It’s funny how our perspectives, tastes, and habits change as we grow up and have kids. Here are a few examples:
When I was quite little, there was this record set that I LOVED and would listen to over and over. I still remember Bixy Bunny singing Campton Races from that album. I am quite sure that I played it so much that my poor parents could now sing any of those songs even now (my Mum can still recite my favorite book to thanks to my carefully making sure that she repeated it several thousand times).
Then I grew out of kid’s records and when my brothers were younger, I hated the constant playing of music like Raffi and Sharon, Louis and Brahm. After two brothers I was so sick of it!
Recently, my Mum retired and was getting rid of a number of kids things. Initially I said “No” to those old tapes, but somehow I still ended up deciding to take them “for Emma” and yesterday I ended up driving Paula nuts by wandering around the house all day singing the few lines of “Baby Beluga” that I remember. So far Emma doesn’t care if I play Raffi or Pink Floyd, but I guess that will change soon enough and she will start her own cycle of growing tastes.
Another thing that always baffled me is that Tree house (a young child oriented TV station) broadcasts all night. Also, many other stations have children’s programs ridiculously late. It just seemed so pointless. Saturday morning at 5am, I was very glad to have some Sesame Street takeoff on to help calm Emma. We don’t usually let her watch TV, but in the early morning, with her sick and crying like a banshee, she can pretty much have whatever she wants! She eventually fell back asleep sitting next to me on the couch watching some kid’s program or another. It is all a haze. I was just glad to get her back to bed and then get me back to bed.
You also find yourself always a little on edge. This is not a bad thing, but you are always wondering where are the kids, what are they up to, are they OK, etc. I really notice this when Kris goes away for a weekend, and I am suddenly no longer mentally tracking his location wants and needs. There is suddenly this part of me that is just sitting there twiddling its thumbs and wondering what to do next. Things never feel quite right until he gets back.
Sleep is another thing that changed drastically. I used to wake up at the slightest sound and be quite grumpy if I did not get enough sleep. Now I can sleep almost anywhere (heck I grabbed a nap in the delivery room) and don’t wake up for much. My body also seems to make due with far less sleep than ever before.
Just a few of the changes for being a parent.
