Reclaiming our evenings
We have tackled the evenings. Up until the weekend, Noah had been spending every evening downstairs with us, usually falling asleep at around 8.30/9pm and then up to bed with us, fed and popped into his basket. I have been making excuses as to why this needs to continue. He's too little, he's too awake, he's not ready. I'm not ready!
On Sunday, something switched in me and I realised I needed some time for myself again. Three kids really can feel overwhelming at times and when you don't even have those precious few hours in the evening, it can feel like there is no escape.
Up until the weekend I enjoyed those evenings with Noah. He was our little buddy. But suddenly it felt right to try to get all the kids to bed together. Noah is also bursting out of his moses basket and we would soon be forced to move him into his cot anyway.
The first night took an hour and half of sitting and feeding and patting. The next night took an hour. Last night took an hour but more going up and down rather than just sitting with him in the room. Last night, he also spent the entire night in his room for the first time and it was the best night we have had in quite a while, with only one 3am feed (we have regressed somewhat on the sleeping front - arrghhh!).
It feels wonderful to have some of our evenings back again, or at least to be on track to reclaiming them. It feels sad to have moved out of the real baby stage where they sit up with you all evening. It feels good to have a bedtime routine that involves all three of our children. It feels sad to know he won't be sleeping right by me anymore (well, not for the whole night at least...) It feels good to see some normality returning to our evenings.
It feels sad knowing I will never again experience that crazy, wonderful, exhausting, amazing newborn phase. Though not sad enough to have a fourth...
On Sunday, something switched in me and I realised I needed some time for myself again. Three kids really can feel overwhelming at times and when you don't even have those precious few hours in the evening, it can feel like there is no escape.
Up until the weekend I enjoyed those evenings with Noah. He was our little buddy. But suddenly it felt right to try to get all the kids to bed together. Noah is also bursting out of his moses basket and we would soon be forced to move him into his cot anyway.
The first night took an hour and half of sitting and feeding and patting. The next night took an hour. Last night took an hour but more going up and down rather than just sitting with him in the room. Last night, he also spent the entire night in his room for the first time and it was the best night we have had in quite a while, with only one 3am feed (we have regressed somewhat on the sleeping front - arrghhh!).
It feels wonderful to have some of our evenings back again, or at least to be on track to reclaiming them. It feels sad to have moved out of the real baby stage where they sit up with you all evening. It feels good to have a bedtime routine that involves all three of our children. It feels sad to know he won't be sleeping right by me anymore (well, not for the whole night at least...) It feels good to see some normality returning to our evenings.
It feels sad knowing I will never again experience that crazy, wonderful, exhausting, amazing newborn phase. Though not sad enough to have a fourth...
posted by solveig at
9:38 am
3 Comments:
Well done you - I remember how hard it was moving from having Littler around all the time to having my evenings back - lovely to get me time but hard to wave goodbye to that first stage
That last line sounds familiar.. I think I said that once!
@muddlingalong - I can hardly believe I am already waving goodbye to my newborn. They grow so quickly.
@Vicky - haha. Having Noah has made me see how you really could just keep coming back for more...!
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