Not quite first month. I started this entry at the end of January and look which month we are in now. If I'm diligent enough, I'm sure I'll finish this before the year is up.
So far, I think, housewife-ship agrees with me. If only my immune system shares my view. I've been having all sorts of minor ailments these past few weeks. I don't know whether it's simply about adjusting to the new lifestyle. Hee Yee once told me that when a person's stress level goes down, so does the immunity level. Life has been too relaxed, perhaps?
Not in the first four weeks. The first four weeks of being a stay-at-home-mother (SAHM) was a huge shock. I was needed all the time by my one and only charge leaving me with absolutely no time for myself. I had no time to prepare my meals. I could only eat when she finally took her naps. Making her take her naps was another big struggle. I could spend up to an hour nursing her, patting her, rocking her gently and she would sleep for all of seven minutes. I had to pee, poo and bathe with an audience. I would make frequent calls to my husband, my mother and my sister and whine endlessly with The Little Girl crying and screaming in the background.
But then, even The Little Girl got tired of testing her mother.
So, by the end of January, things were no longer going at a frenetic pace.
A pattern soon emerged. (Sound effect: a collective sigh)
And I also became a biiiiiit smarter at managing my time.
The Little Girl will wake up around 7 to say goodbye to her father. After the goodbyes (during which time I'll ask The Husband, "Are you taking her to work?"), we'll have breakfast and when she's all messed up, a bath. I'll then read the papers while she tears up the classified ads section. After some playing, it'll soon be time for her morning nap. I'll sleep with her for about half an hour or so then I'll tip-toe out of the room and do some chores - whichever chores that cannot be done when she's awake. After that, for The Little Girl, it will be play, lunch, play, nap, another bath, play, father comes home! Yippppeeeeeee! The Husband will pry her off my legs and I can prepare dinner while he amuses The Little Girl.
...
Yes, it is pretty repetitive and if you are one who gets easily bored and wants instant rewards, this may not be for you. Actually, I was (am?) like that.
This motherhood journey is a long road and it does not come with a street directory. I have an idea where I want the road to lead to and I can only pray that I'm always doing the best I can. Amin.
(I don't know why I get so reflective towards the end of this entry. Must be the effects of my very reflective former workplace.)