Balance

I gave birth to my 2nd daughter 2 months ago. I will blog about that another time.  At this moment I felt like talking about balance in my life...or lack there of some days.

Anyone who has ever told me "oh 2 kids is a breeze" flat out lied to my face. Don't get me wrong, I am madly in love with both my children, but juggling everything that needs to be done is for professionals....and I should have gotten more training!

I think the hardest part of having a 3yr old and a 2 month old  is how do I, on a DAILY basis, make special time for my first born? She is the most patient child in the universe. (a trait she did NOT get from her mother) She has sat on the couch eating dry cereal and drinking a sippy cup of milk many mornings while waiting for her baby sister to finish feeding...since mommy can't sit at the table and eat breakfast properly with her anymore. You know, with an actual spoon and milk IN the bowl....too messy for the couch, so sippy cups and dry cereal it is! Or toast. My couch, FYI, is desperately needing a shampoo this weekend!

Now this might sound like child labour with what I'm about to say, or as daddy calls it: "earning her keep". But I've made chores a fun thing. When there is laundry to be folded she is in charge of all tea towels.....even putting them away for me. She also fills up the toilet paper holder when its empty.....much appreciated. I get her to help unload the dishwasher, plastics only, and she puts them away after drying them with her tea towels, since plastic is never dry coming out of the DW....ever notice that? Weird. She has her very own Swiffer duster, that I change the fluffy thing weekly, and she dusts as high as she can reach. Such a helpful little lady. But if I don't get her to help me with these things I feel like we never spend any time alone together anymore. The newborn sucks up 98% of my time now.......which used to be 1st born's time!

I am happy to say there is no jealousy...yet. But I'm finding it tough to find those spare minutes in the day when the baby is asleep and we can have a moment together. Last week I asked my mother to babysit the baby so I could take love-child #1 grocery shopping with me. Another chore that needed to get done....but she thought she was helping me and she got to hold the list and shake every boxed good and slam it into the cart.....note to self never give her the taco kit or lasagna noodles!

Gone are our weekly craft days or leisurely strolling through Walmart. Everything is rushed, hurry before the baby wakes! I just want to find balance somehow to still give her all the attention she craves. Also to bring more fun back into her routine. I'm sure this will get easier as the newborn stops feeding every 3 hours and she can sit in a neglect-a-baby toy, you know those exersaucers...totally buying one for this kid!!

And after cooking Breakfast, Lunch & Supper, doing laundry, floors swept/mopped, vacuuming,  bathroom, toys picked up, appointment's gone to, a daily shower for me, groceries bought, toddler playtime, baby tummy time, collecting all garbages, and also trying to stage my house so we can sell it soon and move into a bigger one...maybe, just maybe there will be time for me to get my haircut.

But I wouldn't change anything....well ok, more money would be nice. Why aren't mothers paid again?