Today was one of those days in which I really questioned my right and/or ability to do this whole kid-raising thing. No, I'm not fishing for compliments because yes, they are happy and well-adjusted, so if that's any indication we're on the right track but still. I always have self-doubts when neither one of them nap - usually because I'm starting to feel insane - and I know that it's silly to a) take oneself so seriously and b) get so bent out of shape about events that are both out of my control and seldom-occurring but STILL. It gets to be 1:00 and then 2:00 and 3:00 and they are both SO TIRED; not to mention, my herbs are still unpotted, I haven't eaten anything since breakfast, my list of unfinished projects is growing in front of my eyes, and my base instincts are telling me to "just lay down on the couch for a minute ... they'll stop talking/crying/taking off his diaper/peeing on the crib sheet etc etc etc ... [me me me]" anyway, if I haven't painted an accurate photo for you of a Mother's Very Annoying Afternoon then you are very lucky, indeed. Or not. I don't know.
So as of late, one of the several banes - I'm quite doubtful "bane" can be pluralized, but whatever - of my motherly existence is that Tess is the most picky eater this side of the Mississippi. The only items of food that she will eat are 1) things that are shaped like Elmo and 2) things that are quesadillas. It's enough to make me crazy. From the time she began eating solid food until last week, she ate bananas. One time, she ate black beans. Another time, she had tofu. The next day, upon being offered the exact same soy-glazed tofu, she turned her head as if offended. She must have a really incredible sense of smell, for she can determine whether or not she'll be putting the "head turn refusal" into effect from 3 feet away. It's a real skill, I tell you. I'm only hoping that she'll turn into a real toddler foodie and branch back out into sweet potato fries and the lily pad pancakes I make out of frozen peas. Things that - you know - she ate a couple of months ago.
Thank the Lord God my mom took Finn to Waverly today. If she hadn't I'd surely be crying into my unpotted basil right this very second. He was so tired at 6 pm (post-non-nap) that they say he headed upstairs to run his own bath and go to bed. That's a kid who knows what he wants when he wants it. Especially after a bowl of ice cream (which I forgot to mention Tess will also eat). Wine, please!
8 comments:
I hear you, but just enjoy the kiddos....the time will pass very quickly and you will look back and treasure these moments.....
Well, you have me laughing...with (?) you ;) Love the honesty. Sounds like you are fighting a few battles. If it means anything, I do appreciate you giving me a heads up of what I most likely have coming up in the future! Hang in there :)
Love your writing. Plural of bane? Hysterical!
Seriously, everyone has those days and you ARE a great Mom, but are so entitled to look longingly at a couch and think "If only." Your kids are awesome and you're so much better than a lot of parents (well, me) about getting them to eat healthy, interesting foods. I highly doubt hot dogs and ramen noodles are in your repertoire of "quite usual suspects for dinner," but perhaps (mind you, just perhaps) they might be in mine. ;-)
They're loved to the nth degree and that's all that matters.
Motherhood sure makes you humble though, doesn't it? xoxo
Laughing too, with you of course. I'm been so in the woods with my kids the last two weeks. Picky eaters are enough to drive anyone crazy. That Finn is absolutely hilarious, I'm laughing again just thinking about him getting the bath ready.
This "anonymous" person must not have small children anymore and needs to let us borrow her time machine.
I just got caught up on your posts. I too know the non-nap days and stresses that come along with it. I just rejoice in the fact that those are the nights they go to bed super early and we get a quiet evening to ourselves ;) Finn's a funny little man and I love his sand table, what a lucky guy! Tess will get over her picky stage all kids go through it at some time or another. As long as she's eating 'something' (even if it is the same thing every day) who cares, she's eating right!! How's the plans for visiting NE coming along??
Helen never did nap. Still fights it when she's just too. exhausted. to. function. and then finally passes out mid-sentence. Poor kid. She really doesn't know what she's missing!!
Alice, on the other hand? Big napper. Except when big sister interferes. I have to run interference if Alice is napping because if you wake her before she's ready it takes a full 30 minutes for her to reboot, and she is SO grumpy for that 30 minutes.
I remember what you're going through so well, though. And while I do miss the chubby cheeks and adoration, I do not miss what the Anonymous Person is saying you'll miss. Maybe I will one day, but I really don't think that I'll ever really "miss" those days.
I might long for the simplicity of knowing what to expect, but it doesn't mean I'll really WANT it, you know? For instance, I know that it's going to be 100+ degrees in August here, but I don't pine for that kind of heat when I'm freezing in January...
I detest smug "Enjoy it while you can" people. They can just sod off. They're not in the trenches anymore; they don't get a vote.
Oh. And I'm an idiot. What I REALLY came here to post was that Helen would only eat brown things until she was about 7 and discovered raw baby spinach.
For the past 2 weeks I have purchased NO junk food at all, and the house has slowly become depleted as they've eaten through the last dregs of it. Now I can't keep enough grapes, carrots, strawberries, apples, spinach... !! And they're more pleasant and less hungry because they're eating decent food!!
But I remember those days. The only solid foods that Helen would eat from 6-12 months were sweet potatoes and pears. NOTHING else. Alice was willing to diversify because she needed more energy in order to destroy the world, I guess.
Meh. Calcium, calories, and sleep. That's all they really need anyway. Our pediatrician said not to worry about Helen because clearly her growth wasn't stunted. She'll be 9 on Sunday and she's 4'11". I'm not kidding. She's a stork.
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