Feeling Better and Moving Forward
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Family on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 10:39 PM
What a difference some perspective can make!
I was so discouraged after last night, but today three things have happened that have helped me feel better:
1) I read the comments that you all left me on my post,
2) I read a great post at Conversion Diary: “Tips for surviving (and thriving) in the baby/toddler phase”, and
3) I had a very helpful talk with my husband.
First of all, thank you so much for all the encouragement you left me! It was wonderful to read all the comments today, and so many of you gave insights that I had not thought of on my own. I have a lot to mull over. I so appreciate your prayers, too.
If you’re a mother of young children you should definitely read Jen’s post at Conversion Diary. It’s thoughtful and it’s chock-full of great ideas for parents of little ones. I came away with a lot to think about. But there was one part that really made a difference for me today. The first tip under item #1: Accept that you can’t do it all. Theoretically I understand this principle. In practice I have a hard time remembering it.
Then Bryan and I had a great discussion where he reminded me that while our reflux-y baby is still difficult like a newborn, I need to cut myself some slack as if we still have a newborn.
There are two areas in which I’m rebooting, so to speak, and starting over today with a new perspective.
1) Meals. I’d gotten ahead of myself and started being ambitious with my dinner-making again. Last week’s menu plan included three recipes I’d never tried before! I need to simplify my meal-planning and accept that it will be a while before I can get back into more complex cooking again. As Bryan pointed out, our family will actually be happier eating hamburgers multiple times a week if it means that I am calm rather than harried.
2) Sleep. Since Blaise is nearly five months old, I’d started trying to ease him into a loose sleep schedule because he is “old enough” for it. But since he has reflux and does not sleep very soundly - despite the fact that we have the head of his crib elevated - trying for a schedule was causing me more headache than it was worth. I’m going to take Sibyl’s very wise advice from the comments of my last post, and let go of the “he should be asleep now” expectation. I’ll still be trying for a sleep routine of sorts, but I’m not going to worry if it doesn’t happen. There will be plenty of time for it once my baby’s no longer uncomfortable after every single feeding.
Having gained some perspective in these areas, I’m feeling much better about making it through the next couple months. In the tough moments I’m going to remember what you all said:
1) That it’s important to reach for the redemption in the suffering, and
2) That I only have to make it through one day at a time. God’s grace will provide!
Thank all you lovely ladies so much for your help. I appreciate it more than you can know!
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