My husband has been amazing the past three weeks. Unfortunately, the powers that be have decided that since he’s back to work, he might as well be back all the way. So obviously they saw no problem with sending Jason to Ohio for the week with me barely three weeks postpartum, post surgery, and post sanity. So here I am, braving the storm all by my lonesome with no big strong man to put the kids in time out, or at least put them to bed.
In order to ensure that I neither abuse nor ignore their ever present needs, I’ve concocted a plan. Actually, the Lord came up with it and whispered it to me in a moment of clarity yesterday. I can’t get it out of my head, and I think it just might save us all.
Yesterday I identified two things that are going to make or break this week. First, Sister Beck, the Big Cheese of Mormon women (also called the Relief Society General President), gave some fantastic mom advice this year at a conference. She said that as mothers, it is critical that we pace ourselves, and the most important shift of the day is the swing shift–between about three pm and midnight. If you burn yourself out with less important tasks during the early morning hours, you’ll have nothing for the afternoon and evening when it really counts. I’m planning to do nothing but drive car pool and nurse the baby between nine and three.
Georgia is also in that phase all my babies go through where they want to nurse from about eight pm to ten or ten-thirty. Then they sleep for a good four or five hours straight. It’s great because I’m getting some real sleep again, but it’s horrible because come eight o’clock, I’m in lock down dairy mode. This week, it is imperative that we have lights out by eight pm, no questions asked.
These were the two big ideas that floated down to me from above, to which I’ve added an afternoon nap. I’m a non-napper, so this is going to be a bit of a challenge. I’m also planning to do laundry from ten to eleven each night. Should be awesome.
As women, there’s nothing like a plan to help us over hurdles, right? And yes, this plan will probably collapse on me more than once this week, but at least I’ve got something to work toward. Also Junie will be in pull-ups all week long. I’m not even letting her near that toilet until my life has settled down a bit.
Okay, the cattle are calling. Gigi has been crying for the last six minutes and I’m now about to flood the upstairs with Grade A whole milk. Out.
Sounds like a good plan to me. Good luck!
We need to see you! Put that in your plan!
Screw the pull-up, those suckers don’t hold anything. Break out the diapers.
link to the conference talk, please. When you have time.
great planner, as in a total winner!
good luck with the execution of it.
that’s my trouble, i make grand plans,
but they crumble in the execution process.
but you’re way “more awesomer” than me,
so i think you’ve got this practically in the bag.
just enlist your older kids for help as much as
possible. it’ll make them feel totally on top of
the world for being entrusted with helping mom.
may the force be with you!
(corny, i know. but if feels like it may be a jedi kind of week ahead.)
have a great week, annie. (:
Prayers, my friend. You are most mightily in mine. (Where you are right now made me pretty much bipolar.) From one prize winning dairy cow to another (I once pumped 18 ounces in one sitting, 1/2 of which had risen to the top as cream a mere hour into refrigeration), hang in there!
You are so funny 😉 Actually, can’t believe they sent Jason away-he should have kicked and drug his heels on that one. But! The Lord provides, eh? Good plan. Does explaining a situation to your kids help? I always tell mine if I am having a hard time and need to enlist their help. It works wonders. Good luck and who cares if the laundry gets done? As long as everyone has clean clothes, I say let it sit if you must. Take out is a good thing, as are PB&J’s and the sugary cold cereal for dinner.
This is the reason I love reading you Annie- b/c you just described my life for the past 4 years. Survival Mode. I’m so glad you’ve got a plan…I know you’ll do great….just take it easy on your tummy, please! So glad you’re milk is a’flowin! one less thing to worry about 🙂
You poor thing. But that’s a great plan, and even if it does crumble, even having a plan at all can help.
I’ve actually been taking a lot of morning naps based on that same wisdom from Julie Beck, and it does seem to help me yell at the kids less during after-school homework and chore time.
“…yell at the kids less…” Thanks for that. BTW, I’m not handling things so well at the moment. Just thought I’d pass that on.
hee hee hee hee hee…i shouldn’t be giggling. but i appreciated your little confession. hang in there, and don’t give up. it’s never too late to try to reinstitute the plan. take it minute by minute or hour by hour. (:
Those “powers that be” be cruel to send your husband away at a time like this. >:(
I hope this week goes smoothly for you and that your hubby gets home safe, sane, and sound in order to relieve you!
My problem isn’t making plans, it’s sticking to them! Best of luck!
Just in case your plan goes array, I discovered that keeping a stash of kid type books for you to read to them while you nurse can be a great way to get them settled at night. Sometimes it works better than telling them to go to bed! Don’t worry about the diapers, or the house work, or anything else. Don’t forget to call your Visiting Teachers if it gets more than you can handle. Any of us that have been in your situation would so understand that you need a little extra help. Another idea (just in case) is to hire one of the young women to come and help out for an hour in the evening. She can do the dishes, put them away, and help you get the kids to bed all for a small (hopefully) sum of ready cash. I have used that one myself when I am overwhelmed and falling apart, it was a life saver!!
I took two pieces of your advice and it got me through the night. Love you, Patty Ann.
I second the reccomendation to hire out a YW to help with some of the chores! My 11 yr old neighbor girl was a LIFE SAVER when I was pregnant/just had my third and my husband was in Grad school. The tween girls are available, enthusiastic, cheap, and happy to help. Even if it’s just to read to one of the kids while you bathe another. Even better, if you can find one that homeschools, so she can come during the day!
xoxo
Good plan! That stinks that your hubby was sent away. Thinking of you!! xoxo