Not the best mom ever
Lately, Maddie has been a little, shall we say, soul sucking in her desire for attention. She used to be fine playing in her saucer-ma-jig while I washed bottles or putzed around the house for a few minutes. Now, whenever she sees me and I’m not giving her my undivided attention, there is much whimpering and whining that escalates into nuclear meltdown mode. I’m not really sure how to handle it. On one hand, I understand that playing by yourself isn’t as cool as playing with mama. I was an only child, too, you know. I also know that interaction and playing are really good for her and teach her all kinds of valuable after-school-special lessons. On the other hand, can’t I get a drink of water without the tears and mewling? There seems to be a fine line between teaching her a little bit of independence and neglecting her. And she and I have very different views on where exactly that line falls.
There’s also the question of what to do with her all day. She’s content to hang out on my lap, pulling my hair and grabbing my face for hours on end. Me? Not so much. We play on the floor, or with her toys on the saucer-ma-jig, but I get bored with all that. I’d love to take her out walking, or to the park, or even playing in the backyard…. but there are the issues of extreme hotness and humidity which make being outside a misery. Also, there’s a lot of dog poop in the yard, and well, that’s just a disaster waiting to happen.
So, tell me, what do you do with your kids all day? I know most of them are older or younger than Maddie, but share with me anyway. Maybe I can steal a few ideas and modify them.
Ug. One nice thing about piles and piles of children is that you can make the older ones do some boring playing with the younger ones. When my oldest was a baby, I used to get books out of the library and try activities even if I KNEW they weren’t “us.” Like, I’d try baby massage, exercise with baby as a weight, dancing with the baby–WHATEVER, just to ease the boredom. I also gave him a bath every day and we went on an outing pretty much every day (store, post office, ANYWHERE TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE). We had one of those huge kitchen counter peninsulas at the time, so I used to put him up there in an infant seat and he could be near me while I did the dishes or cooked or whatever.
I tend to do a lot of “station rotating”: putting the baby first in the exersaucer, then in an infant seat with toys overhead, then on his tummy, then in a jump-up, then on his back with a playgym overhead, then back to the exersaucer–with the outings and walks in the stroller and naps and snuggles and active mommy one-on-one time spread around in there too.
“Piles and piles of children…” Classic. Also, the best reason I’ve heard for having another baby.
That station rotating idea is the best! I’m going to put it into practice. Today, even! Thanks, Swistle.
“Not the best mom. . .” That’s a matter of opinion, one I do not share.
Love you
Swistle, that station rotation stuff sounds like a good idea. Keeps you on schedule, helps manage time, and keeps them happy. Nice one.
How many baby mommas do you have to compare me to? Huh? How many?
Love you, too, babe.
Yeah, Swistle rocks, doesn’t she? Currently, Maddie’s in the “cry at the injustice of a nap in her crib” station.
I love Swistle’s idea of stations. We tend to do something similar. And like her, we also get out of the house everyday: swim lessons, a trip to Target for one thing that turns into 10 things, the grocery store, volunteer work at church (free babysitting), gym (also free babysitting). Hmmm…..I’m suddenly noticing the theme of free babysitting. We also read a lot of board books and the current favorite is turning up the stereo and dancing around the house. Doing silly dances while he’s in the bouncy or excersaucer (and I’m cooking or folding laundry) seems to curb the whining a bit.
Well I know this advice is worthless but just had to add it….Jean and I used to spend hours and hours dragging poor Gerald and Steven through K-Mark…new and wonderful back then. I think the first words they spoke were K-mart. I know shopping full time is not the best direction to take…but then again I don’t think my son turned out half bad. love ya!….btw…I have been one of your silent readers.
I am super proud of the Mother you are to my grandchild. you are doing a WONDERFUl job. Thank you!
Girl, you are not the worst mom-I’m with you on the humidity and heat factor too! [not to mention all the bugs!!]
We bought a little baby pool and when the weather’s nice (or even just a little cloudy) we yank out the hats, sunscreen, lil swimmers and the pool and have pool-time. It’s really hard though to think of things, especially when they’re this little.
You’re fine, don’t worry. 6-8 months is when the “I-want-your-attention-NOW!!” phase starts….