It has now been 1 month since our holiday, and it has been.....well, shockingly bad around here to tell the truth. I have not posted for a while, and so felt to say a quick something about life for us at the moment.
Forest has not been going to sleep, and I have been spending hours each day working to get him to sleep, and also trying to bring some rhythm back to our days. Once he is asleep, he then doesn't sleep well. I think the holiday really unsettled him. Add to this a 'frustration' phase that he has been going through -getting grumpy with everything - well, my nerves are shot. I am totally exhausted. This has been a hugely challenging time for me as a single mother. Forest's father has been away, and all of my family are in England so I have no back up when I am totally worn out. It is so hard to parent in any kind of conscious way when you are this tired.
Anyway, I think things are back on the up again. Forest has slept well for the past two nights and I feel like a human being again after a little more sleep. He is also moving out of his frustration and into a more joyful space.
I hope my next post will not be such a complaining one, but that is just how it is for us right now.
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I feel for you. It is challenging to be alone, pregnant and caring for a young one. Parenting I find becomes easier when the young one is able to play with the older child, usually after 1 year then they keep each other occupied. Be sure that you give the first more love and attention even when the new babe arrives so there is never jealously, nor competition this reduces sibling rivalry. Lots of deep breathing mama.
ReplyDeleteYou have a beautiful baby belly... once a belly ring??
Thanks so much for your comment. Just wanted to clarify that there is not another babe on the way (although I wish there was!) - sorry, the belly photo is a bit misleading. Yes - the belly ring has gone now as I have moved into this mama phase of life. Things are a bit better now since I wrote this post.
ReplyDeleteOh Vicky, I know how the sleep/frustration problems can be! How old is Forrest? When Ollie Winter was 18 months he went through such a difficult phase- on top of sleep troubles, which he had until he was 2- he was suddenly fussy, angry, afraid of people- he'd run screaming away whenever ANYONE would stop by the house, say hello to him, you name it. The shocked look of confusion on their faces was. . .well kind of funny but not at the time!
ReplyDeleteI remember feeling like things would never change- when you're in the middle of a difficult time with baby it feels like it's going on forever, like you're stuck this way. Now as I think back, that phase lasted about a month. And the sleep problems were for his first two years- now he sleeps wonderfully, and did at age 3, 4, 5. . .
When you're having a difficult phase you feel so alone. So alone at nighttime when you're up with baby. I'm thinking of you Vicky and sending you love and peaceful thoughts!
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Thank you sweet Melanie! It's so reassuring to hear from other mamas who have passed through these phases. Already the grumpy month is over and he is back to being delightful little Forest again (he is 20 months now). The sleep is a bit better too - although he's never been a great sleeper, before our holiday he had been going to sleep so easily for 6 months, and only a bit restless at night. Going back to this carry on was not part of my plan!!
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