I seriously could have written this. Being a parent has calmed me down from my manic state of over-producing. I always felt on edge, like I could be doing more. With less freedom, time, money and sleep I finally feel productive enough. I get to the end of every day and I'm like - you did good! That'll do pig.
All of this so resonates I'm a lifelong insomniac with a side order of the dark side - my MH actually improved with perpetual disturbed sleep for years but I had to have 2 kids 18 months apart to properly make it work - have loads of friends and relations who thought I was mad but also loads of friends with loads of kids who say the same - my Grannie had 5 in 7 years and a whole squad of farm hands and animals to keep organised and fed and she was legendary for being the goto person with time for everyone - by the time I remember she was the whole village's Grannie and I had a massive network to play with when I stayed with her and all their parents looked out for her and my Grandpa when I wasn't - she could give Made in Korea's boss woman a run for her money though but equally a right flea in her ear if she'd crossed her
I think it's much the same with puppies! I think whether it's a kid or a dog, it's about placing limitations in your life which require things of you and that being ironically liberating
"There is something liberating about being unliberated, about being forced to think about something or someone else before yourself" - I love this. Excellent, excellent piece.
Ooh so interesting. Would like to have kids but am quite anxious about the loss of independence / potential increase in my own anxiety which I already struggle with so this is reassuring thank you!
Really relatable and beautifully put. I found it exhausting parenting a little kid in lockdown and working. But then I realised it had forced me to look after myself, to get the food and cook the meals, clean the house and go for walks and - as you say - keep moving. There might not have been time for me to do things like take up long baths and new hobbies or write a book, all that fancy self care. But I had covered the basics most of the time, and I'm not sure I would have done that for my own benefit, without kids in the mix.
I seriously could have written this. Being a parent has calmed me down from my manic state of over-producing. I always felt on edge, like I could be doing more. With less freedom, time, money and sleep I finally feel productive enough. I get to the end of every day and I'm like - you did good! That'll do pig.
All of this so resonates I'm a lifelong insomniac with a side order of the dark side - my MH actually improved with perpetual disturbed sleep for years but I had to have 2 kids 18 months apart to properly make it work - have loads of friends and relations who thought I was mad but also loads of friends with loads of kids who say the same - my Grannie had 5 in 7 years and a whole squad of farm hands and animals to keep organised and fed and she was legendary for being the goto person with time for everyone - by the time I remember she was the whole village's Grannie and I had a massive network to play with when I stayed with her and all their parents looked out for her and my Grandpa when I wasn't - she could give Made in Korea's boss woman a run for her money though but equally a right flea in her ear if she'd crossed her
I really loved this! I think there’s so much in it, and feel similar (albeit to a mucccccch lesser extent) with my puppy.
I think it's much the same with puppies! I think whether it's a kid or a dog, it's about placing limitations in your life which require things of you and that being ironically liberating
"There is something liberating about being unliberated, about being forced to think about something or someone else before yourself" - I love this. Excellent, excellent piece.
Ooh so interesting. Would like to have kids but am quite anxious about the loss of independence / potential increase in my own anxiety which I already struggle with so this is reassuring thank you!
Great piece, loved it xx
love this
Really relatable and beautifully put. I found it exhausting parenting a little kid in lockdown and working. But then I realised it had forced me to look after myself, to get the food and cook the meals, clean the house and go for walks and - as you say - keep moving. There might not have been time for me to do things like take up long baths and new hobbies or write a book, all that fancy self care. But I had covered the basics most of the time, and I'm not sure I would have done that for my own benefit, without kids in the mix.
Always love these updates. Agree with many of your points in this one (9 mo in)