I've read a few parenting books, and observed a few parents. I've come to the Cclusion that the perfect mum is happy, and so are her children.
Getting there is one hell of a journey, with a lot of multipoint turns, barrelling trucks, wobbly pedestrians and shouting about which direction is the right one. Shouting not only between parents but also between kids and parents! There ain't no map, there are very few road rules.
One thing is certain, children change your life and one way to get happy about that is to make room in your life for them. Life will never be the same. You won't have as much time for yourself. So enjoy the time with them. Unfortunately that always involves doing what they want you to do, as children are inherently selfish.
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We braved the supermarket and bought about double the value of food that we usually buy. We have wine and beer and crackers. I have no idea if we have enough of anything.
as long as yopu have wine, beer and crackers do you really need more?
Posted by: sue at December 21, 2004 08:22 PMlol you know, it's one of the few benefits of anorexia. Christmas food shopping doesn't really figure: rice, tinned fish, diet sprite, rice, tinned fish, diet sprite... Christmas dinner will take about 25 minutes to prepare, and several hours to eat!
Posted by: phreq at December 22, 2004 05:16 AMAsparagus is nice with rice and tinned fish...
We are bludging off the parents for several days which should save money and stress(-:
I think one thing is scaring me is how little time Junior and I are going to get to bond, and he is going to get to develop some sort of pattern before I have to go back to work and we have to be apart and in a routine... I know we will make it work, we have no choice... money will be tight enough as it is in the 7-8 weeks I am not on full salary, but hell. It is not really what I'd have chosen for my kiddy!
Posted by: Karen at December 22, 2004 06:46 AMP.S. Agresearch top up the paid parental pittance for 6 weeks... I am taking 13-14 (the length of pitance provision), hoping to work til 2 weeks before the due date and that Junior comes roughly on time and we have no major problems...
Posted by: Karen at December 22, 2004 06:49 AMPhreq: good thing I am not anorexic (sp?) as I don't like tinned fish... or rice with something pretty tasty with it!
Karen: bonding schmonding, you love your kid, they rely on you. Even if you don't love them immediately, it'll come. Relax, parenting is not as hard as you would think if you read too many parenting books.
READ SUSAN JEFFERS; I'M OKAY, YOU'RE A BRAT! Especially the bit about bonding ;) It made me feel millions of times better about my parenting style. And even though I don't meet the Plunket standard, Conn still tells me "I love you SOOO much, Mum".