Once you have kids, that is your reality. I try to remind myself of that on the bad days to keep me from going off the deep end. I do the same on the good days to remind me to appreciate the moment while it lasts.
Because it never lasts.
Yesterday was a good day. I got the grocery shopping done and put away while Smushy was in school. Doodle napped in his car seat except when I had to feed him between errands. He wasn’t too fussy while we were out. I managed to get them both to sleep for ONE GLORIOUS HOUR of internetting and reading. I even managed to get some laundry done and wash the dishes AND cook dinner. Smushy wasn’t too annoying or toddlerish. Doodle didn’t scream at us too much. It was nice. Good day.
The days before was a bad day. Doodle didn’t sleep AT ALL that day. He just screamed and cried and ate. Smushy skipped her nap too and was generally annoying and disobedient. I think she had to go into time-out 3 or 4 times, which is a lot for her. She kept taking off all her clothes and peeing on the floor. (Though she did pee in the potty once for the very first time ever! Only good thing of the day.) Then she threw a full cup of water on the floor for no reason. When Mr. Silly got home, I begged for a break, but he decided right then would be the perfect time to call and get the TIVO working. So I had to wrangle both kids out of the living room since they were crying/screaming/noisy. We spent the next 30 minutes holed up in the bedroom while I nursed Doodle and tried to convince him to stop screaming at me and Smushy jumped and climbed all over the bed and me. I think I cried the entire time. Bad day.
I know things will get easier in some ways as Doodle gets older. And harder in others. I know we’re only 3 weeks in to being a family of 4 and there is an adjustment period. I know we’ll get it figured out. I know we have a lot going on with the upcoming move and boring day to day. And I know that we’re going to have a lot more good and bad days.