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I haven’t been able to write at all since the last post because I was finding my hands full with the flurry of activities revolving around baby. He’s been sleeping a lot less! So I’ve got to work a lot harder at entertaining him during the day.
For a couple of days in early December, I thought he was starting to sleep through the night (read: sleeping 4 – 5 hours at a stretch). But alas, it was short-lived joy. Now, he’s been waking up at least 3 times a nite at 2 – 2.5 hourly intervals. Argh. Why?
I am trying to study my schedules to see if I can spot anything I’m doing that is causing this. But no. Even before we went to HK for a short Christmas break, he was doing the same thing at night. Funny thing is he sleeps a lot MORE when we are out. Perhaps he really does need to be in the sling to sleep because that is how I carry him when we are out. Oh! But my poor back!
What I’m trying out now is Shichida’s method called ‘the power of suggestion’. I just read it in his book, Babies are Geniuses!, last night and decided to try it out. This is akin to the ‘power of confession’. In a nutshell, this power of suggestion works by having you, the parent, talk to the child in a positive fashion. For example, if the baby is fussy and impatient, gently repeat the sentence, ” You are not a stubborn , fussy or impatient baby. You are considerate, gentle and patient” each time you pick him up.
So that was what I did last night with a little modification. Since he was already asleep, I whispered to him, telling him that he is a baby who LOVES sleep, who will sleep well for at least a 4 hour stretch through the night and will sleep for another 4 hours after. Did it work?
Well, it might have been a coincidence but he slept for more than 4 hours He woke up 4.5 hours AFTER his last evening feed. Unfortunately though the rest of my suggestions didn’t work. He then woke up thrice after that. However, at 5 am, I tried the method again and told him to sleep for at least another 3 hours and wake up at 9am.
He woke at 8.30am, 2.5hours after he slept. So it is not working exactly to my suggestions …yet. I shall just persevere with this method and see how it goes.
I was just trawling through the Net for inspirational devotions for mums when I found this quote. And I’m posting it to inspire you as well as remind myself to continue dreaming and dancing.
“Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news.
The good news is that you don’t know how great you can be!
How much you can love!
What you can accomplish!
And what your potential is.”
Anne Frank
I’m fast becoming a tree trunk in more ways than one.
For starters, my torso has become the favourite reclining place for my little darling. Slung around me in my trusty sarong sling, it is where he calms down and falls asleep. He’s already 12weeks and 5days old. I still don’t see him learning to fall asleep independently.From what I’ve gleaned from reading expert advice, I’ve tried to train him to fall asleep on his own. I’ve tried to put him down when he’s sleepy but he awakes immediately and bawls till he turns into one silent screamer. When he does, I worry about causing him distress and teaching him distrust instead of trust. So in he pops into the ‘auto shut-up sloth machine’. After several seconds, he shuts up. Then when he finally slips into that sweet state of sleep, I am almost too afraid to put him down for fear of waking him up and having to deal with his tears, again.
What do I do? I end up busying myself with household chores and meals with him plastered on me. This then leads me to the next reason why I’m getting close to looking like a tree trunk. Eating decently has become a personal challenge. I’ve only successfully managed to cook three meals for myself since I started looking after him on my own. Most times, I’ve been stuffing my face with the most accessible but least healthy of foods – cereal bars , chips, chocolate. Plus, it’s no easy feat trying to NOT drop crumbs or spill hot soup onto an infant strapped so closely to my mouth. ( I shan’t say just how many times I’ve picked a flaky piece off his scalp thinking that it’s cradle cap only to find it’s only my breakfast.) I’ve also been nursing this horrid craving for sugar. My post-natal tummy looks bigger than it did after I gave birth. Sigh.
So here you have a Sticky Bear Baby and me, a Tree Trunk Mama. I’ve got a long way and many calories to go before I’ll ever reach a Yummy Mummy status.
I’ve only really been a SAHM for two weeks. Since Elisha’s birth till up to two weeks ago, I’ve always have had some help or other around me. While I’ve not been a SAHM very long at all, I must say I’ve learnt a few survival tricks. Here is just my starter list:
1. Time Management is key. While time is not money for the SAHM, efficient use of time is the secret to maintaining the SAHM’s sanity.
2. Carpe Diem (Seize the Day!) is a wise motto to have. With all the baby caring and domestic chores, you can slip into the mundane motions of domestic life. Pick a few or even one area of interest that you would like to pursue, and set aside time every day to pursue that interest. This would help minimise the chances of you feeling like you are wilting away into a plebian existence.
3. Get Connected. Find other mums who can share in your mothering journey. Moral support is very helpful especially when you feel like you are failing as a SAHM.
4. Me-Time is Compulsory. Never neglect yourself. There is a reason why so many people say that if you cannot take care of yourself, you cannot take care of others. A frazzled, tired person is bound to be bad company. Bad vibes rub off on the baby. Find the time to do the things you need to recharge and get energised so that the baby, and your husband, can enjoy the best of you.
5. Eat and Drink Well. I am the kind of person who gets really cranky when I’m hungry. I need my food and drink. And especially since I’m breastfeeding, I need to be more conscious of my diet. So I’m telling myself to eat and drink well. I’m even trying to plan my weekly lunches and dinners so that I can cook and freeze portions for my meals in advance.
Do you have your own list of tips for being a SAHM? Please do share them with me!
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