(image - hirslandenbaby.ch)
This post is for all the parents of young children. There is light, and even life at the end of the tunnel. Firstly, in regards to what for me, was the hardest thing about becoming a parent, sleep deprivation. Now I’m often awake before my children, and downstairs having a cuppa and reading the paper when they awake.
Organisation – when I leave the house, apart from suggesting they take a coat/take off the body warmer in summer ( which they don’t listen too) I only take my own things, I’ll repeat that, MY OWN THINGS. No bag full of changes of clothes, nappies, coats, snacks etc. Sometimes I haven’t even got a tissue with me. This doesn’t stop daughter asking me if I’ve got a bottle of water ( where would I have hidden it?!) but it does stop me being everyone else’s pack horse, as I was in those terrible post-pram years, when we could no longer laden the push chair with coats, shopping and school bags.
Also time organization, it no longer takes an hour to leave the house or a month to organize coffee with friends. You can be more spontaneous, not only in plans for the day but when you’re out you can decide to tag on a restaurant, or stay for dinner at friends without risking a meltdown or having to fetch sleepy bunny and friends.
They still say funny things from time to time but a lot of what they have to say is interesting too, and their sense of humor changes too.
I actually enjoy films I take them to see rather than using the latest Winnie the pooh installment to catch 40 winks, we keep a close eye on the trailers to decide what our next popcornfest will involve.
On the down side, putting the remote control on the top shelf won’t change a thing, the TV is no longer your own, and the bathroom still isn’t, rather than trying to get in with me they’re now trying to get me out to paint nails etc.
Basically, as you probably already know, all ages are scrummy, for different reasons. However it is a relief to find all those who frightened me with their “make the most of it, these are the best years” claims, were wrong, they were the best years, but these are too, and so are the next ones.