News at Home: Babies are Hard!
Honestly, it’s been a pretty good week. Dante is a good baby and has been doing decently well with sleeping and eating and all that good stuff. I even got some great smiles out of him this week! And he’s officially 1 month old, which is seriously hard to believe. On one hand, every day feels so long and like a march toward night time – which I dread, for the uncertainty of whether or not I’ll be sleeping – but on the other hand, I can’t believe my baby boy is already a month old! The time really has flown by.
This week has been pretty much the same as the other 4 weeks since we came home. I do my best to take care of him, maintain my sanity, and get sleep. I can see why babies are hard on relationships – I find myself irritated with my husband way more often than I’ve ever been before and I can feel that he’s more irritated with me. What’s frustrating is that we both want the same thing – a happy, healthy, safe baby. But we have different ideas of how to accomplish that. And it’s frustrating. He seems to have this idea of what a mom is like – based on very traditional Mexican upbringing – and I am SO NOT that woman. So we clash a bit… I’m frustrated because I’ve also never been that traditional Mexican wife and he’s always loved that I’m fiercely independent. So I don’t understand how suddenly I’m supposed to morph into this other woman.
sigh
We will figure it out. I can honestly say we have not gone to bed mad at each other even once yet, so as long as we keep talking it out, I know we’ll be okay. Tonight my brother and his boyfriend are coming over for dinner – we’ve started a new tradition of Sunday night family dinner, rotating between our place and their place- and I’m super excited to see them and just give this tradition wings.
The other big thing I have happening – I’ve applied for an office job and am applying for another job this week. Yeah, I’m doing what I can to find a good job outside of the school. If these past 4 weeks have taught me anything, it’s that going back to my classroom is not what’s best for my family. I can do it, and will do it if I have to. But a job with a better income and work-life balance would be preferable. One of the jobs I was told about from a friend who not only works there but will be on the hiring committee. So I have a really good shot at the job.
fingers crossed
If I get it, I’ll have to go back to work a little earlier than planned, but I’m really okay with that (possibly relieved at the prospect of returning to work…).
Blog News
I’m really glad that I’ve managed to keep doing some sort of blogging every day – whether it’s visiting, replying to comments, or writing a post. I really hope I can keep it up. As Dante is awake more during the day, I am finding it a bit more challenging, but I also really want to maintain it, so I’m prioritizing time.
Last Week on the Blog
- [15 Oct] Wrong Number, Right Guy by Elle Casey ★★★★
- [17 Oct] Read Me Romance | She’s the One by Ella Goode
- [17 Oct] She's the One by Ella Goode ★★★
- [18 Oct] FitReaders Update ~ October 6 – 12
- [20 Oct] Sunday Post with Berls | Babies are Hard!
- [20 Oct] The Sunday Post ~ I chaperoned a dance ~ Week in READview!
Coming Next Week From Me
Sunday
Sunday Post with Berls
Tuesday
Berls Reiews | The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware
Wednesday
Just a Few Labor and Delivery Books I Read
Friday
Fit Readers Update | October 13 – 19
Checking in. I’m a bit behind this week. It’s good that you are so aware of the ups and downs of babies and relationships. That doesn’t make the issues go away, but hopefully gives you the patience to deal with it all! Good luck finding a job. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
Wow, it had to be a shock to you when you realized your husband’s expectations had changed once the baby arrived. At least y’all are talking and I’m sure it will work out once expectations are understood and managed on both sides. Good luck with the job opportunities! It’d be wonderful to have a job that didn’t take so much out of you.
I laughed about your frustrating with your husband, things are different with both parents in careers but mothers have the more demanding role no matter how different the times are. Good luck with the career change and interviews!
OMG…the frustration with your husband. I changed the sentence and screwed it up royally. LOL
Lol I figured that’s what you meant : ) Yeah, baby raising definitely is harder on moms, even now-a-days with dads carrying more responsibility. We’ll get there though.
Thanks , fingers crossed !
It’s kind of funny – the Tornado had some mild colic which involved a lot of crying at around 9:30 every single night. I’m sure it was awful at the time but what I really remember is my husband and myself taking turns walking around and bouncing him while we binge watched The Office. Hopefully bedtime will get smoother soon. I think you’ve hit on the secret to making things work with just talking everything out. Communication makes such a difference. I don’t know how couples who just got married cope with an infant! Fingers crossed about the job and have a great week!
LOL funny the things we remember. We binge watched The Resident since Dante was born 🙂
Things are definitely getting better this week already – partly because I’ve realized Dante just needs more food. It surprises me, I feel like he’s eating so much! But he’s not getting sick and is doing a lot better since we started giving him more, so hopefully that was the secret.
Have a great week !
A month old already! It goes so quickly, and yet at the same time, those first days and weeks can seem endless. They are certainly exhausting, and to some extent, that’s going to continue for a while. And yes, the first baby in particular can put stress on a relationship. You’re right to keep talking to each other about what you are thinking and feeling, and try to work out your differing expectations.
Good luck with the job hunt! I hope it works out for you, and will be a good situation for you and your family. And I love your family dinner tradition (or soon-to-be tradition.) We no longer have family in the area, but I’d like to find some friends we could have for dinner sometimes.
Couldn’t have said it better – that’s exactly how I feel. It’s going too fast and so SLOW at the same time. I’m loving our new tradition of having a family dinner night – I feel like it’s a tradition I’ve seen in all my favorite TV families and really helps create a close bond, something I want for Dante. So I hope we’re able to keep it up.
Have a great week 🙂
I have always said I don’t know how people can teach and have kids. Teaching takes SO MUCH out of you. When I come home I’m exhausted and barely take care of myself. I couldn’t come home and give my kids the best mom they deserve!!
Hopefully you get the new job! Enjoy your family Sunday dinner!
Thanks Samantha, me too! I know that if I HAVE to do it, I’ll find a way to manage, but it will be hard. I know my teaching will slack, because I have to give the best of me to my son. I think it’s better for my students too, since I won’ t be able to give nearly as much as I have in the past. I do feel guilty about leaving (or trying to leave) mid-year. I hate to do that to my team and my class and my school, but my family has to come first.
Hope you’re having a good week!
I love the family dinner tradition. I always wanted to do that and since we don’t have family here, with friends or neighbors or something. Of course, I would have to get the art work hung which is covering the dining room table. That’s low priority but I may have to step it up in a month or so. Yes communication is key. I hope you will be able to find a position which works well for family life.
Anne – Books of My Heart Here is my Sunday Post
Thanks Anne! I’ve always wanted something like a family dinner – even with friends like you said – and I’m really glad we’re finally starting it, just in time for Dante to reap the benefits. So far, because of things we’ve had going on, it’s become an every other week as opposed to weekly diner. But even that is great.
Hope you’re having a great week!
Wow, Berls, it all sounds exhausting. I really hope your husband and you can figure things out. It’s good you guys talk things out every day and don’t go to sleep mad. Maybe you guys can talk about the entire situation, and maybe for each of you individually to try to recognize when you’re out of line or getting frustrated. Recognizing it and apologizing immediately brings so much healing, not only for the marriage but individually, as well 🙂
I hope the tradition lives on!
Thanks Genesis. I’m sure we will figure things out – we definitely have some differences but we both recognize that we want the same things big picture. I think it’s all complicated by the fact that we are super tired and don’t want to have to have any “heavy” conversations. But we have to and will.
Thank you, I hope the tradition sticks too 🙂
Have a great week!
Not to intrude on your conversation, but you literally just said what I was going to say. I am a new mom myself – my little is turning 9 months old soon – and you will be surprised how sleep-deprivation will mess with you mentally. And when you throw in a screaming bundle-of-joy, your nerves are pretty much shot. I remember lashing out at my husband for small things because I could. He was an easy target because I couldn’t possibly lash out at the little monster we created that was causing havoc. Like you said, babies are hard.
Also, good luck with job search. I hope you land one of them!
Have a great week. ♥
Yes! Sleep deprivation is killer! I read somewhere that the FBI or CIA or some government spy group like that actually uses recordings of crying babies combined with sleep deprivation to train spies… and that’s just what every new parent has to endure! So of course, it makes things a bit bumpy for the parents’ relationship And you’re so right, my husband is an easy target (and me for him) because yeah – how can you blame this darling little monster LOL!!
Hope you’re having a great week!