This is Hard

 

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Ever since Maggie began refusing morning naps about a month ago, she's been considerably more whiny. I know she would be happier with more sleep, but I have yet to convince her of this. 

The car needed to go in for repairs this morning. We thought it would be a quick fix, but of course, that was not the case, so I have been stuck at home. Unless we have invited friends over for a play date, we almost never stay at home all morning. So on these rare occasions, I have no idea how to keep my kids entertained. 

Well, Claire could be easily entertained with stories, games, and coloring. Maggie is a different story. Mornings with her are much more pleasant when we're out of the house. With a long bath and a long walk, we made it to lunch time, but not before plenty of tears were shed by all three of us.

On hard days like this, I never wish I could go back to work or that we had waited longer to have children. I do, however, wish for more help. I have friends who live near their parents and the grandparents offer to watch the kids one morning or evening a week. Can you even imagine how life-changing that would be? 

But my parents live in China, at least for now. Adam's parents still live in the suburb of Houston we grew up in. To live and work near them (like actually in their town, not on the other side of the sprawling metropolis) would mean such a large step down on the career scale for Adam that it just wouldn't make sense. 

I know we're supposed to be in Seattle. Adam's job basically fell into his lap while he was applying for PhD programs. We are both extremely thankful that we didn't go down that path. I have so much respect for my friends whose husbands work long hours. Although Adam does spend many nights working from home, I can count on two hands the number of times he's missed dinner and bedtime since Claire was born. 

Besides the flexibility of his schedule, I am so grateful that Adam doesn't have a long commute. We may only have one car, but since he can easily bike or take the bus (for free!) I always get to use it. When my sister and I were Claire and Maggie's age, my parents also only had one car.  He carpooled with a co-worker, but my dad needed the car to get to work most days of the week. And even once they did get get a second car, my dad has commuted an hour each way for as long as I can remember.

So, really, I've got things pretty good. It's just that all the whining makes my brain fuzzy and I really, really don't like that feeling. 

My sister is coming to visit next week and I could not possibly be more excited to see her.

For now, I need to rescue the not-napping toddler from her crib. If someone has to skip a nap, though, I would pick Claire any day of the week. Daniel Tiger, where would I be without you?