Dear Lily and Lukasz,
It's a hard thing to acknowledge that I might not be doing the best by my kids. I've been so very tired these past few weeks that getting out often with you two has been, to say the least, a challenge. It's far easier for me to stay at home with you both. I'm shy, Lily's shy, so it's comfortable to hang out here, playing, colouring, watching a bit of tv together, and encouraging you both to play together a little bit. But as tempers have flared and some negative behaviours have been surfacing with greater frequency, I realized it was time for a major change.
So, now that I've finally really taken my mom's advice about having a schedule for each day planned out, and researched different parks and activites we can go, things are going much more smoothly. Mind you, it's only been a day and a half, but I can already see how it's so much better through Lily & Lukasz's eyes.
Yesterday went something like this:
7 a.m. awake, breakfast, dressed, bag packed
9:30: Circle of Friends
11:00: Home for lunch and naps. Lukasz napped from the time we got home till just after Lily woke up. Lily had lunch when we got home and went down for a nap at 1:20. Then I fed Lukasz his lunch and played with him and tidied up until Lily woke up, then she had a snack
2:30: a three-hour walk that includedplaying in 2 parks, feeding Lukasz, having a snack, and throwing rocks in a nearby lake.
Then it was 5:30 and home so I could prep & make dinner, which took me 2 hours since I was keeping them both occupied and tending to dinner at the same time. So dinner (marinated & sauteed chicken thighs with sauteed peppers, carrots & broccoli and rice) was at 7:30 and then Tatus got home around 8:30, ate his dinner and took you both for a 45-minute walk so I could have a shower and some down time. When you got back it was time for brushing teeth and off to bed. Both went down without a fight. Yes!
Today:
7 a.m.: Awake, dressed, fed, bag packed.
9 a.m.: Mundy Park: playground, hike to the lake and then back to the playground while Lukasz napped.
11:30 a.m.: Lily napped as soon as we got home. She actually asked "have a nap?" as soon as we got in the door. I fed Lukasz played with him and an hour later he went down for a nap.
When they woke up it was time for lunch, then out the door to buy veggies, mail letters, pick up package and off to the park to play some more.
5:30: home for dinner prep.
And we haven't yet gone to the Arenex at Queens park which is filled with gymnastic mats, rope swings, trampolines and lots of sports equipment and outdoor toys all in a huge gym. We haven't been to StrongStart yet either, but I found both a morning and an afternoon program very close to our home. AND there is a baby and toddler time at a local (and very near by) seniors' centre three days a week which is coordinated by the public library. All of these activities except the Arenex are free. And they are all indoor and run throughout the school year so we have plenty of activities to get us through the rainy times.
In the late afternoon is when I give Lily some tv time, that way I only have to juggle keeping Lukasz happy while I make dinner.
Motherhood is tough. No doubt about it. But I'm doing the best I can, and with you two along for the ride, I think I'm going to be just fine. You are great companions and wonderful cuddle-bugs.
I love you both!
Mommy
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