Things To Do

John is a wonderful, sensitive dad. But he is a guy. I thought of this yesterday when he gave me some advice about what to do now that I was stuck by myself with a two-month-old baby who seemed to be getting a cold. "You could get a lot done on your novel! Isn't that a good goal? She sleeps a lot." Ummm. I invite my fellow mothers to join me in a hearty laugh now.
UPDATE: You know, I really shouldn't make fun of my husband on the interweb in front of God and everybody, when he's such an amazing human being. I love you John.

Comments

[nate]

Are at-home dads allowed to share in the hearty laugh as well? If so:

BWA-HA-HA-HA-HAH!

[harvestbird]

heck, I'm joining you in the hearty laugh, and all I've got is dogs. They sleep a lot too, apparently.

[Nicole]

My dh told me about this blog and this post, specifically. When he told me your hubby's suggestion my only response was "moron." and I say this with all due respect that your husband is a wonderful man. Mine is too, but he can be a moron sometimes.

[Anthony]

I'm going to have to speak up for John here (also because I'm not so keen on the "guys are so dumb" turn that this has taken). I looked after our son full-time, and you know what? When he was 2 months old it *was* possible to get a bit of work done, because he *did* sleep a lot. And yes, I did the laundry, cooked the dinner, cleaned the house etc. (Not the cookies so much, though).
The main problem is that it got dull and socially isolating, but writing is like that anyway. (So's looking after a baby when you don't feel comfortable in a mothers' group, for that matter).

[belle]

Good point, Anthony. In John's favor, I have to admit that he is much more disciplined than I am about getting that kind of work done, even if he has only a short time to work. I am lazy and prone to thin I have to read the whole internet before starting to do anything useful. But, I think he was not focussing on how tiring it is to breastfeed every two to three hours, and how much time household chores can take up while the baby sleeps. And blogging. Can't forget the blogging, people.

[Anthony]

Yeah, I have the same problem now. Well, not the breastfeeding one, but the reading the whole internet thing. Damn! I'm doing it now! And that's why my thesis is not so much finished...

[Brey]

I feel John's pain. I've been dumb enough to say similar things.

[hope]

Yep, the breastfeeding every couple of hours (or more) is rather wearing. I'm one of those who needs consecutive hours of sleep rather than lots of little naps, silly me, so I was unable to complete a coherent thought from the time each baby was born until they were close to a year old due to sleep deprivation.

Come to think of it - I STILL don't get a whole night's sleep ever, and my youngest just turned two.

[David Salmanson]

The important thing here is the baby is getting a cold, which means she will not be sleeping but fussing endlessly as she struggles to breathe poor things. Things being mother and daughter. Yesterday, Wife and I had the empty seat between us on the plane doing the purchase 2 for 3 people trick that those with the under 2 set love. Almost pulled it off, when the very last people on the plane are grandma with 2 year old and 8 year old and they are split up 2 and 1. We sacraficed for the good of the family team, but now my back really, really hurts from Toots riding on my lap for a bunch of hours.