Outside my window… smog. don’t want to talk about it any more… I keep singing, “Let it rain, Let it rain, open the flood gates of heaven…” Although, we did brave the chemical cocktail in the atmosphere this morning to enjoy a dip in the kiddie pool with our play group friends. The Swim suits, pool and pool gear is still happily waiting on the lawn for Samantha to wake from her nap and announce that she’s ready for another dip.
I’m thinking…Attachment Parenting has not served our family as well as it could. That might be because I’m not a Deliberate Attachment Parenter… it just kind of crept up on me over time. Then one day I woke up with Timothy in bed next to me, with no recollection of how he got there. Sean says he watched me get out of bed and get Timothy out of the crib. But I’m positive that The Boy climbed out of his crib, crawled across the floor to our bed and climbed in next to me to nurse. He’s a smart little guy. Very agile, too. So, I’m an Accidental Attachment Parenter, who now has an almost Three Year Old (one month to go. Yikes!) who can’t or won’t go to sleep without one of us in bed with her, and an almost One Year Old who climbs into be with me in the middle of the night, AND is extremely jealous of the house, the dishes, the laundry and the garden, because of all the time I spend with them working.
I’m thankful for… bored teenagers on school break who want to play ‘Nanny’ with my kids! Last week, a family asked us to let their daughter help with the kids over the school holidays. What a relief! I can actually complete tasks. Usually I have to choose: complete chores while listening to screaming kid, or pick him up to keep him happy and forget chores. For the sake of both our nerves, I usually choose the latter.
I’m reading… nursery rhymes, lullabys and kids books. My sister sent me an online homeschool curriculum. It looks like fun, and it’ll be good to add a little structure to our play.
I’m hearing… the ‘Nanny’ play with a squeaky toy to entertain Timothy.Oh, and now the TV is blaring cause Timothy just turned it on and is playing with the volume.
Around the house… It’s still clean! Because of the ‘Nanny’ we have this week, I’m actually on top of the household chores, rather than just always playing catch up. It feels good.
In the kitchen… hmm, apple crisp for breakfast… gourmet tuna sandwiches for lunch (by Sean)… now, what’s for dinner? Baked potatoes, steak and veggies sounds good.
One of my favourite things…”I love you Mummy”, followed by a big hug from my daughter.
Plans for the weekend… play in the rain, cause even though the forecast says it’s gonna be clear, I keep hoping and praying the mango rains will finally arrive.
A photo thought… sweet dreams
Take heart – there really will come a time when Samantha wants her own independence, and will be thrilled for the opportunity to sleep in her own bed. That's what attachment parenting gives them; full support when they need it, so their independence can be that much greater when they're old enough. My attachment-parented 11 year old LOVES his independence.