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The Dead Time

No, that's not the end of the day when you're so exhausted even your teeth hurt! It's when the baby gets up at 5:00am and you can't do anything productive because the other child is still asleep..so you have to sneak around the house and entertain baby so he remains quiet.
Yes, those times when you are up early and you imagine all the things you could be doing (or at least I do), but can't.

It's when you're following the baby around but forget to take the phone or a book and then you're stuck somewhere down the street with baby. He's playing so well, you don't want to scoop him up to get anything, but at the same time, just how long can you be expected to sit and watch him push the yard broom back and forth?

The "Dead Time" ranks right up there with my greatest frustrations with being a stay-home-mom. I keep thinking that I could be doing something, maybe even earning $X/hr (modesty prevents me from putting a figure), instead, I am watching my 1-year old repeatedly drop and pick up a ball. It is a constant battle NOT to think about what I could be doing, and to keep focused on savoring my time with him, to enjoy seeing him experience and learn about his brand-new world now.

Yesterday was a day like that. I put aside my "I could be.." thoughts and looked at him. We had seen a squirrel come out to eat some acorns, and he was so excited. He was shaking all over and clapping his hands, and he pointed to the squirrel and said "Bow..".

"Yes." I grinned and nodded, "A squirrel."

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G said…
That's the hardest for me, too... resisting the urge to be productive and savoring Liam's babyhood :)
15 October 2008 at 12:01
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