Who left and put Mom in charge??
Things have been a little crazy around here.
Slightly over a week ago, my helper left for a month of home leave, leaving me at home with 2 little kids on my hands. Add to that the fact that my parents were away on a holiday for the past week, and DD is going through a busy period in the office, I have been more than a little stretched.
However, God has been gracious -- I haven't been completely alone. My parents' helper has been coming over for most of the day over the past week to help with the chores, my Aunt, my siblings and my MIL have popped by on different days to be an extra pair of hands, and I've been ordering tingkat food for dinner to cut down on the cooking.
The challenge comes from the fact that both kids have been super clingy to me, especially Naomi. She sees all the unfamiliar faces around her and bursts into tears until she's returned into my arms. She's better in the morning, allowing almost everyone to carry her, then her mood steadily declines during the course of the day and by evening she's screaming unless I'm carrying her. Thankfully she goes to sleep by 7.30pm. Noey's been his usual super-glue self, so between having to be the one to prepare Noey's food, and feed, bathe, clean, entertain, carry both kids, put them both to sleep, and also help keep the house in some semblance of order, I've not had much time to do much else!
Except when they both graciously decide to nap at the same time. Like now.
It's been an interesting experience so far. I've always wondered how I'd do as a full-time SAHM with no helper and now I know. My conclusion:
(1) The house will only be clean when DD has some time to do the cleaning, which is not very often.
(2) We'll just have to get used to toys being EVERYWHERE.
(3) Everyone will need more clothes/sheets/towels because I'll never be able to turnaround laundry fast enough.
(4) Ordering tingkat food is a lifesaver.
(5) While I am no housekeeper, I can manage the kids just fine by myself.
On that last point, I guess I'm glad I've always done most things for both kids myself. At least these past weeks haven't been too much of a shock to me or them! I was quite pleased the other day when I was left with both kids all by myself in the evening that I managed to feed Noey and breastfeed Naomi (at one point breastfeeding Naomi while feeding Noey), bathe both kids, AND feed and bathe myself, before settling Naomi for bed. I thought the real accomplishment was the fact that I could somehow eat and bathe myself! It took a bit of juggling, but I knew I could it and I was determined to, because I'm stubborn like that.
Still, I'm looking forward to my helper coming back. Trying to be supermummy is tiring. Hah.
SIONG. I have one sticky baby and I'm still struggling.
ReplyDeleteSupermummy, go go go! Sometimes we need times like these to know how strong motherhood has made us. ;)
I think Naomi has shaken off her newborn blurness and learnt how to vie for your attention too!
ReplyDeleteDo you have to send/pick up Noey to/fro school too?
Your entry made me wonder how our mums did it in their time - look after kids AND cook AND clean without any help!
It is indeed exhausting being a supermummy! I had three months of that before I went back to work and I know exactly how it feels. Way to go!
ReplyDeleteP.S with envy: Naomi's hair is so thick and luscious!
On some Sundays, i had to manage 2 on my helper's day-off and erm, it's challenging!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with your conclusions - the house is indeed messier if it were just us at home.
Like what olimomok said, I also wonder how our mums did it, everything on their own. :P
@Candice I guess it's because we have no choice but to press on! Thanks for the encouragement.
ReplyDelete@olimomok Haha, yah, she'll "Mmmmeh!" at me all the time when I walk away from her! Yes, I pick Noey everyday and send him on most days when my parents aren't around to help out.
My mum did always have help because she was a full-time working mum, but I don't know how your mum did it!
@Pris wow 3 months! if it was me, i might be glad to go back to work :P I love Naomi's hair too. I've got hairy kids!
@lilsnooze your mum is the original super mum, now super grandma, like olimomok's!
great job mummy!
ReplyDeletei am also a member of the breastfeed-baby-feed-toddler club. happens to me on weekends.
hats off to you!
Cool mum! Haha... reminds me of the time I need to read to my boy and breastfeed my girl at the same time.
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, the challenge may come when Naomi starts crawling. When she's all over the brother and his toys and he probably won't like it very much. :P