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Yesterday wasn’t one of our finest around here at the Whole Parenting household: Poor sleep with little SuperBoy’s enormous molars emerging on bottom, two rounds of throwing up for me, and a bucketload of new projects at work for AA. And it was Monday. Who also hates Mondays? But we survived and I reminded myself of a few things to help cope with pregnancy nausea and motherhood. 1) Low expectations of yourself. When you’re sick and yet simultaneously still mothering another human being outside of your womb, don’t expect much out of the bad days. Whether it means you are late to daycare & work, or you stay in your PJs all day, be forgiving! Although there were about 15 things that had to be…
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If your toddler also naps in the morning, when do you expect the bliss to end? J is 15 and a 1/2 months old. He still naps morning and afternoon, about two hours each. Before you hate me because my child likes sleeping, know that I think part is genetic (his dad is a sleep bear) and part is pure luck (he loves his bunny, his blanket, and his “bed”). When will this come to an end? At our 12 month visit, our family practice doc warned me that he would let me know when he was done with the morning nap. She predicted he’d fuss through the whole thing, or remain very alert and engaged in the morning, or just talk in his crib…
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The midwife of modern midwifery is coming to talk about birth and her new book in the Twin Cities, Tuesday, November 15th from 6-8pm. The discussion will be held at the U of M’s Coffman Union’s Great Hall. See here for details: http://birthmattersminnesota.eventbrite.com. It’s hosted by the U of M Nurse-Midwifery & ACNM-Minnesota program. They had previously sold all the tickets, but reopened the event with 80 new seats. Tickets are $10 and selling like hot cakes! Get out the word if you want to hear a legend speak on a topic we all care about: why the birth process matters for mamas and babies. See you there!
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Parenting is the paradox of joy and challenge. We give, but receive more. We suffer, but love the source of the suffering. We rejoice, but stay grounded in the possibility of another tantrum or explosive diaper. No one I’ve met wished they hadn’t had their children in their lives. Many people prefer not to have them and don’t. What are a few things we give up to be parents? Why is it worth it? 1) The obvious ones we give up. Sleep. Time alone. Time with our partner uninterrupted. Disposable income for hobbies. No responsibility for a dependent. Autonomy. Ease of travel. This is a lengthy but completely non-comprehensive list. Why on earth would a rational being give up all these freedoms? I can only…
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Help! Who has or had a toddler that is emerging into tantrumhood? This novice mama is shocked to have her precious perfect son suddenly go on 8 minute crying fits for no apparent reason (or for a reason that usually wouldn’t ignite such fervor). Dr. Sears and every available website has told me a variety of things including: 1) Acknowledge and identify the child’s emotion. J has few words, so I try to provide them for him. “It seems like you are frustrated because mama wouldn’t let you hit her with a croquet mallet.” Or “I think you are angry because you don’t get to have more time outside.” I try to hug him, and say I understand, but that X is a part of…
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1) I know the joy at the end of the 9 months. After being so sick with SuperBoy, and then the fabulous fantastic meeting and getting to know him, the sickness with this little one pales in comparison. My mom used to tell me during pregnancy number 1 that it was “all worth it” and that I’d “forget all about the sickness and then pain of labor and delivery.” She was totally correct about the former, but probably a little off on the latter, as her own last l&d was 26 years ago 🙂 2) Ice cream. Don’t tell my doula or midwife–but I love that I can indulge my sweet tooth more than during non-pregnancy (okay, they’re supportive). I’m usually a very fitness-conscious person.…
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