What I learned this week…you don’t want to know. But I’m going to tell you anyway.

by Janelle Hanchett

 

  1. The title of this post has to do with the fact that my dog pooped in the back of our Expedition. Since he knew it was wrong, he attempted to cover it up…WITH THE ERGO BABY CARRIER, resulting in dog crap smeared all over the thing. I considered throwing it away. But I didn’t, because we’re too poor for that.
  2. I also considered throwing the dog away. But I didn’t, because that may upset PETA.
  3. As you can see, I’ve been making solid decisions lately.
  4. There is so much poop in my life. It’s just not right.
  5. I have been eating very limited sugar and pretty much only complex carbs (whole wheat, brown rice, quinoa, etc.) and exercising 4 days/week for the last two weeks, and I gotta say, I feel so much better (mentally and physically) but I also feel really freaking weird. Holy cravings. Guess I was more addicted to sugar and white flour than formally thought. I’ve lost 10 pounds. I have like 900 more to go.
  6. Yesterday I saw a gentleman wearing sweatpants and white fuzzy dog slippers, in public. That was probably the high point of my week.
  7. Well that, and the comment Mac made when he walked into our bedroom after I cleaned it. He looked around and said “What happened here?” with this sort of shocked, slightly frightened look on his face – evidently he’s not used to things in that condition. He was visibly startled.
  8. Have I told you that Rocket still says “dust” instead of “just”? Don’t tell anybody, but I hope he does it forever. Well maybe not FOREVER. But definitely 10 more years.
  9. The upcoming week is my last week before school starts again. Please help me contain my enthusiasm.
  10. This morning, Georgia fell off a chair and cut the heck out of her lower lip. There was blood everywhere. It was horrible. She cried and whimpered then said “milk” and we nursed and I was so happy I could give her that comfort. She nuzzled in close and nursed with all her might, the way they do when they just need mama. I put a blanket over her and we rocked until she fell asleep and as she took those deep breaths after crying and nursed gently and closed her eyes in peace, I thought about how women throughout the ages have been doing that same thing – in the face of war or poverty or tragedy – in the face of all problems, we bring our babies close and we are both comforted for that moment. Just the two of us. Nothing else matters. All of it fades away through this simple act of nourishing and cradling a little child, who needs her mama. When all else fails, there is that.

And I was grateful.

Have a lovely week.

9 Comments | Posted in weeks of mayhem | January 15, 2012
  • Shan

    I hope he does, too. I keep using Mad’s baby words, but she is getting annoyed, like I should just grow up or something.

    Love the part about nursing. So true. Lovely, indeed.

    • renegademama

      haha! She’s going “dude, mom. why are you talking like that? that was so three months ago…” 🙂

  • Stephanie

    I spilled bleach on the Baby Bjorn and threw it out. But I was looking for an excuse to get rid of it because it hurt everyone’s back.

    • renegademama

      Those things DO hurt – and they’re supposed to be all ergonomically correct. The Ergo also hurts my back, but I don’t think I’m ever actually worn it correctly (or figured out HOW to wear it correctly.)

  • Laine

    I love your thoughts on nursing. I often think about how many other mamas are nursing at that exact same moment that I am. I love the comfort we both give and get from each other (although for the past few days Jonah has been popping off the breast for a little moment to growl at me like a tiger. Not sure what that’s about, but at least we are passed the dreaded nipple biting, and almost done with the oh-so-fun “slap mommy while I nurse” phase).

    • renegademama

      Ah, yes. The “slap mommy” game. Always a winner. Georgia still does it too. She likes to whack me and attempt to grab my lower lip. It’s not really that fun.

      • Marisa

        My little one went through a stage where she thought it great to stick her fingers up my nose while nursing. We also had a slapping and ripping my lip off my face stage.

        • renegademama

          We’re at the ripping off face stage. Gotta be honest, don’t really love it.

  • Marisa

    Yay for nursing!