Ahem. Moving on to The Point. And the point is that all moms seem to have different life pace preferences. Some moms are Go, Go, Go. They like to have their days planned to the hilt and are constantly on the move. They can't linger, because there is always something after the current activity, and this is how they like it. Then some moms are on the other end of the spectrum. Maybe they prefer to be at home most of the day, where they can keep the pace slower. There aren't many things and activities that they are interested in getting to, because they prefer to do things on their own timetables.
I have decided that I am a 1 Activity A Day kind of mom. I can't maintain the constant activity level of the Go, Go, Go moms. I envy their efficiency, though. And staying at home all day, every day isn't for me either, although there are plenty of days where I do that, and am always amazed at how busy I can be without leaving my house. But 1 Activity A Day is a good balance for me.
Example of a nice day for me: Lily wakes up at 7:30 (oh bless that child and her excellent sleep habits), we eat Reyna's yogurt pancakes (it is kind of time-consuming to make from-scratch pancakes almost daily, but I have not been able to get enough of these while pregnant), mom gets a shower, we head out to the park with the dog. Lily plays on the swings and playset, mom throws the ball for the dog, THE DOG ACTUALLY LISTENS TO MOM, we go home. We eat leftovers for lunch, which only require microwaving. We read some books, and Lily goes down for her nap, and doesn't poo after I've put her down (I don't understand how such a small child can poo 3-4 times daily - this baffles me, well, daily), thus requiring me to change her, then put her back in her crib, then listen to her scream for 5 minutes about how mad she is until she goes to sleep. So to clarify: that doesn't happen. Then mom cleans up kitchen, does some household stuff, perhaps has nice uninterrupted reading time for 30 minutes, and Lily wakes up. We play a little, read some more books, then Lily amuses herself with acceptable activities (not acceptable: putting her feet in dog's water bowl), mom makes dinner. Dad comes home, we eat dinner, mom does bath, dad does bedtime, and then we have blissful adult time.
Doesn't that sound great? That is such an ideal day for me, and that ideal has recently been interrupted by taking appointments for the dental office and doing other tasks that I can to help Tim out. Even though I am much more worn out these days from juggling getting insurance information while Lily is crying on the floor saying, "Milk! Milk!" all while I really have to pee, the busier pace has made me appreciate what a charmed life I live. It has made me so grateful that I get to stay at home full time. And I say that with no judgment at all towards working moms. I just have been all the more appreciative that Lily and I can have our slower pace right now. There's no work for me to go to, or school for her, and if she's pointing at her "guk" (book) and wanting me to read to her, what do I have to do that's better than reading to her? Clean the kitchen? Heck no. So we just get to read, and cuddle, and crack each other up.
Not too far from now our little homeostasis is going to be thrown into upheaval by a new little person, just like Lily turned our world upside down with her arrival. We'll adjust and be fine, but I know things will be different, so I'm appreciating this time I have with just Lily, when for most of the day, we are each other's whole world, and we like that just fine.
