Cut the Cord Already!

I never thought I would forget so much about newborns in the two years since I had one.  Now that I have a newborn, I find myself getting upset when things don't go my way, but then I remember that newborns have a sort of "sixth sense," almost like the umbilical cord is physically taken away, but somehow an imaginary one still exists, allowing a child to know very specific things about his or her mom, and to know the worst time to want something.

For instance, my child will be sound asleep, so I figure I can cook dinner.  Usually, since time is scarce, I don't start dinner until I am nearly starving (see Breastfeeding 101 in ANY mommy handbook).  The second I fix my plate and sit down to eat, my month old daughter starts crying.  And, since she won't take a bottle or a pacifer, I have to put the fork down and feed her.  What a great diet, huh?

Another instance of this imaginary umbilical cord is when I start a project.  I will have three baskets of laundry to fold, and while she is gliding in her glider with her butt clean, belly full and body rested, I will begin to fold laundry.  Now, once I fold laundry I have to keep going, because my toddler LOVES to unfold it and toss it everywhere.  So, I get halfway through folding and my little one starts crying.  I stop and nurse her, knowing she is not hungry but not knowing anything else to do.  She nurses for two minutes, long enough to go to sleep, but she won't sleep anywhere but in my arms.   Hence, my house is full of unfinished projects and long to do lists.

Even my toddler tugs on the invisible cord every so often.  She will sit and watch cartoons or build blocks for hours, but wants nothing to drink until I start to nurse my baby.  Then, she will scream and throw a temper tantrum.  That's what I get for being such an efficient mommy for so long, giving her everything she needed immediately.

By the way, it took me six hours to write this blog...