AdventureDad

For the past couple of weeks I've been trying to give Sandra more time alone from the kids.  It's now been a month since Annika was reborn and things are going really well.  She's now easier to comfort and doesn't really cry unless she's hungry or tired.  That makes it easier for me to sneak away with the kids for a few hours while Sandra enjoys some well deserved time alone.  Or have her go out at night with some friends.  But the mothers of the families we hang out with are so fucking boring, I don't know how they can stand living that way.  

A couple of weeks ago, when we were sure Annika's dramatic change was for real, I became more confident  about being with both kids alone.  Up until then her mood, sleeping, and breastfeeding habits were just too irregular and weird.  And she was more or less impossible to comfort. I've talked about the importance of  being away from the kids before and I consider it a must for a healthy and fun family life.  As our kids go to sleep they rarely wake up.  Even 3-month old Annika has been sleeping though the night for a while.  So after 8 pm Sandra can do pretty much whatever she wants.  But she's been struggling with getting anyone to join her for a drink or a restaurant visit. 

Not only are many of the mothers boring but their husbands are useless. These husbands are married Latin women and therefore used to the woman doing EVERYTHING.  They are used to sitting on their asses doing next to nothing. When they hear they might need to spend a few hours alone with their child(ren), they begin to freak out.  Suddenly the world will go under if the wife leaves the house.  And their kids are still a few years old which means taking care of them is a walk in the park.  How can anyone not know how to spend a few hours alone with their four year old daughter?   Or think it's hard work to put the kid(s) to sleep a few times a month.  Bloody incredible.

My limit with Annika during the day is max a few hours since she breast feeds quite often.  The payback is sleeping though the night without feeding at all:-))  This Sunday I bundled up Annika in the Baby Björn, Daniel in the carriage, and heading into town with our Mountain Buggy Double.  We rode the train for a while, which Daniel loves, and stopped by a toys tore for an hour or so of playing.  I love to be with both the kids, without Sandra.  It just feels great to be able to handle everything by myself.   There are plenty of fathers hanging out with their kids alone in Sweden so a daddy won't stand out like in the U.S. or U.K.  But as was going up the escalators with Annika in the Baby Björn, Daniel on my shoulders and also balancing the carriage on the stairs, people were looking and smiling at me.  It only gave Sandra a couple of hours of time alone but at least it was something.  Even though Annika has behaved like a dream for the past week, Daniel has had a cold and stayed home from school for a few days.  And days with two kids is really tough work.

Thank God Sandra was nearby when I finally had to make my emergency call just after lunch.  Annika was starving and not happy about her boobs not being nearby.  Mother to the rescue and problem solved. From now on I'm looking forward to much more time alone with the kids.  Starting this weekend when my parents are joining us. Sandra should have plenty of time alone this coming weekend.  Unless me and my parents kill each other first;-))

Categories: Annika, Daniel, Family, Sandra
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