17 different women, 36 crazy children, 0 babies in utero
Adventures, Advice and Questions from a group of Mormon women who met in Queens, NY and have now scattered all over the place.
 

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Surviving Motherhood

I LOVE being a mom! As a relatively new mom (10 months and counting) I can say, "so far so good". Baby T hasn't broken any bones, fallen off any beds, stuck his fingers in any sockets (yet). I've kept my house fairly clean (for my standards at least). I even had a Christmas tree and there were no major accidents. We giggle together, play and read stories. But of course, I have my days (and I'm assuming every mom does) where I realize that I depend on a few crutches to get me thru motherhood. Here are some:

CAFFEINE - Sorry but that's number one! How would I get thru my day sometimes without a 3pm caffeine kick. Thank you Coke Zero and Diet DR. Pepper.

OPRAH - It's true! Well, not just Oprah. I have my shows that I "let" myself watch if I happen to be around during those hours of the day and am feeling, let's say, a little overwhelmed by Baby T. Oprah's a big one since it comes on at the perfect time of day - 3pm. Also The View and maybe a little Rachael Ray.

DOUBLE NAP TIME - Thank goodness for two naps a day! When exactly do babies start giving up that second nap, because I'd like to hold onto it for as long as possible?!

MOMMY FRIENDS - Thank goodness for them. Enough said.

MCDONALD'S ICE-CREAM CONE - Something I can get in the drive thru that isn't SO bad for me and oh so yummy. Perfect for a 2pm sugar kick. They are even less than a dollar. And not having to get me and Baby T out of the car is priceless.

THE STROLLER - Get me out of the house! Let's run errands. Let's go to the park. Let's walk around the block in circles. I don't care, whatever. Sometimes it's what we BOTH need. Thank you Maclaren.

and of course...DH - there's nothing like the sound of the key in the door some nights. Especially when your DH works as long hours as mine does. There's also nothing like the smile on Baby T's face when daddy comes home.

What tricks do you have up your sleeve? During those witching hours or difficult days what are your vices? What helps you survive motherhood?

posted by Beth @ 1/13/2007 02:25:00 PM   add to kirtsy


15 Comments:

  • Having my two kids take naps at the same time, and allow me some down time or a nap myself, although my oldest won't always take naps even though he needs them.
    I always do better and feel better when I make time to exercise in the morning.
    posted by Blogger Erin at 1/13/2007 02:41:00 PM  



  • 1)Chocolate - any kind anywhere

    2)TIVO

    3)Lots of traveling and childrens museums and zoos and aquariums - the kids have a blast, they get used to different environments and have always played hard so they sleep solid.

    4)Weekly dates - thank you fabulous babysitters

    5)The Gym - me and the elliptical and my ipod - it's a beautiful thing

    6)Naps/quiet time - the 2 1/2 year old naps, the 4 year old has quiet time and I get a BREAK

    7) Time by MYSELF. Sometimes I need to hire a babysitter if DH is traveling or I wait until he's home and at least one kid is in bed. Maybe a little dinner at Baja Fresh, maybe some retail therapy - heaven - I try to do this once a week.

    8) My girls. You know who you are :)
    posted by Blogger chloe at 1/13/2007 06:44:00 PM  



  • Ebay,Craig'slist, HORCHOW.COM, Blog reading, and other assorted online sauntering! - When I need a little escape I just LOG-IN!

    I like to make frozen fruit smoothies using nearly ALL Fruit,a tad bit of juice, some fruit preserves, and nothing else. They are AN amazing energy booster!!

    Staying busy as well helps. Sometimes vacuuming really drowns out toddler/preschooler whining and even functions as a great distration tool! Haha!And I get a happy clean rug out of the deal.

    Enjoying them more via random playing, like yesterday we made a huge mountain of a down feather bed and pillows, and we all took turns jumping off an ottoman into them!! I was of course a silly monster jumping off and catching them with tickles.

    Date nights!!!!

    And yes Girls Nights Out are a must!
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 1/13/2007 09:10:00 PM  



  • Mine are a lot like everybody else:
    1-Chocolate (in any form)
    2-TV after kids' bedtime (TiVo!)
    3-Girls' Night out or lunch dates with friends
    4-Lots of Prayer
    5-Dates with DH
    6-Blogging
    7-Exercise
    8-Cold, cold water and a banana (or orange or apple) around 2PM
    9-Teaching Piano Lessons
    10-Just getting on the floor with my kids and playing with them for a while
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 1/13/2007 09:37:00 PM  



  • chocolate or regular rice krispy treats every day!
    posted by Blogger D-dawg at 1/13/2007 10:07:00 PM  



  • Oh this is so big for me. My DH is out of town A LOT, so I am left a single parent with 3 kids. AHHHHH! Sometimes you can go crazy if you don't have an outlet. I recently kicked the Diet Coke habit and started an exercise group every morning. It's great. I sleep and feel better and losing a few inches doesn't hurt. Tivo, Tivo, Tivo! What a great invention! I have decided this year, I am going to get a babysitter once a week and find something to do by myself or with others, doesn't matter. What I would give to have a Baja Fresh nearby! I also take my kids everywhere. Not many places to go where I live so we have to be creative. Sometimes we just go to the church and I let the kids run all over the gym! They get energy out and fall asleep fast. And absolutely, we do naps or "quiet time!"
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 1/15/2007 12:27:00 PM  



  • house warden - how could I forget exercise. I used to take a pilates class twice a week (when DH wasn't working like crazy) that SAVED me somedays.

    chloe - I am also a chocoholic. And I need to get TIVO for sure!

    rachel h - Yes to the Girls Night Out! And those smoothies sound really good.

    cheryl - I am intrigued by the "cold, cold water and banana around 2pm". Perhaps I should try that instead of my diet coke habit.

    denae - Yummm to the rice crispy treats.

    idaho - my DH works crazy hours too. I think I might need to look into getting a babysitter (or trading with another needy mom) for some "me" time during the week. I'm definitely not getting enough of that. Good idea.

    I thought of another one, too. The occasional US WEEKLY. I know it is trashy and bad, but it is totally mindless reading and an escape from reality for an hour. But I should probably try to kick this habit along with the diet coke :)
    posted by Blogger Beth at 1/15/2007 01:09:00 PM  



  • 5 1/2 month mom here. It's not that bad yet....

    but that being said...

    1) The gym - but for me, step aerobics.

    2) Dr. Pepper.

    3) The library. It's within walking distance, so we go there at least once every couple of weeks to pick up and drop off books. We'll most likely hit story time if we haven't moved by the time p-nut is old enough to enjoy it.

    4) Working part-time. I had a fabulous job before I had p-nut, and they are very very flexible now. I work 12 hours a week in office, and I leave baby with a babysitter (a lady in my ward.) I make no money after tithing, taxes, and sitter, but it's worth it to have time alone in a cubicle and with other adults.

    5) Laptop + wireless internet. I can sit wherever I have baby and blog or e-mail or chat with DH.

    6) Bi-weekly playgroup or time with other moms.

    I'm sure I'll have to implement some of these other suggestions as DS grows, i.e., becomes mobile. I also agree with the get a DVR suggestions. There are so many bad movies and British sitcoms to watch, and so little time.
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 1/15/2007 02:20:00 PM  



  • -I rely on a DVR show while I eat my lunch peacefully while the children rest/sleep. That is one of my favorite times of the day.

    -A pre-dinner bike ride/stroll around the block has been great for us these last few months. Not only do we all get some physical excercise, we get to enjoy being outside and we have been able to connect more with our neighbors.

    -Bathtime can always get us through nasty pre-bed attitudes. They are always happy and I get some time to read, talk on the phone or clean the bathroom.

    -Babysitting trades: I have an ongoing one right now with my VTer who also has a little boy Pumpkin's age. Every Monday morning we switch off babysitting (Princess is at school then). This means that every other Monday I have a good chunk of time with no kids. And the Monday's when I am watching her little boy, it is actually easier then when I am just watching Pumpkin by herself. The really keep each other entertained.
    posted by Blogger This is Carrie at 1/15/2007 02:59:00 PM  



  • FOOD:

    butterscotch krimpets and a dr. pepper.

    ACT II Microwave Popcorn

    Ben and Jerrys or Haagan Daaz pint

    A coke.

    FUN:
    A magazine...Real Simple, O or a parenting mag.

    READING.

    Scrapbooking.

    blogging

    a new tradition: dinner hour dance. We blast the music and dance together...the girls and me. They are getting to be great dancers despite their gene pool
    posted by Blogger Kage at 1/15/2007 04:27:00 PM  



  • It's been a LONG time since my son was that little... and I can relate to everything you said (except an ice cream cone here is $1.29, lol!)

    Go for a walk, a play date- even if baby doesn't play- it's more liek a mom date. We'd meet at the park and walk- all pushing strollers. It was fabulous.

    Oh, and because we were poor new parents, date night was often dancing to the radio with a nice smelling candle. Or playing rummy with the monitor next to us. :) I miss those kind of dates--- so memorable. :)
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 1/15/2007 08:24:00 PM  



  • -I second (or third) TIVO! Beth - pls get one!

    -Friends (my biggest one)

    -Date nights

    -Getting out of the house is key for us too, although we don't live in such a nice winter place, getting out of the house sometimes consists of getting straight into the car...can't wait for the days I can bust out the Maclaren for things other than the mall and museums!

    -My mom. She lives close and has become a major part of the "relief" part of my days.

    -Ben and Jerry's: Phish food please.

    -My iHome: allows me to blast fun music, energize me and my son and just be silly for a while. We love it!
    posted by Blogger Melissa at 1/16/2007 08:23:00 AM  



  • How could I forget the weekly "Go City Kids" newsletter? Love their top ten for the week - great ideas.
    posted by Blogger Melissa at 1/16/2007 08:47:00 AM  



  • I work PT from home and am on my laptop most of the day so my guilty mom pleasures are Perez Hilton (which occasionally needs to be censored) and reading blogs.

    Diet Sprite with grenadine OR with a Crystal Light Raspberry powder packet is the best head clearing drink on my home menu these days.

    And come Friday, the postman delivers my cherished US Weekly.
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 1/16/2007 11:11:00 AM  



  • Melissa - I just signed up for the "Go City Kids" Newsletter. Great stuff on there. Thanks for the tip!
    posted by Blogger Beth at 1/16/2007 12:48:00 PM  



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