I am so not an infant lover. I hate this part as much as I did last time and I thought it might be different with one. If anything it sucks more because it's even clearer how poor a job I'm doing satisfying him. This guessing game? I suck at it. Is he hungry? Gassy? Uncomfortable? Sick? Binky? In the mood to play? Overtired? What? How the heck do you know? It's all the same: he cries! Not a lot, mind you, because I seem to have pooped out a pretty quiet kid so far, but what do the cries mean? When he just ate an hour ago, why is he not asleep? When he just slept for 10 min, why did he wake up?
I have made it my business to anticipate everyone's needs in the general area all my life. I am good at it. I read people, facilitate their lives, smooth their ways, comfort and guide them successfully. But infants? Not so much. No telling if I am hitting it unless he passes out suddenly. And that is rare. I hate this. I hate it hate it hate it.
And I want to enjoy this. I know so many people who love the infant stage. They're all snuggly and huggable and whatever. People? I just want him to talk to me and tell me what the hell I am supposed to be doing right now. Why it's been 5 hours without a consecutive hour long nap. What he needs right this instant so I can finish my blog. I want some communication here. Is that so much to ask?
I would love to just let it go and ride it out. And maybe if I only had him I could. But there are two problems: I know how long this stage lasts from the last time and I can't rest in between 5 hour rounds with him because I have 3 other children to care for.
This makes me panicky. I know I should take it one day at a time. I know I should abandon all hope for a rest for a few weeks. But I can't do either. I fight it and fight it and fight it.
I should stop fighting. But I don't know how.
Any tricks?
An old mom with triplets plus one and an elderly mom to take care of. It's a party all the time.
I got some great advice once and I'll pass it on. "If the baby isn't wet, has been fed, and isn't sleepy don't worry about the crying. Sometimes babies cry. Your job isn't always to stop the crying but just to hold and love them while they cry."
ReplyDeleteNow obviously you have to use common sense with this advice but I really liked having permission not to solve every little thing in babyland. It helped me to relax which I think in turn helped the baby relax. Oh, and wearing the baby in a wrap helped too.
Oh, so not easy. Having three two year olds and a baby?
ReplyDeleteNo advice. Just sympathy (empathy?).
no advice other than I wished I lived closer; I'd love to come and hold that baby for a bit and give you a break. sometimes they do cry. I don't remember cause it was so long ago, but I do remember every time my son cried, I tried food first. It usually worked. and when he was colicky at night, that was dad's turn with him.
ReplyDeletelove your new blog header picture!!! they are growing!!!
try to hang in there
betty
Don't babies just cry sometimes? Maybe there's nothing you CAN do. My (I'm not a parent so what do I know?) advice is to try to accept it if you can. You waited a long time for and looked so forward to this "one baby" thing; try to enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI think pretty much everything everyone else has said is right. Sometimes they just cry no matter what you do and sometimes we just cant figure out what they are trying to tell us. That, however, does not make it any easier to deal so. . . just know you are not alone in that battle. Maybe that will help a bit. ;0)
ReplyDeleteI dont have great advice because we only have one..but I wish I lived nearby and could lend a hand. Sending a hug (and a cocktail.)
ReplyDelete