I thrive on lists. I love making them. I always have. Shopping lists, to-do lists, grocery lists, packing lists, weekly schedule list. I love seeing it on paper {yes, I still hand write my lists}. I love checking off items; it leaves me with a quick feeling of accomplishment.
With the arrival of Zach & Lucy & my return to work, list making has been crucial. Without one of my precious lists, errands get forgotten as does applesauce.
But I’ve also quickly learned that certain household baby tasks can’t be forgotten: clothes laundry, bottle washing & preparing, pump part cleaning & packing for the following day & cloth diaper laundry, matching & stuffing all typically must be done nightly. And that stresses me out. I hate to leave those items to the last minute. We’re exhausted by late at night & our mornings are crazy enough without also trying to make sure bottles have nipples, caps, initials & dates.
So this leaves me trying to check off that mental nightly to-do list immediately upon entering our house. I’m the quiet hurricane Suz ~ whirling away making bottles, cleaning bottles, starting laundry & praying the babies keep napping in their car seats for just another five minutes.
But when they wake {usually within 45 minutes of us arriving home}, I’m finding myself still focused on my to-do list. Wishing I’d had the time to thaw that frozen breast milk bag or clean just one more bottle. I find myself switching laundry & pouring bottles one handed with a baby on one hip & the other crawling across the den.
Zach was too busy hoarding all the balls to smile at Daddy.
My husband was off work last Monday & home when we arrived from daycare. While I nursed Zach, he was playing with Lucy on the floor; letting her crawl & pull up & climb all over him. Instead of excitement over all her recent developments & seeing the fun, I was thinking, “He should be washing bottles so we don’t have to later,.” And in that moment, I realized how often I’ve been putting getting my to-do list done over just enjoying the evenings I have with my growing-up-way-too-fast 8 month olds.
I’ve been making a conscious effort since to play & laugh & read & dance & crawl on the floor with them at night. I’m letting the dirty bottles stay dirty & wet diapers stay wet just a bit longer. To do list be damned, when they’re awake, I’m going to try to live in these fleeting moments.
But hurricane Suz continues to swirl as soon as baby eyes are shut.
Is there one household task you can’t seem to put off? What’s your favorite to-do list item to skip? What’s your favorite ‘living in the moment’ moment with your child that you’re so glad you didn’t miss?
I can understand this totally and completely. Though it sounds you are FAR much better at balancing everything, cleaning everything, etc, than I am, I focus so much on what I HAVE to get done and miss little things sometimes.
Shannon recently posted..Word of 2013
Oh I miss lots of little things. And everything that’s not essential doesn’t get cleaned. Our bathroom has recently fallen into the non-essential category & it’s gross.
Suzanne recently posted..Arcadia
Twitter: suzstreats
I am the same way! But I’ve made a change lately. It was hard at first to come in the door, sit things down and not put everything away that second, but now that I’m doing it; I relzied playing with hte kids is way more rewarding! I hurry when they’re in bed to get things done to spend some time with my husband, and I prioritzed. I don’t try to do as much anymore either, only hte necessities.
Beth recently posted..Dada
Twitter: Beth_ismyname
Yes Beth. That’s exactly what I’ve now been trying to do. Other than my pumped milk that I {gently} throw in the fridge, the rest stays in our entry way.
Suzanne recently posted..Arcadia
Twitter: suzstreats
Thank you for this! I have a 2 year old and a 7 month old and I suffer from the same thing in the evenings. Good reminder that I should let all those things (dinner! bottles! laundry! dishes!) wait for a little while and spend some time playing first.
You’re welcome! I was always told dirt can wait but babies grow quick. I’m embracing those phrases when I can now.
Suzanne recently posted..Arcadia
Twitter: suzstreats
It’s such a hard balance. We have a finite amount of time available and figuring how/where to spend it sometimes feels like a no-win situation. My husband is more housework, task-oriented when we’re home and I try to encourage him to take it down a notch and be okay if the dishwasher doesn’t get emptied until morning or laundry gets folded tomorrow.
I will say it gets easier as they get older. Less time with bottles, they can help with setting/clearing table and be part of dinner cleanup, have their own chores, etc. Then when everyone’s done – game time!!
Sarah recently posted..21 Weeks – Baby Gear and Boy or Girl?!?
Twitter: tiredmommytales
I’m looking forward to that ‘easier’ stage. Less bottles will be a very welcome change as will being able to “put them to work”.
Suzanne recently posted..Arcadia
Twitter: suzstreats