes this will be over…” This little phrase has kept me sane through
quite a few insane moments.
- See more at: http://thrivinghomeblog.com/2013/09/expect-transitioning-one-kid-two/#sthash.GP1Msrr4.dpuf
3. There will be moments of chaos
It will happen. Things will get crazy, people. Both kids will be
screaming their lungs out for different reasons and you will have to
assess which crisis is the most critical to address. Or they will both
be in the car and each other’s crying will just escalate the other’s
fit. Or your toddler will have a massive tantrum at the exact time your
baby decides to have a massive blowout while you are changing him. Or
they both will be at their wit’s end in need of a nap and you have to
decide who to put down first and who to let cry until you can put them
down. Just know there will be crazy moments. What has helped me get
through these moments is a little trick I learned from the book,
Loving the Little Years.
In the midst of chaos, tell yourself, “This moment will pass. In 10
minutes this will be over…” This little phrase has kept me sane through
quite a few insane moments.
- See more at: http://thrivinghomeblog.com/2013/09/expect-transitioning-one-kid-two/#sthash.GP1Msrr4.dpuf
3. There will be moments of chaos
It will happen. Things will get crazy, people. Both kids will be
screaming their lungs out for different reasons and you will have to
assess which crisis is the most critical to address. Or they will both
be in the car and each other’s crying will just escalate the other’s
fit. Or your toddler will have a massive tantrum at the exact time your
baby decides to have a massive blowout while you are changing him. Or
they both will be at their wit’s end in need of a nap and you have to
decide who to put down first and who to let cry until you can put them
down. Just know there will be crazy moments. What has helped me get
through these moments is a little trick I learned from the book,
Loving the Little Years.
In the midst of chaos, tell yourself, “This moment will pass. In 10
minutes this will be over…” This little phrase has kept me sane through
quite a few insane moments.
- See more at: http://thrivinghomeblog.com/2013/09/expect-transitioning-one-kid-two/#sthash.GP1Msrr4.dpuf
3. There will be moments of chaos
It will happen. Things will get crazy, people. Both kids will be
screaming their lungs out for different reasons and you will have to
assess which crisis is the most critical to address. Or they will both
be in the car and each other’s crying will just escalate the other’s
fit. Or your toddler will have a massive tantrum at the exact time your
baby decides to have a massive blowout while you are changing him. Or
they both will be at their wit’s end in need of a nap and you have to
decide who to put down first and who to let cry until you can put them
down. Just know there will be crazy moments. What has helped me get
through these moments is a little trick I learned from the book,
Loving the Little Years.
In the midst of chaos, tell yourself, “This moment will pass. In 10
minutes this will be over…” This little phrase has kept me sane through
quite a few insane moments.
- See more at: http://thrivinghomeblog.com/2013/09/expect-transitioning-one-kid-two/#sthash.GP1Msrr4.dpuf
