Tuesday, May 3, 2011

me + 3

[caption id="attachment_1772" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="in the elevator, heading out tonight"][/caption]

Some wise mama told me when I was pregnant with Stinkbug (baby #2) that it would take about six months for life to feel "normal". So true. At six months postpartum, new life seemed to enter my body because I knew what I was doing and I had the energy to do it. (Kinda.)

And after Doodlebug (baby #3), I found it to be true again... as we entered the sixth month, life just starting rolling... life with three kids was "normal". (Well, you know, if your kind of normal is saying things like "No, we don't put our hands in the toilet.")

And thinking back to after Ladybug (baby #1), I think it probably took about six months to get into a rhythm. Actually, I'm completely positive it did. Because at six months, she started napping more consistently, and we had entered our own groove of being mommy/baby.

So, I will go ahead and say that it takes about six months after you have a baby (whether it's #1, #2, #3...) for life to start feeling normal. So, if you're a sleep-deprived, un-showered, puddle of postpartum-ness, take heart-- and give yourself some time and some grace.

{And yes, I took all three kids out tonight. We walked to Burger King and had ice cream cones, and then we walked over to the super nice, new playground to exert some energy. And I felt great having three kids out by myself, hence the life-feels-normal-after-six-months-postpartum thoughts!

And another thought? I love living in a walkable place! I feel like I missed so much life when I lived in America because I drove everywhere.}

3 comments:

Deborah the Closet Monster said...

Agreed! When my number two is on the way in a year or two (I hope ;)), I suspect I'll be a little terrified at the thought of doing it with two. But I'll at least have the comfort of experience, which in this case means not believing myself a failure for only get 5% of what I'd planned done in any given day!

It'll be helpful, as you've pointed out here, to also remind myself that's what adjustment periods are for. I'll find a groove, even though it will undoubtedly be a very different groove!

cosleepwalking said...

Thanks for posting this. My little guy is five months old and things are definitely getting calmer... now if I can just kick this depression...
And Deborah, if you just plan to do one small task each day (shower, eat an apple, etc), you'll feel much more successful :)

Deborah the Closet Monster said...

This comment made me giggle when I first read it, and it's just as good the second time around! Thanks for that ;)

And happy Mother's Day!