I have a two and a half year old daughter who is anything but a dainty lady. She is the nuttiest toddler I've ever seen. I was blessed with my first son who was and is such a good boy. He was nothing like this at this age. This wonderful little rugrat does all sorts of tricks. So far she's eaten: daiper rash cream, Vicks vapo rub (twice), rocks, dirt, sand, etc, sunscreen, and so much more. Every time I call poisen control I keep saying to myself that they're going to take her away from me. I'm terrified. All I have to do is look away for one second and already she's climbing, jumping, munching etc.
She loves to munch on her brother. Literally. He's such a nice good kid that he doesn't know what to do when he's attacked. She's a bully and a fighter. If she doesn't like something she'll take care of it. She was the one who kicked, bit, hit, pulled hair, etc. He just doesn't know what to do when she does it. Sure I try to explain to them that they need to talk out their feelings and express in words what they're thinking and feeling. I'm sure it somewhat helps but still she bites. He has even learned a thing or two from her (which isn't necessarily so bad considering that he's the type to be beaten up a lot).
Being on vacation doesn't really help the situation. We're all home together all day. Spending too much time together gets us all uptight and annoyed at each other. Everyone releases their pent up frustrations in different ways. I either retreat or yell. She bites. I'm sure my way of dealing isn't the greatest but hec, I need a break. I'm 8 months pregnant and need to rest very badly. I've given up trying to put her down for a nap because it isn't worth the fight. What I really need is a mother's helper who can take them. I won't do it though because I want to be a good mother and spend time with them. Also, I don't really trust too many people with my daughter when she's awake.
Basically she's trouble with a capital T. Every time I see her with a cream around her face my heart skips a beat and I start interrogating her about if she ate it. I keep telling everyone that it's an absolute miracle that I haven't had a heart attack yet, baruch Hashem. I can't keep my eyes off of her for a second and the older she gets the harder it is to keep up with her. I'm leaning towards putting her in all day day care for next year but since I don't know my schedule yet I haven't found anyone to watch her. We'll see what ends up happenning with that.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Family Gatherings
About a week and a half ago, my first cousin gave birth to a baby boy. The bris was on Tisha B'av but the family is making a meal this coming Friday. My mother told me that she thinks we should go. My father said the same. The baby's grandparents, my aunt and uncle, who I am not particularly close with called to invite us. The only problem....well there are many problems.
1-It's a Friday. That means my hubby is home from work and can hang out with me and the kiddies. My son is also on vacation so that makes it twice as nice that they're both home.
2-The meal is at least an hour drive away and starts at 12:30 PM.
3- We're having guests for Shabbos. Because the meal starts so late (see #2), we would get back very late. This would mean that I would have to have all of the cooking and cleaning done before Friday morning. This would also mean that showers would be rushed, we'd have to leave our key with neighbors so the guests can drop off their stuff, we'd have to have their room ready early.
So we decided we wouldn't be going. I'm in my eighth month of pregnancy and the whole thing is just too hard. Do I think that anyone will care? No. They look at us as if we're always making excuses not to come to different things. Believe me, we are. But it is hard and they have to admit that. It's not like they've every come here and visited us. Well, once two of my uncles and a cousin drove into our yishuv to drop off my father. We were very impressed by that. I don't think they even entered our apartment though.
Anyway, the point is that everyone has their own calculations. We're not exactly expecting any of them to come all the way here to visit me when I give birth. If it's a boy we don't expect a huge family turn out at the bris.
I guess that by now anyone reading this can tell that I have a guilty conscience. That's right. That's how I was raised. That's for another post. Maybe in the future I'll discuss how my parents, from very very different backgrounds married each other. I turned out like one and not the other and therefore it's very hard for them to understand me sometimes. Ok, that's enough for now.
1-It's a Friday. That means my hubby is home from work and can hang out with me and the kiddies. My son is also on vacation so that makes it twice as nice that they're both home.
2-The meal is at least an hour drive away and starts at 12:30 PM.
3- We're having guests for Shabbos. Because the meal starts so late (see #2), we would get back very late. This would mean that I would have to have all of the cooking and cleaning done before Friday morning. This would also mean that showers would be rushed, we'd have to leave our key with neighbors so the guests can drop off their stuff, we'd have to have their room ready early.
So we decided we wouldn't be going. I'm in my eighth month of pregnancy and the whole thing is just too hard. Do I think that anyone will care? No. They look at us as if we're always making excuses not to come to different things. Believe me, we are. But it is hard and they have to admit that. It's not like they've every come here and visited us. Well, once two of my uncles and a cousin drove into our yishuv to drop off my father. We were very impressed by that. I don't think they even entered our apartment though.
Anyway, the point is that everyone has their own calculations. We're not exactly expecting any of them to come all the way here to visit me when I give birth. If it's a boy we don't expect a huge family turn out at the bris.
I guess that by now anyone reading this can tell that I have a guilty conscience. That's right. That's how I was raised. That's for another post. Maybe in the future I'll discuss how my parents, from very very different backgrounds married each other. I turned out like one and not the other and therefore it's very hard for them to understand me sometimes. Ok, that's enough for now.
Welcome
So the day is finally here. I'm openning up my new blog. Just a little about myself. I'm a working mother who after a few years of reading some interesting blogs decided to start one herself. I hope to share my thoughts and feelings in a non-offensive but very truthful way. Welcome to all those who wish to read.
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