Outnumbered.

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Today I’m officially outnumbered. The ratio of children to parents is not in my favour. Hubby goes back to work today. I’ve been so lucky to have him hanging around for so many weeks, and had the same luck when I had Lacey too.

I imagine that by this afternoon I’ll be struggling to string together sentences, the house will be in a state not worthy of visitors {or perhaps even our habitation} and I’m assuming that food will more definitely be about survival and not enjoyment. I’m hoping Lacey can fix herself a cheese sandwich if things get really bad.

I can’t help but compare life now to back at the same time with Lacey. When she was 6 weeks I was back at work full-time as a nanny to 4 kids. Each morning I’d get us both ready and head to work, arriving at 7:30am. I juggled five kids, school drop-offs to two different schools, and everything looking after everyone entailed. I’m not sure how I did it. I said to Hubby last night that I was probably on the verge of a mental breakdown. It was stressful.

This time I have the luxury of working from home, which doesn’t quite feel like a luxury at times but does feel lucky. It’s a lot less stressful.

Being the sad sap that I am, I shed a few quiet tears last night as I crawled into bed. I love being at home with all of us… I wish I could win lotto so it could continue on forever. I also shed a few tears because how can Luella possibly be 6 weeks already? Seriously. Time flies when you’re breastfeeding non-stop and cuddling a sweet little bub day and night. Total first world problems, I know.

Life with two is equally lovely and hard. I love being able to say ‘my kids’ or ‘the girls’. It feels so weird, and wonderful. Lacey has surprised me by adapting beautifully to being a big sister. I actually couldn’t have imagined that she’d be so good. She loves her little sister, doesn’t get stressed out by the crying {of which there is quite a bit} and she doesn’t complain when each day I ask her to run and grab me water/my breastfeeding pillow/vitamins/phone/anything/everything.

Wish me luck today. We’re not even camping at home all day. I have to navigate a trip out to see the midwife. It could be interesting. How on earth did I once do this with 5 kids? Hooooow?

Wish me luck. x

23 thoughts on “Outnumbered.”

  1. Good luck. I remember saying in a totally dramatic and exasperated way to my husband when he was back at work ‘I think all I did today was just meet everyone’s needs’. He said ahhhhhhhhh yeah your have tiny baby and a little one, that’s gonna happen’. Hmmm good point!

  2. I am a solo parent to my gorgeous wee boy who is now 2.5yrs and I also run my own design business from home. I have been “going it alone” since I was 6wks pregnant so I know no different. So many mummy friends wonder “how I do it” but I think as women/mothers we just naturally deal with the reality we have and tackle the tasks at hand. I often wonder how other mums simply manage more than one child but the fact is we “just do”. My mother raised 3 under 3 with my youngest sister being severely disabled with Spina Bifida and my Dad was hardly ever home because he was working constantly – and so she “just did it”.
    Good luck and well done… it’ll be another milestone achievement for you! Loving reading your posts!

  3. Good luck! I too am juggling 2 kids today. Tho today isn’t my first day. My partner had to go back when our youngest was just 6 days old due to money reasons and it being a very busy time at his work. Tho I wish he could take a lot more time off. Our youngest is now 13 days old and I think I’ve adapted quite well. Even tho my house looks like a bomb has hit it… I’m working on that. Lol. I guess I’m also lucky that out 3 yr old is more then happy to play on his own.
    However, venturing out with 2 kids is A LOT harder then I thought it would ever be. I won’t be doing that again any time soon.
    I think you’ll do better then you give yourself credit for. And if the house does end up in a mess then so-be-it. Spending time with family is more important anyway.

  4. You dont need luck – you will be amazing. Just one hour at a time and it is a downhill run from lunch. It gets much easier, promise!

  5. Its good to remember the saying,’ if you get one thing done in a day that is great’. We put a lot of pressure on our society today to achieve every day, yet you are achieving by feeding and nurturing two little ones. That should be enough. We have this idea that our houses should be perfect, meals 5 star and time left over to exercise.
    Sometimes the hardest part is settling or feeding the baby when you have an active toddler, save up the colouring pages, screen time etc for those times.
    one thing a day is an achievement!

  6. Yes the Nike slogan of ‘Just Do It’ is my mantra these days. My other half is only home on weekends, and even then he is still working – the joys of having your own business. If I want him to see the kids I have to take them to him!
    You will manage, and then once you get into the swing of it, you will excel! My baby is 18 months old and the house is still barely fit for our habitation let alone visitors! 🙂
    When he is home on the weekend make sure you take five for yourself to recharge those batteries, remember who you are as a person, not just ‘mummy’, and prepare yourself for the week to come. That’s what I try to do anyway 🙂

  7. My second is now 5 months old but I do vividly remember the first day my husband went back to work and left me with him and my 2 year old daughter, I felt totally outnumbered! But it doesn’t take long to get a rhythm and some things just take longer to get done (especially cleaning). I have found the hardest time to be when I am breastfeeding, but putting together some preprepared activities I pull out for my little girl like colouring books, puzzles and a Playschool that I had recorded earlier are always super useful!

  8. Those kids were bigger & you were dropping them to school, plus they weren’t your kids which makes it easier to disconnect at days’ end. You’ll get a new groove on that suits the three of you during the day… it’ll be groovy you’ll see! X

  9. Good luck, it’s always a bit scary when the hubby/daddy goes back to work but I’m sure you’ll be fine. I look back on my days of looking after 120 kids across 3 rooms at a holiday program and wonder how I did when now my 2 year old alone is enough to exhaust me- I think it’s very different when they’re not your own kids

  10. Hope it’s going well. So glad to hear you stuck at the breastfeeding. I know it was important to you. How are you getting on with it now?

  11. Yes I remember being the same when my husband had to go back to work after I had my children,you will get in the groove,don’t worry you will get your routine sorted and some days may be harder than others,good luck hon xx

  12. New job, classes started this week, and I have my own company too to take care of. Quite stressful! -Don’t forget to breathe! 🙂

  13. Good luck, you’ll do great! I’m a bit nervous about the day we decide to have baby number two (our daughter is almost three) and how I’ll juggle it all, so it’s really comforting to read about your experiences – you’re handling everything with such grace! x

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