Motherhood: The Game in Which No One Plays by the Rules

This is the 10th year I have been running this blog, and my 12th year of blogging. I feel like those deserve some sort of acclaim, but haven’t figured out how I want to celebrate yet. Maybe instead of #tbt,   I’ll do a #blogthrowback instead.

To give you a rundown of what the last 18 months have brought, I’ll start with my last post. A cheerful, lighthearted post about the good of the world (choosing me to get a new haircut and style), how well we were handling things at home, how my little one was finally sleeping through the night, and I was drinking regular coffee. What I didn’t know was that each of those things was about to change.

1. We found out I was expecting our second baby. Cue: Caffeine cut and amping up pre-natals.
2. My sweet girl, the one who inspired us to believe we were amazing parents, became a fully functioning two and a half year old. She became picky about the shades of pink she would wear.
3. Because we were about to have a second child, we had to rethink our 1950s split level home, and what we wanted to do with the space.
4. Then, we started working

In essence, everything changed. Literally overnight.

In the midst of dealing with all of these changes, plus working, it wasn’t prudent for me to continue a weekly posting. I think many mothers feel like they are just hanging on. Hopefully it’s the truth, or it’s possible I’m going about this the wrong way.

But we are coming out it. Slowly, so slowly, we are breathing deeper, sleeping a little more, and I noticed the other night I only got up eight times compared to the fifteen or so I normally do during dinner. In essence, we are emerging from our cocoon. But I wouldn’t call us butterflies.

Each new baby adds to your family in so many ways, and also changes the dynamic. Our son is no exception. he came unexpectedly and dramatically into this world, and is covering his track by being the sweetest, snuggly baby you ever did meet. He’s adorable. But he is not an “easy” baby.  He loves to get into everything, and we have learned more about the dangers of our home in the last year than I knew could exist in any home, ever.  If it seems slightly dangerous, iffy or maybe just offers something more curious than the toy aisle of Target we have in our home, he goes for it. Without hesitation.