Partners in Parenting

That's not a Diaper, that's my White Flag Waving...

Date: 9.28.06
From: Laura S.
Subject: Sleep Post
To: Mary P

Sooo... how's the next installment of the sleep series coming along?

Now why's she sending me that? It's only... SHIT! It's THURSDAY! How'd it get to be THURSDAY already? The baby in my arms jumps a bit. Oops. Did I say that out loud? No, I just jumped. It's not easy to read your email with a baby in your arms, but it's possible. Anna has been in my care three days so far. She's a little uncertain just yet. Needs a lot of comfort and reassurance. Only to be expected.

"Shhhh, sweetie, it's okay." Mary only thought "shit", she didn't say it. "Shhhh."

But I really do need to pull together that post. Okay. Topic, modified CIO. That means I'll need Weissbluth, Ferber... and maybe that new Douglas book I've found so sensible and even-handed.  Let's see...if they're in the shelves in the living room, I can at least bookmark the bits I might use. If they're in the basement, it'll have to wait till nap time.

But they're probably in the -- "Timmy! Timmy honey, the kitty doesn't like it when -- Timmy, let go of -- Okay, baby Anna, I'm just going to set you down now, so I can rescue the kit--"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

"It's okay, Anna. I'm just going to help the kitty. Poor kitty. How's your tail? How about we put you in the kitchen, safe on the other side of the babyga--"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

"It's okay, Anna, I'm just going to the kitchen for a sec." Kitten deposited in the kitchen with a ball of tin foil, I return to the baby, who is still--

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

"Hey! Weissbluth and Ferber are BOTH in the living room! What are the odds of that?" It's not easy to check the bottom shelf of the bookshelves with a baby on your hip, but it's possible.

Baby Anna makes a grab for the books. I'm way too skilled. She misses.

"Weissbluth and Ferber, and... where is Douglas?" It's no simple matter to rummage through piles of books with one hand and a baby on your hip, but it's possible. The Douglas book isn't there, though. Nuts.

"Mah-wee!" Nigel tugs on my leg. "Gotsa kitty! Baby gotsa kitty!" Gah. So he does. Again!

"Timmy, come out from under the couch. Drat you, kitten. Can't you stay out of harm's way for five minutes?" It's awkward, fishing one baby out from under the couch while holding another on your hip, but it's possible. "Timmy, let go of -- oh, good BOY, Timmy! That's just what I was looking for!"

I blow a dustball off Ann's cover. Perfect. My source material, all gathered. I'll just set it by the laptop, so I can finish that task off during naptime. If I can get an hour to focus during nap time, I should be able to bang out something presentable. Right now, though, I need to make lunch.

"All right, little Anna, I'm going to have to set you down to make lunch. How about we all have some nice--"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

"Yeesh. How about you watch me from the high chair?" It's not easy, lifting a high chair over a baby gate with a baby on your hip, but it's possible. "We'll just put you in the high chair, and you can watch me--"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

"Sorry, baby girl. You watch from here or you can be alone in the other room. I have to make lunch now."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

The other room it is, then. Not that an open doorway really muffles the sounds. Thankfully, she's an enthusiastic eater. Macaroni and cheese and peas and cucumber magically restore silence. Silence continues through diaper changes. Did you know that you can change one child's diaper on the floor while holding another child on your knee? Not easy, but possible! And then naptime. Up the stairs, three times. Once with Timmy AND Anna both, one on each hip. That's easy. (Me strong voman.) Return down with Anna. Back up with Nigel and Anna. Nigel, bless him, can manage the stairs on his own. And then Anna.

Silence. Blessed, blessed silence. Now to that post. Only first, I'll just throw in that load of laundry. Oh and do the lunch dishes, scrub down the dining table, sweep the dining room floor. Oh, and let's toss the toys back into the bins, sweep under the couch. Hey, and now the washer's finished, so throw the laundry in the dryer, take the garbage out, feed the kitten. Okay, now. I'll gather up my notes, get my cup of tea, find that section in the first book, and I'm all set to start that sleep pos--

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

Oh, it couldn't be an hour and a half already! Oh, yes it could. Same way as it's Thursday already. And you know what?

It's not easy to write a post with a baby on your lap --

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!

Date: Sept. 28
From: MaryP
Subject: Re: Sleep Post
To: Laura S

Monday. Don't ask.

Radio Show

Laura and I have begun our climb to fame and (more importantly) riches!!

A week or so ago, we were contacted by a representative of KidDadsMoms.com, to see if we'd like to be interviewed on their World Talk Radio show. (Internet radio, don't you know. You hear it through your computer speakers.) Being the shy and retiring types we are, we hesitated for a full 14 seconds before saying yes. So, if you'd like to put voices to the personas, come and check us out. The show is airing at Tuesday at 1:00 Laura's time (Pacific) and 4:00 Mary's (Eastern) time. You can find more info on the site.

ADHD Q&A

We've been having a little trouble here at PiP with our email account.  Somehow, emails mysteriously disappear ...

Someone sent us a question last month about ADHD and their child.  Sadly, this is one of the emails that has mysteriously disappeared.  This is such an important issue, I would really, really appreciate it if the person who sent the question would resend it.  PLEASE!

Otherwise, we're still backlogged a bit on questions, so those of you who sent us emails in late July, we have NOT forgotten about you and will get to them SOON.

Thanks for your patience, everyone!

Administrivia

For those of you who notice these things: this week, our Friday Q&A will happen on Wednesday. The first of our Sleep Series will be posted on Friday. Because we wouldn't want you to think we were, um, disorganized or anything...