Steph is a Laois mammy of 3 small kids. She has started a blog to document her life as a mammy muddling through parenthood and searching for her identity in a world wider than her own four walls.
As the pandemic continues she has started a diary to describe daily life as a ‘stuck-at-home mom’.
Monday
Today we went back to the playground again. I held it over them for the whole day – hoping that it would encourage good behaviour. Of course it ended up less of a positive encouragement and more of a threat – you know – “Cut it out or we’re not going!
Don’t hit your sister or we’re not going! Tidy your room or we’re not going! Leave me alone to drink my tea or we’re not going!!”
We did go after.
I was hoping that it would tire them out enough that I might get some semblance of sleep!!
It kind of worked, they were all asleep by 10 but not without a fight! Myself and the hubby even managed to watch a movie – with only 2 interruptions!
That’s a record for us! Last night we tried to watch the same movie but stopped 5 mins in when the 1yr old woke bright as a button at 10.30 and demanded Paw Patrol for the following 2 and a half hours!!
Tuesday
Today I refilled my cup – in the form of a visit to a fellow mammy friend. She has a playroom so we locked the kids in and threw them snacks and drinks at intermittent periods. I’m joking of course!
It was fab to get out of the house though. The kids had a ball playing with different toys and wrecking someone else’s house! And I had a catch up with a great friend! And there was cake and tea and biscuits! Heaven!
It’s so important to get out and meet up with people now that we can. It gives everyone a chance to reset and the kids are so sick of our house! I can’t blame them, cabin fever is at a serious high!
Wednesday
Today we did everything right, because I’m determined to get some kind of sleep tonight!! I turned off telly early, gave them dinner early.
We went to the playground and absolutely ran them ragged for 3 hours! I was sure everything would fall into place and all three would be happily snoozing by 9.30.
It started so well. The 3 yr old fell asleep exhausted at 7, on the couch. Perfect, now for the little man. Boom – 7.30, 2 down, 1 to go.
I decided to let the 5 yr old watch tv until 8.30 and then start the long, drawn out process of getting her to sleep. We went down, we read stories. I even, very cleverly I thought, left the 3 yr old on the couch, lest her sister would wake her ‘accidentally’ because she wants to ‘talk in her normal voice’ when in their shared room.
We were just beginning the actual sleep process when I heard the fridge beeping in the kitchen. I ran down to see what was going on.
Me: “What are u doing in the fridge?”
3yr old, “Shur its morning, I’m getting my breakfast!”
FML
Me: “No, it’s night time. You sit down and watch telly, I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
In the meantime the 5 yr old had made her way down to the kitchen, concerned for her sister of course. We started back to the sleep process but she was back to square 1 of not ready for sleep.
Lots of calming noises and gentle words (through gritted teeth!)
After a few minutes she began to get sleepy again, “Waahhh, waaahhh” the monitor sprung to life and the little man was now awake too!! I raced into him, telling herself to go to the kitchen and relax for a few minutes.
I stayed with him, trying to coax him back to sleep for what seemed like ages, until he just up and decided no and headed for the kitchen looking for Paw Patrol.
All 3 were now sitting on the couch with no intention of sleeping, and worse still the 2 small ones had now napped! FML. I’ll spare you the horrors but needless to say nobody slept much, especially me!!
Thursday
After the shitstorm of last night I was delighted t be escaping to my first hair appointment to day! I had no idea what to expect with the new Covid guidelines so I went prepared with my mask and some beverages and snacks.
I wasn’t sure if it was going to be the normal pampering and luxury of pre-Covid hair styling, but I was getting out of the house for at least 3 hours, so I didn’t really care!
The salon was all spaced out and set up differently. The staff were all in masks and they were all busily sanitising chairs and basins after each use. It was very reassuring. And I even got my cup of tea – in a disposable cup – so I was living the dream really!
My first ‘me-day’ since all of this began months ago. It made me feel human again.
Friday
Today was a very exciting, also nerve-wracking and anxious-ridden day! Because today my friends, was my first day to see the newest member of our family! Yes, we’re having a Covid!
We’re delighted! For those of you who have followed me on Facebook and through my blog you’ll know that we had a tough start to the year suffering a miscarriage. So we’re absolutely thrilled to be expecting our new little arrival around March next year! (along with half the country!)
I’m 7 weeks along, getting an early scan because of the miscarriage. It was very strange to be heading in to the hospital without himself. Under Covid restrictions only the mammy-to-be is allowed in for each appointment.
To say I was anxious would be an under-statement. I lay down on the bed, closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
I could feel the tension between myself and the midwife, an amazing woman who had helped me through everything at the beginning of the year.
As she moved the probe around my belly she let out her breath as she found the baby’s heartbeat. I cried with relief.
I rang Himself as soon as I got out. I could hear the relief in his voice too. It was very hard for him to have to stay at home.
It’s going to be a very different pregnancy and birth experience. There will be nobody to chat to in the waiting room, nobody to share the important moments with in the scanning room. He’s going to miss out on a lot this time around.
I really feel for first-time parents, Dads in particular. Of course they’ll have the picture of the scan, and at least they’ll be there for the birth. But it must be hard on them to miss out on all of the shared experiences of heartbeats and seeing the baby moving on the screen.
Who knows what way things will be when it comes time for me to give birth? But I know that all of the doctors and midwives in Portlaoise will do their best for me and my little one!
And on that bombshell Diary of a Stuck at Home Mom comes to an end! Thank you to all of my readers and to everyone who has followed me on Facebook, on Instagram and everyone who has checked out my blog so far!
You haven’t heard the last from me. Watch out for “Musings of a Modern Mammy” coming soon!
And if you haven’t yet, please give me a follow on the auld socials – just search @mammymummymamawifewho – a mouthful I know!
SEE ALSO – To catch all of Steph’s columns, click here.
