Little parent-child time makes big difference
Published: 10/22/2012 8:00 AM
Last Modified: 10/22/2012 8:03 AM
A neighbor called my weekend walking act an "entourage," because I have my daughter in a stroller, while having both husky-shepherd dogs on leashes. All I have to do is hope they don't see a squirrel or the chihuahua that never stays in its own yard. (Drawn by Althea Peterson)
Yes, the text in this drawing is me talking complete nonsense. I do this a lot, just to introduce language to the baby, but she seems to have learned something from the dogs and cat: Keep listening to her until she gives up and starts feeding instead. (Drawn by Althea Peterson)
I drop off my daughter at daycare by 7:30 a.m. each weekday.
I don't see her again until at least 5:30 p.m. each weeknight.
She's asleep by 8 p.m.
An hour and a half in the morning, two and a half hours at night. We are both usually tired from either waking up in the morning, or after a day filled with playing/working.
When you're working, you have to make the most of the few hours you have with your child, especially during the week. While I'm only seven months into this parenting thing, here's how I try to make it happen:
Meal time
Right now, she's still nursing after waking up or before going to sleep, so I get time to sit down and watch TV, and she gets time with mommy.
If she still hasn't gotten her servings of fruit and veggies, I open the window blinds, put her in her chair facing the window (she loves the brightness of outdoors, regardles of the time of day) and see how much of each spoonful ends up in her mouth, while she sees how she can prevent me from getting the spoon in her mouth.
It's like a game... and since you can't make a horse drink after you lead it to water, she always wins.
Neighborhood walk
Nothing like some fresh air and exercise. Someday, she will be old enough and strong enough to walk herself (and walk the dogs too!) but until then, it's stroller time with the baby and the dogs (and the cat whining behind the door that he's left out).
She loves that she can see new things (not to mention the bright outdoors!), the dogs are usually a lot more careful when they're next to the stroller than if I'm weakly trying to control them by myself, and sometimes, she even goes to sleep after a few blocks.
Getting dressed
So the weather was down in the 50s this morning, so I make sure she has a hat, socks, long sleeves, you name it... and forget my own jacket.
Some day, she may argue about what she gets to wear each day. Until then, she still loves her diaper changing table (associates it with being clean? Dry? With parents?) and getting dressed on it.
Play time
So long as she is fed and not tired, my daughter will eagerly roll around on the floor, stare in a mirror I've setup near her, take toys that I set near her, and smile back at me when she call over to her.
These are also the best photo opportunities, so I make sure to have my cell phone nearby. The grandparents and my husband will want to share these happy girl moments, too!
Bath time
Initially, she hated bath time. And then, she realized that mommy and daddy were bathing her every day, so then she grew to love it.
Now that she is older, singing, toys and splashing are all part of the fun. The cleaning up afterward? That's still a parent-only task... for now. When she's older...
Singing and talking
Since she was little, I played the "hokey pokey" with her by moving her feet and arms.
Now, no matter how upset, crying or tired she is, the moment I start singing, she stops and suddenly, all is right with the world.
As an OU graduate, I am also trying to make a few Sooner songs into "happy" songs for her. So far, none quite as happy as "hokey pokey," but I'm trying!
All parent-child time is quality time
Yeah, I'm working, and yeah, most of the time we spend under the same roof is when we're asleep, but the smile she gives me when she first sees me in the morning is reassuring: I'm her mommy and she knows it.
--Althea Peterson
PS: How do you spend your few moments with your child(ren)? Leave a comment!
Trimesterly tribute: Since my husband was out of town again this week, it reminded me of when he was out during my pregnancy. I would fix dinner, kick my feet up on the couch and turn on the heating pad. At the end of the day, always have your feet elevated, always have a heating pad for your back... and try to relax if you can.
Mommy moment: When you're the only adult in the household with a baby, you value one thing above all else: Sleep. You just never know when the baby will suddenly decide that midnight is howling time, or that it's time to be sick again. Fortunately, neither happened, so we're both well-rested!
Baby bit: Did I say well-rested? Well, with one exception: Early this week, my baby started to (finally?) show signs of teeth, without me actually seeing any teeth. The fussiness, the bottle refusal, the CHEWING ON EVERYTHING, it all added up to teething. But again, I didn't see any teeth. Is my baby playing tricks on me?
Althea's previous entries:
Oct. 15: Choosing a daycare center for your child
Oct. 8: Baby blood drawing, catheter, congestion, antibiotics...
Oct. 1: Beginnning to feed solid foods to a baby
Sept. 24: Baby's first long car trip
Sept. 17: Photos: A newborn baby in her new home
Sept. 10: Motherhood misconceptions and baby myths
Sept. 3: When a baby can't sleep and won't stop crying (possibly due to her first cold)
Aug. 27: Baby's appetite changes can make breastfeeding more difficult
Aug. 20: Mom's hospital stay after the baby arrives
Aug. 13: Returning to work after maternity leave
Aug. 6: Life as a single, working mother with a baby
July 30: Dealing with a baby's first sick time
July 23: Delivering a baby by Cesarean section
July 16: Introducing a new baby to your pet cat and dogs
July 9: Breastfeeding a baby is a challenging decision
July 2: Baby airport travel requires patience and time
June 28: Baby means there's never an awkward silence
Althea Peterson is the proud mother of a seven-month old girl. Althea returned to work at the Tulsa World in May after two months of maternity leave. Baby advice, baby questions or baby words of encouragement can be sent to althea.peterson@tulsaworld.com. Also, follow Althea on Twitter at twitter.com/a1a4ou.
Written by
Althea Peterson
Staff Writer
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