Deep breathing

I had a good moment last night; Peanut #1 woke up Peanut #2, and I had to put #2 down as #1 was all the Project Manager's problem at that point.

There was nothing she needed, nor anything I could do, So I just chilled out with her on my shoulder while she SCREAMED at me.  And you know, I kept my cool.

The trick was to consciously and repeatedly unclench my jaw.

And I wondered if it would be a useful technique for when work is making me crazy. So I will try that and let you know how it all turns out.

Peanut #2

Also, we have started doing much more normal bedtimes for Peanut #2, and it's working really well. 

She likes it, we like it, Peanut #1 likes it; it's really a win for everyone. 

This makes us hopeful that soon they can share one room as sisters. And I mean "soon" in the sense of "in a fee months". Peanut #1 was 16 months when she changed into a bed. 

Wedding

Saw a great wedding this weekend; the yogi(?) talked a lot about not sweating the small stuff. I sweat the small stuff. 

I need to fix that. That's probably job #1 in my life, I think. 

Bad judge of character

I just realized, watching a "friend" be an ass on Facebook, that I have a higher level of sympathy and tolerance for my guy-friends who are single and Dads than I do for other groups.  "Oh," I say, "I don't want to call him on his behaviour because he loves his kids".

Or, as I have now chosen to put it, I give the benefit of the doubt to people who can't reasonably employ birth control.  That seems dumb.

The disappearance of bedtime

I realized something:

Peanut #2 has never had a proper bedtime with stories, singing, or any ritual at all really.  Why?

Because Peanut #1's bedtime is a combination of track meet, scavenger hunt, and to hand combat, talk therapy and church service, meaning that getting Peanut #2 to bed is something to be done when time allows, sometimes in 10 or 15 second intervals.

I"m going to try a new thing:  Get Peanut #1 into her peejays, and then send her upstairs to read.  Then I will take the time with Peanut #2 to read her a story and sing her a song, then I will lay her down, and resume with Peanut #1.  Wish me luck!

Every once in a while...

Every once in a while I worry that I'm a better dad than a husband.

Then sometimes I make steak salad from the garden and rice with spices in it, while keeping two tiny children alive, and cleaning as I go, and time at all so that it's ready when my wife gets home.... 

Then I worry less. 

Edit: then I made 25 mini quiches. 

Soloing!

It's FESTIVAL TIME here in Prairie Metropolis, so the Project Manager is away a lot; leaving me to fend for myself with the Peanuts.

(I don't mind, it's awesome, and there is a baby sitter, and the CR is involved in helping as well, which is great.)

I do not know how single parents do it.  I literally have no idea; it's madness. You never stop, you have to be SUPER organized all the time, and you have to be completely prepared to drop everything (sometimes literally) and do something else.

So, in summary: Do it all, get it all done, and be prepared to deal with it if nothing gets done.