Venting

I am a subscriber to Cafe Mom. I check the groups that I am a member of daily. Today I came across this post:

Title: Being a first time mom is so hard

Body: I really don't know if i could handle anymore

The following responses go on to whine about how they aren't getting unbroken sleep, and how they have no time for themselves, and how they never get to spend time with their friends or the significant others.

With every fiber of my being I want to respond: FUCK YOU. SINCERELY.

This is the latest in a long list of posts I have read recently where 20 something mothers are whining about how hard it is to be a stay at home mom with one baby. Where do I even begin to relay my thoughts on this?

Let me tell you about my week: Every night since her Daddy left my daughter has awakened between 2 and a dozen times during the night. She no longer sleeps through the night - ever. Monday morning: I wake up between 5:30 and 6:00 am and get ready for work. I shower, dress, and see if I can get my makeup on before my 9 month old wakes up. IF my daughter hasn't awakened before 6:45 am (BIG IF HERE) I wake her and play with her for a few moments before setting her in her high chair and giving her some breakfast (Cheerios, Cheese, Puffs, Fruit Pieces, etc..) while I pack her diaper bag, my purse, and usually grab something to take with me for breakfast. At 6:50 am I get her out of her chair and change her clothes. Grab the diaper bag, purse, and her and head downstairs to the car. I strap her into her car seat and take her to daycare. After dropping her off I head to work. I work from 7:30 to 4:30. Get off work and go pick up my daughter and take her home. After hauling everything upstairs, usually she will take a nap for an hour to an hour and a half. I will usually unwind in this time - check email, etc. When she wakes up I feed her some dinner and try to eat something myself. Then I let her play with her toys. Usually she will have a bath after she is done eating. Then, if I am lucky, she will go to bed between 7:30 and 9:00 pm.

Repeat last paragraph Tuesday - Friday. Fit in the occasional appointment and errand.

Saturday is usually house cleaning day - except vacuuming, as Aidynn is terrified of the vacuum, and the day I get to spend the most time with my daughter. Usually we are both so exhausted from the week that she spends a lot of time napping, and I am so tired I don't know what I am doing. Also Saturday is the day that we do the grocery shopping, or go to Target to buy household items.

Sunday is laundry day, and the day we wait to hear from Duane. Between 1:00 and 3:00 pm, I haul 2 hampers (average) a week downstairs to the car, and then back upstairs to get Aidynn and her diaper bag. I make sure she has a toy and a treat to occupy her while we are there. We drive to the laundry mat and I unload the clothes and take them into the laundry and leave her in the car - locked and within sight. I leave the laundry near the machines I plan on using and got back to the car. I unload her stroller from the trunk and get her and strap her into it. I take her into the laundry and try to keep her entertained while I load the clothes into the washers. Then we wait... and attempt to stay happy. It take a little less than 2 hours. Then we take everything back home; reversed of how we got there. I only hear from Duane 50% of the time, and for only 3 minutes, but it's amazing how much those 3 minutes have an effect on the rest of my week. The rest of the day we try to relax... as much as you can relax chasing a 9 month old who crawls everywhere around.

Add degenerative disk disease at the L4-L5-L6 vertebrae and a protruding disk at C5-C6, oh yes, and a pregnancy.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

I am in no way complaining. These are the choices that my husband and I have made for our family. I am so fortunate to have so much that I love to work so hard for. I am grateful for every single day. Even though they aren't all picture perfect, and I miss my husband like no one could possibly understand, I am happy. I am so blessed in so many areas of my life. I still count my blessings.

I just wish that more moms could realize all of the luxuries and frivolities that they have before they even begin to complain.