Did you ever notice that it seems as if all all baby-occupying toys have an automatic switch off after fifteen minutes? The bouncy seat vibration, the mobile on the crib, the music on the swing. I understand the effort to save batteries, but why started a happy baby out of his reverie and into a full-scale scream merely to save a few triple-A’s?
So here we are, in the final 9 day countdown before the BIG MOVE to Atlanta. And Casey is in Hong Kong for the next 6. Can you just imagine, friendly reader, that I am sitting here half bald from pulling my hair out and frantically stuffing brownies into my mouth in desperate attempt to pull myself together?
How exactly does one pack up an entire household when left alone with a three-year-old and a three-month-old? Ok, the movers are technically packing us, but I’ve been going crazy trying to organize things so that they can be packed. We don’t have a basement or an attic in this house, so every closet is stuffed to the gills… baby toys, outgrown clothes, sporting equipment, books, wrapping paper, and on and on. And I can’t just let the movers pack the rooms as they are, because nothing in the closets belongs in their respective rooms. A box marked “guest room” would contain a pack-n-play, Casey’s baseball card collection, my wedding veil, an over-sized fire engine toy, my high school yearbooks, and all of our winter coats, if I don’t go through and sort these things out.
Now imagine how Kenny and Cooper are taking the fact that Mommy is busy. No, really busy. As in, I need hours of time to do all this, and Cooper (just like his big brother) DOES NOT NAP more than 30 minutes at a time and Kenny has all but given up his. As in, No, Daddy won’t be home for dinner, or bath time, or bedtime, and no, not breakfast either because he is halfway around the world getting started on his incredible new job. As in, please, Sweetheart, please don’t unpack that box Mommy just packed, and no, no more TV because I think your brain might arrest development with one more animated second.
I did have a dear, awesome friend come over for two hours this morning with her son so that Kenny could play, she could hold the baby and I could clean out the kitchen cabinets and pantry. It rocked. Then my own Mommy came over this afternoon to stay through the night. Unfortunately, by the time my mom got here, Kenny and Cooper both were all about Me. It most assuredly did not rock.
Coop nursed every hour and Kenny whined non-stop. “Mommy, play with me! I’m hungry. I want a banana. Not that banana! I’m hungry for something else. I don’t want Grammy to read to me, I want you to. Let Cooper cry, Mommy and PLAY WITH ME!!” My mom finally suggested that maybe I wasn’t making enough milk in my stress, and perhaps that’s why Cooper was so desperate to nurse. As for Kenny’s whining, I realized that he just really misses Casey and doesn’t know how to express himself. But did I handle him well today? Enter a resounding no. So stressed was I at the fact that I couldn’t get anything done this afternoon, I snapped at him more than once. More than three or four times, even. I didn’t yell, to be clear, but boy was I about ready to lock myself in the closet with a bag of chocolate chips and some earplugs.
It’s funny… a while back I got an email from an occassional reader of this blog who said that she couldn’t stand me and Mommyblog because it just seemed like I was too perfect. I thought about her today. I thought… man, if she could see me now she might become my biggest fan…
Ah, but now it appears that it’s time for bed…
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12 responses to “15 Minutes of Sane”
Where’s the red blanket?
In a very short period of time these will be “the good old day’s”. Sounds like that mom of yours is pretty special too! eight days and the unpacking will be like an early Christmas, all those surprise packages. Keep the sunny side up!
And you did NOT yell? Not once?! I so need to know how you manage that one. Do pass on your inner speach that keeps you from doing so.
You received email for being too perfect? I have quite a few gymnasts who live down by you, let me know if you need some number for “mommy helpers” while you pack! Good luck with your move!
I feel for you!!!!!! We just moved from Arbutus to Catonsville (5 minutes difference) and preparing for the move with a 7 year old and an 18 month old was a nightmare. My husband was out of town for work right before the move and I was left to deal with the showings of our house (think constantly picking up toys and vacating for hours) and packing for the move. Needless to say, my poor boys thought Mommy was really grouchy and I think I gained 10 lbs.. Although we love our new house, it’s now been 1 month and we are still not totally together. First I set the end of September as a deadline, now it’s looking like Halloween before we are organized. By the way, I heard about your blog from another blog and realized you lived in MD like us. We lived in Atlanta when we first got married and enjoyed it. Kenny will probably love Stone Mountain. The train ride is always a big hit! Good luck with your move and just remember chocolate makes everything a little sweeter.
I did all the move prep for two interstate moves in less than a year, and I even did the entire home showing phase and move-out/make-ready once with a preschooler and an infant while my husband was already working in the new job. I’ve been there and back (and there and back again), and the good news is that you will survive. Accept whatever help is offered, take it as slow as possible, and just when you think you’re about to tear your hair out, sit down with the boys and do something that makes you laugh. Even if you don’t think you have time, even if you really don’t have time–keeping your sense of humor will make all the difference in the world.
Good luck with it all!
I can probably come over next Thursday to help – Pig Will does not have school… and maybe I can pull Pig Me Too out of preschool. PW has a dentist appt at 2 pm though, so it would be right after breakfast….
I found your blog through the blog of the girl who thought you were too perfect! I am always looking for a new blog to read. It always looks like something else when you are looking in from the outside. You have beautiful children and a great smile, your husband is handsome and you seem to have a beautiful home. You are very blessed but the woman who mentioned your perfection has a wonderful life as well (which I think she knows). I enjoy reading other mommy’s blogs because I like to know that there are others out there just like me. We are sometimes stressed but always blessed. I recently moved with a baby too. You’ll make it through. Good luck and thanks for writing what you do. I have been enjoying it.:grin:
so, it turns out the girl who thought you were too perfect actually enjoys reading your blog all the time! Shortly after I stumbled upon it, and blogged about it, I added it to my RSS feeder – I eagerly await each new post, and the pictures of your boys are awesome! I still think you’re pretty much a super mom – I’m amazed at the packing/organizing you’re managing to do on your own with Kenny and Cooper in tow! I don’t think I’ll ever be able to keep up with your energy, but with a 2 year old in the house, and another boy on the way in December, I have enjoyed hearing about your adventures – it at least gives me a little bit of an idea about what to expect come January… So, don’t worry about your super mom reputation – you’re still keeping it up in my eyes, and I know you’ll keep up that amazing energy to finish organizing, travel and unpack and start a whole new set of adventures in Georgia (which I can’t wait to read about!)
Thank you, Sara. I’m glad you’re still reading, and look forward to reading more from you as well!
You are amazing! I’m lucky to run the vacuum and keep up with laundry let along packing a house for a move – have you thought of medication at this point??? 🙂
Also, Maddox who is only a couple of weeks older than Cooper, NEVER could be swaddled ~ it amazes me that Cooper sleeps like that, I’m quite jealous but I have to say Maddox is now (for about two weeks) is sleeping through the night! WOOHOO! Coop’s hair still cracks me up, it’s just too cute.
Kenny is so in love with his little brother, you can see it in his eyes. You are a lucky family and I know it must be hard to leave what you’ve known for so long but please realize all your faithful readers will still be here for love, support and shoulders to rest your weary head on. Hang in there sister!! God Bless.
I just love that Cooper’s hair stands straight up when he sleeps too! They are starting to look like brothers to me. The same ski jump nose perhaps?