A great big Rant

[little_fish]

Well I just need to have a nice big rant and rave. I just went to a CHN course on sleep and settling for 6 month+, and came away feeling completely disheartened and inadequate.

Why does it not matter what you do, you're wrong in someone's books? Everything just seems to contradict themselves, and then you're left being told that whatever you are doing will no doubt seriously pshycologically scare your child forever and then you're going to be left to pay the psychologist fees, which will be difficult once you have paid the childcare fees, oh no, sorry isn't childcare bad according to some people? so I work at home, and am full time mum as well. And when was it that I was meant to get some sleep? certainly not while he's asleep, because then I am working, and while he's awake I am busy putting him on his front, boiling water, mashing food, talking to him, singing to him, teaching him at least eight different languages, massaging him, not to mention keeping the house spotless enough to lick the floors (literally), do the washing ironing and shopping, and occassionally get out of the house and do a bit of excercise to keep up my sanity. Did everyone else get a free sachet of magic in their bounty bags? Mine didn't have one.

I am guessing I'm not alone here. And so here's a fat big hug to every mother who reads this far in my silly rant and doesn't have a perfect child who eats everything easily, sleeps like and angel, reaches all the development milestones a month or two early and never cries. I think you're all wonderful keep it all together so well so that you look completely happy and comptetant when I see you out there in everyday life.

And I completely take my hat off to any off you who have more than one child, or a baby that is sick or needs special care.

[Beany]

I am guessing I'm not alone here. And so here's a fat big hug to every mother who reads this far in my silly rant and doesn't have a perfect child who eats everything easily, sleeps like and angel, reaches all the development milestones a month or two early and never cries.

I'm halfway there! I have a child that eats everything easily - as long as that "everything" isn't food. Shoes, hangers, rubbish, paper, my fingers - all tasty. Broccoli? Not so much.

At least he sleeps like a baby. That is to say rarely and when he does, he wakes every 40 minutes, screaming.

I actually haven't a clue about milestones. I never paid them much heed. He says "star" - when was he meant to start saying that?

And he never cries. Whinges, whines, throws fits, wails, screams, shrieks but no cries :no:

:hugs: You sound like you could do with one :)

[alanasmum]

Sometimes I think that if there were no books on children and no one to give us advice that we would be better off as we would all learn to follow our instincts and would not worry about things not worth worrying about. I started out reading a whole lot of books when DD was born but soon threw them away as I realised that every baby is different. There is a lot of pressure in today's society to be the perfect parent and the truth is, no one is perfect. We can only do our best and try not to be too hard on ourselves.

:hugs:to you. You sound like you are going through a difficult time. I have been there, trust me. You are not alone.

[Bron]

I hear you. :hugs:

I met someone once who said that her nephew slept through 12 hours at night, plus two long day sleeps from 4 weeks. At this point DS was 6 months and still waking multiple times at night. I was sick to death of people suggesting that there was something wrong with him because he wasn't sleeping through yet. So I turned the situation around.

My response: "Really? That's not very cool, you know. All the cool babies these days hardly sleep at all and wake their parents several times a night. That's what's "in" with babies these days."

It certainly stopped me from collapsing in exhausted tears.

As for the spending your life mashing food, I completely sympathise. Drives me bonkers. I got all efficient on the weekend and cooked massive batches of food to be frozen in individual Hamish serves. I was feeling all fabulous and super mum-ish, until I managed to burn my arm in the process. :rolleyes:

*passes around tea and timtams*

[squiglet]

Wow there was supposed to be magic in the bounty bags? I didn't get mine either:p

Going to work in the boiling hot sun to break rocks for no aparent reason all day long is not nearly as hard as spending a day with a young baby and getting all the chores done. Not to mention the 3 milion things that you "could" be doing to brighten your child.:rolleyes:

[little_fish]

:laughing::laughing: Oh I love you all. You really made me laugh. It's a funny old world sometimes isn't it.

[mischief79]

DD is fairly good, but I'm still glad to know I'm not the only who finds what the CHN's say contradictory to other advice!
As Alanasmum says, if there were no books then I'm sure we'd all be able to keep our babies alive! What did they do in the years before printing....

[Shanaynay]

Sometimes I think that if there were no books on children and no one to give us advice that we would be better off as we would all learn to follow our instincts and would not worry about things not worth worrying about.
:iagree:
Too much conflicting advice from so-called experts. Parents need to try and chill out and listen to themselves. Which in this day and age is not an easy task :no:

[Sammilee]

Ooohhh, I hear you all and can soooooooooo totally relate!!! BIG :hugs: to all of us.

As for the satchel of magic in the Bounty bag, didn't you guys get yours? Wasn't it in the bottle of Pine-o-cleen? That still makes me laugh when I think about it. Obviously you don't keep a clean house until you have a bubs... WTF??? Hahaha!!! :laughing: