We were so very thankful to have a full month together as a family before Jordan started his insane turnaround schedule. He had to work night shift for 2 straight months. I believe when it was all said and done he worked 55 days with only 3 days off. So although this post might be more centered on how hard it was for me, it was absolutely insane for him. My super active husband suddenly became a tv zombie. So hats off to you, babe. Thank you for all you do for our family.
Now I'll tell my struggles :)
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| Sweet Clara and her "fussy time" |
Those 2 months were possibly the hardest months I've ever endured, and yet looking back I see how God was with me through all of it and blessed me with such amazing friends to help lighten my load. Clara, the sweetheart that she is, had mild colic at night. It really began after turnaround started (of course) and lasted only shortly after it stopped (again, OF COURSE). Fortunately I was warned that the biggest change with having a second child was that you may have to let the baby cry while you attend your other kid and vice versa. Thank you ladies for that advice because there were many nights I just had to lay her on Conall's bed crying while I tucked him in and, very quickly, read him a short story.
Speaking of which, poor Conall had a very strict bedtime schedule because of this. And because- my sanity. As soon as 7pm hit- BAM! Bedtime! Wide awake and running circles? Bedtime! It didn't matter. This poor mama needed a bit of sanity before the colic started up.
But I was not alone. A few friends in particular would let me know they were coming later in the week to bring dinner and hang out, and really showed me that I wasn't alone in this- that I don't need to act like I've got it all together. I'll always cherish memories of us trying to whisper talk amidst what felt like inconsolable crying (Sweet Clara, she's so much better now!).
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She really was quite happy
outside of the fussy time! |
But that's the thing about friendship and with being real with one another. There will be times when your baby will just. not. stop. crying. You can suck it up and struggle alone or you can allow others in that want to be there for you. I learned that sometimes you have to ask for help even when you don't
want to inconvenience others or have others look down on you. A small
part of me wanted to be completely capable of surviving on my own
throughout the turnaround, but we were made for community and I needed
it! And I like to think that I wasn't inconveniencing those friends. On the other side of this is that I want to be a just as present and supportive friend to pass it on. The kind of friend that is willing to drop their plans and rush to one's aid. To be honest, I wish I were that kind of friend more often. It's much too easy to get swept up in the chaos of everyday life. So that's my goal: trying to be more present and not wait for the perfect, or even good, timing to be a good friend. Who knew I could learn so much about friendship through a change in my husband's work schedule?
