Just Us Girls

Just Us Girls

...one SMC's adventures in single motherhood.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Regrouping...and still unsure

Ever since the dreaded BFN, I've found myself wondering whether two kids is truly doable for me. Still not sure. REALLY not sure. Enough so that I know it's a good move to wait on trying again until I have a better grasp on what I want to do next. Seriously, I really have NO idea. I don't know whether I can handle the additional stress that a second child would bring into my life.

I keep trying to envision my little family with just K and me. And some days, I can easily envision us as just a family of two. Other days it's a *lot* harder. A lot harder to accept that possibility. Especially when my cousin just gave birth to her second child two weeks ago, and they live only an hour away, and right now I am NOT in a good enough frame of mind to actually look forward to visiting. We are supposed to travel to a birthday party for the new baby's cousin, my cousin Will who is turning six, on Sunday. I think I'm secretly glad that K has the sniffles, which is enough to cancel this plan since she can't really be around a newborn or my 88 year old grandmother (who is on oxygen) right now. I know we'll meet the little guy, named Miles (Dean is his middle name), at some point, but right now in my mind there is absolutely no hurry. At least not until I'm in a better frame of mind. It's been a very rough week.

(...and you know what's really been ticking me off lately? Thinking about women like my cousin--whom I love dearly, don't get me wrong--who haven't really had to work hard at much at all. Things just seem to fall easily into her lap. Great husband? Check. Gorgeous house? Check. Lawyer husband with an income that allows her to stay at home and also work part-time from home and not have to pay for daycare? Check. Two beautiful kids? Check. Peaceful home VBAC birth in a birthing tub? Check. Close enough to restaurants, shops and any other destination one might need that they can just walk or ride a bike around town? Check. Yeah, it does make me vaguely nauseous. Happy for her, yes, but still vaguely nauseous. A charmed life for sure.)

One thing I do know is that my emotions are very raw right now for a variety of reasons, not just the BFN. I know for sure that I very much WANT a second child...but I am just not sure whether I can handle it, both emotionally and financially.

I am on the hunt for another (better) daycare for K. Which does break my heart somewhat because I do feel quite comfortable with her current daycare. Sadly, my wallet does not. It's a lot more expensive than other smaller daycares (home daycares, mainly) in my area, and quite honestly, even though I feel very comfortable with it, I don't feel like I'm getting the bang for my buck that I should be getting, considering how much I'm currently paying. I have a few phone numbers of home daycares that friends of mine have been raving about, so I know it's worth a look. Plus (and this is not the main reason, but it's still on my mind) K's current daycare now has two 21-ish men on their payroll, and I do NOT like the idea of either of these two very young men changing K's diaper. Ever. The more I think about it, the more uncomfortable I feel. They only fill in around pick-up time, so it's entirely possible they've never had to change her diaper, but I still don't like it at all. And one day when I picked her up and one of the men was the only one in her classroom, her shoes were on backwards. Not confusing shoes, either. I know, such a little thing, but hey, if you're working with new walkers, you have no business putting on their shoes backwards. To me it's such an obvious thing. Just sayin'.

So needless to say I have a lot on my plate and a lot on my mind these days. I'm just praying for a little clarity...in a lot of different areas. Wish me luck.

6 comments:

  1. Look for a new daycare - who knows you might find one you love! I would absolutely love to have two babies - but not sure right now how I will handle the first!

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  2. I'm sorry to hear you have so much on your mind right now.

    I totally agree with you about the young guys at K's daycare...I would feel uncomfortable too.

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  3. The whole day care situation sucks, and I know about wondering why some have it, at least on the surface, so good. As for baby #2, there are days where L is just driving me freakin nuts and I think I can't do this. Now as I wait to see how IUI #2 turned out, I will be happy if it works, but I don't think I will be totally disappointed if it doesn't.

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  4. I agree with you about the guys working at K's daycare. I know they can't discriminate when they hire but I would be uncomfortable enough to change. When I was desperate for a Monday night babysitter, I could not bring myself to hire the 17 year old boy who wanted the job. I told myself I was being unreasonable--he had references. But we're moms. If we are not protective of our little ones, who will be? That's our job.

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  5. Sorry about your BFN and the way that it's sent you in to a spiral of doubt and uncertainty. I remember that feeling. But if you want to have a second child, regroup and get back on the horse. Having two kids is definitely harder and more stressful but it's also more rewarding and has paybacks that you won't see with just one child. And as far as your cousin... I wouldn't think her life is so perfect. Nobody's life is perfect and you only see it from the outside. We all have our own path and our own struggles, and from the outside it might seem she has everything, but you really don't know the things she's battling (or may battle in the future). All you can do is focus on your life and what you DO have and be grateful for it. If you have trouble doing that, find someone who has less and watch their lives rather than your cousin's. :) Hang in there. I know what an incredible emotional roller coaster T42 (or T41, for that matter) can be so take it one day at a time and think of this time as preparation for what comes next. And what comes next will be great!

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  6. I'm so sorry about the BFN. I give yourself a bit of time, and I'm sure you will be trying again soon. The male daycare worker - you know, I feel the opposite, and wish there were more male role models for Rhian there. But I'm also very confident in the daycare, and know that they hire the best they can find. So that helps.

    Good luck!

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