If you are a parent out there I really have a great appreciation for everything you go thru on the daily with your little ones or your teenagers. Dont let anyone tell you that you are anything less than a true hero for keeping a being other than yourself alive and healthy.
I am not a parent and I just don’t see it happening for me. Even taking of care of my fur baby can drive me close to the edge some days. The carefree life just seems easier. But I will say having kids around (in particular my nephew) can be fun and trying at the same time. Here are some of my takeaways from the couple solid weeks I have been more on Auntie duty. He is with us 50% of the week now and getting onto a working schedule is harder than you think.
Night Time is Prep Time– today we missed the bus. By a minute. And it was Auntie’s fault but not for the reason the bold letters lead you to believe. I did over sleep, not quite used to getting up before him and getting both of us ready, and it was me not finding my shoes who had us in the car that one minute late. However, had I not made him get his back pack, outfit and snacks together the night before, we would have been at least ten minutes late in the scramble. Prepping at night saves valuable time in the mornings and fights. We are both packing our bags now.
Walk it like you talk it– so we have been working on the rules. As an adult, I can do, say, or eat anything I want when I want. Its easy for me to decide I want a soda at 8pm with a couple of cookies and stay up for a few more hours. But how can I do that and tell the kid he cant have any more sweets and only water before bedtime? I cant. So we are both learning to eat better, earlier and to get our water in. I’m not a dietician by far but little things like this could make a big difference.
Screen time is getting cut down– Don’t get me wrong. I can live with out my phone or my computer but I do so much on them from lists to work to tv. The kid on the other hand has Disney+ and Netflix. Before you come at me we do monitor what he watches and we do have other things to do like games, puzzles, reading etc. But besides keeping him busy when Auntie is cooking, I want to help him be creative or active. So for at least one hour each day/night that he is here we are turning off our screens to do something fun together. Gives us a chance to make some memories and stops the endless scrolling.
Lots of things to keep busy with– My nephew is in 1st grade. The teachers and staff do their best to keep things hopping over there. Festivals, dress up days, Valentine’s parties. Then on top of that we have sports and jujitsu. And homework. And reading. And…and…and. It keeps going. The best thing that we can do is just roll with it and have fun. Even the last minute Dalmation costume for the 101st day of school. Not to toot my own horn but he did make the cutest puppy in my opinion and was the only kiddo with matching make up.
With everything moving in 75 different directions, I can see how parents need a break. And this for me is only one kid half the week. Having two or having twelve more, my brain just cant comprehend. So my hat is off to you, all you brave parents out there!! Hope you have a team with Aunties, Uncles and grandparents that take a bit of the brunt for you. Now I am off to bed so we dont miss the bus again tomorrow 🙂
The Distracted Damsel 