Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic New Mother: The Wonder Years

I sat down to try to unload some of the angst and pain and unsettling (read: probably hormonal. thanks a lot, stereotypes) response I experienced when spending 3 days alone with my 2 year old. I wanted to think I'd enjoy my 'girls day' and imagined us skipping and playing and smiling and hugging, but in reality, a 2 year old has endless energy, endless interest (eeeeverything is "kewl!") and endless desire for everything now, with a cookie, and no PJs. So my semi obsessive compulsive need to keep things clean and in order, is obviously clashing with disastrous results. I'm trying to ease up, not sweat the small stuff, but if I let it all go, I just end up cleaning up and cooking etc at midnight while everybody else sleeps. The anxiety builds and by day's end I'm a wreck. And it's not easy to parent while one is busy being a miserable wreck. Nobody likes a wreck. Anyhow, so I was wandering around some blogs and like a beacon in the night, I found this recent post. As if I'd written it myself. So, my answer is: "What she said." Thank you!!

Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic New Mother: The Wonder Years: "It's hard this parenting lark. And I'm not sure I am any good at it. My husband just came home from work. I was feeding our daughter and as..."

Lullabyes

Back when Zoe was in utero, we used to talk to each other. Sometimes at night while falling asleep, sometimes on the train home from work. It was comforting. I also started singing to her. I made up songs and I changed the lyrics of others. I wanted to sing something soothing and beautiful - a simple melody with words that reflected the family waiting for her, the world we'd explore, little sparrows and fluffy bunnies and sparkling raindrops .... not 'and when the bow breaks, the cradle will fall...!  WTF?!  Jeez.  Did the people who write lullabies stop after 1940? And why were lullabies so violent? And why does that one continue to survive decade after decade??  Anyhow, so I remember a song from CYO Camp Christopher "Kumbaya."  I had to look up the melody on You Tube (and no, You Tube is never scary) but realized there aren't many lyrics to remember.  It's basically "Kumbaya My Lord, Kumbaya."  So I added a few lines that I change up and rotate depending on the night and it becomes my way to end the day with Zoe. Our little prayer together. 

Kumbaya My Lord, Kumbaya...

Help her rest, My Lord, Kumbaya.  Help her rest, My Lord, Kumbaya. 

Basically you can add anything with 3 syllables:  Bless this child; Keep her safe; Help her heal.

My other favorite, and, ahem, it's an original ;) Is a great way to run through the names of our family so Zoe thinks of each one regularly and becomes familiar with their names even if they live far away.  

It goes like this:

"Mama loves you and Daddy loves you; It's time to go to sleep.

Nana loves you and Bapa loves you; It's time to go to sleep.

Auntie Jana loves you and Uncle Jason loves you; It's time to go to sleep."

Etc.

If I had any idea how to indicate the melody or even the major notes, I'd do it. But I hated my piano classes when I was 13.  I could kick myself now.