So you might have wondered if I crawled under a rock since posting my Baby Blues confessional last week. Actually, I crawled into my social network. Once word spread that I was having some challenges with new baby, big kids and balancing life the tweeps, peeps and friends stepped up.
First off, thanks for all the supportive comments to that post. Also, the How are you doing today? tweets I am still getting. It takes a few minutes for you - but absolutely makes a new mom's day reading she is not alone in the world. Thank you guys!
So I have learnt, in my own way, to ask for help...I gently nudged on my Facebook status: There is a special place in heaven for people who bring food to families with newborns. And voila! Dinners, lunches and baked goods were all delivered with smiles, hugs, a peek of the boy.
Realizing I am quite the momzilla in the evenings (when tired big kids - who themselves are adjusting to the shift in attention to a new brother - want their moms the most) I've decided to ask for evening help. Instead of dh working late or teaching karate classes - he is home holding the boy - or doing homework with the girls. Such a relief to have another grown-up helping duing the arsenic hours.
I've also tried my hand (well, it wasn't actually my hand) at expressing milk so that boy can have a bottle and I can get at least one 4hr block of sleep. (there's a post on that to come).
And today, a pd day (good ghandi) I've asked for the grandparents to take the big kids sledding this afternoon so I can have a rest.
10 years ago, with my first baby - I insisted on doing it all. Over the years, I've realized I can't do it all. And I shouldn't try. There already is a Martha Stewart who does everything perfectly...and look what happened to her (jailbird!). I'm no Martha. I'm me.
And I'm asking for help - when needed - and lowering the bar - as needed. So I don't need to crawl under any rocks.
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