The New Normal
I am so lucky to have had family in the house, helping out for the first four weeks of Scarlett’s life on the outside. I don’t know how I could have fed myself or walked my dog, or gotten a shower without the two moms and my sister, who took turns staying with us.
Still.
Ingrate that I am, I did find myself occasionally looking forward to the day they would all be gone.
Despite all their help, it is always stressful having people in your house. I secretly started to yearn for the day when it would be just us… our little nuclear family going it on our own- ‘getting back to normal’.
But what is normal, now that Scarlett is here? Certainly it won’t be anything like it was before. Today is halloween. In the old normal, Kris and I would have gone to a party or a haunted house, or out dancing in costume. Especially since the weather is unbelievably nice today.
Hopefully, normal will be something more manageable than week six.
Today I opened my inbox and realized I have missed many important things since my last login, including a conference call for the real estate class I’m taking. It makes me feel a bit panicky.
On an average day in week six, I nurse, rock, pace, and learn to butter toast with one hand while the other holds a shrieking, thrashing infant. My neck and back ache from falling asleep sitting up.
Who am I? How did I get here?
It’s 11:29 a.m., and I’ve walked the dog, eaten oatmeal, and nursed for 3.5 hours.
I hold out hope for a shower.
Most times I look at Scarlett, sleeping, eating, or crying and clawing at my throat, and think, “What an adorable little treasure!”
Occasionally, I look at Scarlett and think, “What have you done with my life?”
