The other day I got an email from Lil Sis’s nursery outlining their Graduation Party in a few weeks time, and suddenly it slammed home that my baby was starting school this year.
Then, before I even knew it was coming, the waterworks started. As I was loudly blowing my nose, the rational part of my brain was screaming: ‘What are you doing, you crazy woman? You’ve been here before with Big Sis AND you’ve had five years to get used to idea. Get. A. Grip.’
But, in those early days of motherhood, rational thinking doesn’t always get a look-in; it’s pure, raw Mummy emotion.
With Big Sis I knew I still had Lil Sis at home, but this felt so final. It seems like just like yesterday I was posting this pregnancy announcement to reveal a new monkey was on the way…
With Big Sis, once I’d gotten past the morning sickness the pregnancy and early days of motherhood had been a breeze.
Lil Sis? Not so much.
That kid gave me grief for the entire 38 weeks – when the illness passed, the fatigue began. Then, in the third trimester, the exhaustion was joined by sciatica and unrelenting acid reflux. Nice. But at least I got this lovely little bundle at the end of it all…
To begin with, she slept like a dream. We moved house when she was just eight weeks old (I know, what were we thinking?!) and she basically slept for the entire day while we frantically packed the last of our worldly belongings.
Yeah, that didn’t last. From about three months old she became ‘the baby who wouldn’t stay asleep’ waking every few hours for the next few years. Years. Why don’t they warn you about that? I thought it was just newborns that kept you up all night, but Lil Sis didn’t sleep right through the night until she was three and a half.
I’d put her in her bed, sound asleep, and collapse into mine. Then, somewhere around 1am, I’d be woken by a thump, then the padding of little feet. I’d pull the covers back, and a little body would hurl itself inside the bed, and snuggle up to me.
Turns out I’m not the only one oblivious to the realities of those early days of motherhood, and beyond. A survey carried out by the NCT, in association with Pampers, recently found that participants were prepared for sleep deprivation in the first year, but 30 percent were taken aback by the lack of zzzzzz’s in year two.
Between teething, coughs and colds, and generally just missing Mummy’s cuddles, those early years are pretty gruelling, but it’s pretty amazing how little sleep you can get by on when you don’t have a choice.
And then a smile like this makes it all worthwhile…
Like reading about the early days of motherhood? Next read: How to Cope with Parenting when you’re an Introvert
Google starts school this year too (she’s called that affectionately as she thinks she knows everything!). Preparing for the backchat to start in earnest, the “Sophie / Megan / Zoe’s – insert name here’s mummy lets her do that!” Tantrums and the oh so proud daughter can read a whole book, by herself, to herself. She’s growing up and yes, I will shed a few tears over the coming months. Today she met her buddy (a boy who had written a sweet little letter about himself). In a few years time it will be her writing a similar letter to a little boy or girl in her position. Time moves so quickly as you grow older but u wouldn’t miss a minute of it!
Google, I love it!!! Lil Sis is the same – a right little know-it-all! I don’t know WHERE she gets that from *quickly changes the subject*. Time just seems to fly faster and faster when you have children, doesn’t it?? xx
Aww so lovely x
Butter wouldn’t melt in that mouth, right? Appearances can be very deceiving… 😉 xx
Awww I remember that teeny tiny baby the first time I met you guys at the Fisher Price playdate after speaking on Twitter in those sleep deprived hours!! Do you remember how Beanie Boy and Lil Sis planted a smacker on each other at the next FP Playdate when they were crawling?! We don’t see each other often but I always love seeing your photos and reading your funny posts xxx
Aww, cute!!! Remember we all got lead along to pose for pics with Tamsin Outhwaite? I still have that somewhere – Natalia must have only been 6 weeks old and still looked like a startled possum whereas I looked half asleep, hahaha!! xxx
Jeez. We’re still waiting on our tot sleeping through at 10 months. I am not prepared to still be waiting in a year. It’s a good job our tots are so cute!
#brilliantblogposts
A lovely post. I went through this a couple of years ago now when LP finally transitioned from nursery to ‘big school’. I don’t think I cried but the realisation that it was the last time I’d do it shook me. I started to wonder about having another child. That didn’t happen but it was tough there for a while. Now I can see LP growing fast and he’s becoming very independent. It’s all a learning curve but we deal with it. I hope Lil Sis is looking forward to starting school, I’m sure she’ll love it and before you know it, you will too. xxx