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Diary Of A New Mum -
Week 23
A Day Off
A few weeks ago Paul was really ill and took to his bed for
the day. I remember thinking how lucky he was, that I would never be able to
take a day off – no matter how sick I might be. This week I was proved wrong.
Not only did I have a day off but I stayed in bed until 3.00pm! How, you ask?
Because I have wonderful husband, I guess.
I all started to go wrong on Monday. I think I was coming down with a bug or
something; my neck felt stiff and my throat was sore. I carried on as normal. By
Tuesday I was feeling even worse; headache, temperature, puffy eyes. But even
though Paracetemol eased the pain, what started to get me down was how I felt
about looking after Jessica-Ann. Where usually I awake with a spring in my step,
eager to start the day, I began to feel weary of it, unable to summon the
energy.
It was like the early days all over again. I felt like I was merely going
through the motions. My smiles were just a little forced, my laughter sounded
false to my ears. Going up the stairs to her nursery was an effort, and I found
myself hoping she’d sleep just a little longer so I didn’t have to go up just
yet…
By the time Paul came home from work I was in full-blown panic mode. I was a
terrible mother. I didn’t have the right personality to look after a baby. It
was all getting too much for me. What if I didn’t enjoy it anymore? Was it time
to look for a nursery? (I said I was in a state!) Paul took one look at me and
announced that he was staying home the following day – and that I was staying in
bed.
I did protest, but not very hard. To be honest, I was shattered. You know the
kind of tiredness that seems to go through to your bones, so even when you’ve
slept really well it doesn’t quite touch it? That night when we went to bed,
Paul took the alarm and told me to put my ear-plugs in. I slept like a baby! (A
very good, very quiet, sleeping-through-the-night-baby.) The next morning he got
Jess up, brought me breakfast in bed, and lunch in bed, and wouldn’t let me come
down until after Jess’s lunchtime nap.
It was total bliss! Sitting in bed I could hear Jess playing downstairs but for
once she was totally somebody else’s responsibility. Does this make me a bad
mother? I don’t think so. I think it makes me an honest mother. Taking a day out
of the routine recharged my batteries in a way no amount of chocolate ever
could. I read a book, listened to the radio, slept and slept some more. When I
finally surfaced at three o’clock I was so pleased to see Jess I kissed her
non-stop for five minutes – much to her disgust. But I think she’d missed me
too, and I think it did us both good.
Paul, I’m happy to say, loved it. A real chance for him to be in charge again
and to bond with his daughter. So this week, we’re all happy. Long may it last…
Diary Of A New
Mum - Week 24
Tedious teething
In which Jessica-Ann starts teething - and I realize that I still have a lot to
learn.
Diary of a New Mum Week 30
The Great Escape In which the in-laws allow us to escape parenthood for a day - to buy a new
car!
You'll be amazed at how much equipment you will need for your newborn
baby! Here we help you to think through and plan for your requirement. De-cluttering Before
The Baby Comes Home
Make sure you know your rights so that you can use your maternity or paternity
leave to good advantage. Maternity And
Paternity Leave
Surprising numbers of parents get their baby's nurseries wrong - filling them
with pretty accessories but often leaving out the real essentials! Don't fall
into these traps... Nursery Do's and Don'ts
What do you need to buy for your baby's first clothes and bedding? A Basic Layette
If there is one parenting issue which causes the most anxiety, disruption and
unhappiness, it is baby sleep problems! Establishing a good sleep routine from
the very beginning can be crucial to a peaceful and happy family. Baby SleepLots NEW!
What should you expect at 6 weeks, 6 months or 1 year? We provide useful
milestones and developmental stages so that you can keep an eye on your baby's
development in the first year. Baby Stages
Print, cut and assemble a mobile to decorate the baby's room - or make
use of matching room signs, door hangers, photo frames and more! Room Decorations To Print
Everything from nursery mobiles and cut-outs to birth announcements and baby
shower invitations and scrapbook paper! Baby Printables
