Where has the time gone? Seriously, where???? Bramley is about to turn two. Secretly, all I can think is WOO HOO; I've kept her alive for TWO YEARS (and I haven't killed my husband in the process)! Thank you for all of your help with this.
What does the future bring? Potty training, moving to a big girl bed, molars, jumping off furniture, giving up the passy, asking to borrow my car keys... I can't even wrap my brain around it.
For now, my biggest challenge has nothing to do with the babe. It's all about managing my life. I feel like I am constantly spinning in circles. Quite frankly, I feel like I have twice as much time as a stay at home mom. I have 8 hours a day where i can control the chaos. Plus, down time means, uninterrupted time to surf the net for birthday gifts, check facebook, start my holiday card excel spreadsheet, pay the bills, read the Strength in Moms blog (go Katie!), while sitting comfortably in my desk chair and not having to bribe a 23 month old with fruit snacks and the promise of more bubbles. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love and adore Bramley. I cherish every minute we are together; but I just don't know if I could keep her engaged from sun up to sun down. I applaud all of you who chose to stay home; you are much stronger than me!
How do you manage it all? What are your tricks? How do you keep sane? Does anyone feel like me or am I just being a cry baby??? Give it to me straight ladies.
Girl! I think we are all just a little bit crazy! I have no tricks. I'm not sure I'm managing things well. I tune out. I bribe with whatever I can find in my purse (broken fortune cookie, lone tic tac dusty with purse dust, whatever!). I sometimes yell (yikes). But I'm sure I do some things right, too. At least I hope so! Like you said, she's still alive and smiling (most of the time, right?). Good job! The fact that you are asking and concerned proves you are a great mom. And hopefully the sanity comes back one day. I'll let you know if I find it!
ReplyDeleteI think everyone feels that way when their little babies reach that 2 year old mark. They are becoming little independent people with minds (and opinions) of their own. My little one turns 2 in exactly one week and she has recently started telling me what clothing she will and will NOT wear! (She dislikes jeans, by the way.)
ReplyDeleteAnd as far as managing it all---It's called coffee in the morning and wine in the evening! And knowing when you need to call a good babysitter, of course.
WOW! History repeats itself. I remember well asking myself the exact same thing when you were about to turn 2. My wonderful mentor mom, Esten, gave me some very wise advice: "Lower Your Standards!" What? Lower my standards? I felt like I was letting just about everything slide. But she was right. I was trying to do everything that I thought was critical issue to make a happy childhood and the standards I was using were not mine, but others. I was wrong. What mattered most was YOU - spending time wandering the park, looking at bugs, watching the wind with YOU!
ReplyDeleteSo, I threw in the towel and put my focus on enjoying you while I had you! Was I right? Absolutely... you turned out perfectly wonderful. So, my advice - Lower the Standards, particularly those that you didn't set, but caught from the world... carpe diem cum Bramley!