Is there a honeymoon period when you have a child? I was over joyed to have him but today for the first time, I wanted the ability to be able to put him back in my wife's womb and take him out when I feel like seeing him. His teeth are coming through and he is making large brown sticky mountains of crap, his nappy at times is so full, I think its going to explode when I open it, much like a terrorists bomb, although not quiet as deadly. Perhaps he is going through a, "what happens if I push dad" or "touch that" time and time again? What will he do phase? Will dad snap? He pulls all the books off the shelves, puts my wife's shoes onto my size 44 feet, while I'm watching TV, Is he trying to tell me something? He can now reach the TV channel box and takes great delight in changing the channels and in crashing the TV reception. He also takes great delight in biting my arm with razor white sharp teeth almost till it bleeds and pulling the cats tail. Is this boy a future cannibal or hooligan?
I have cooked up a large bucket of bolognese, some for my wife and some for junior. I blend his into a brown glue and freeze it in recycled baby food jars. Domestic bliss, for a stay at home father, in terrorist, traffic clogged Moscow Russia. Cooking, nappies, bathing and walks. I try to have a strong heart, as we are here for the duration of up to 3 or even 5 years. Will we make it mentally, physically and financially? I can only hope so dear reader.
Your son sounds like a typical tyke. Those phases fly by so fast, we have fond memories when they are over. My 16 month old grandson is in the same category so I keep telling my 35 year old son stories of his infancy and how I wish I had treasured those times more. The Moscow situation is very sad, be safe.
ReplyDeleteThanks R.J- I agree.
ReplyDeleteThis is why I drink. :-)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, children are a lot of work. Makes me think that going back to the office would be relaxing almost.
Hang in there. Today: teething. Tomorrow: backtalk!
If you have to survive three to five years in Moscow,try to get out of the city whenever you can for breaks!Even if you can't go abroad for one reason or another there is some lovely countryside closer than you think,with lots of birch tree forest,rivers and fields etc.Not too far from metro Schelkovskaya is Lesnaya Ostrov which stretches all the way to the MKAD and also Bitsevsky Park in the south where you can at least escape the traffic noise and breathe some cleaner air than that smog in the city!Another month or so and the trees will start turning green-the transformation is magical...
ReplyDeletehang in there - very typical - he is learning cause and effect - wow - if I push this button the tv changes AND dad gets mad! double whammy! :-)
ReplyDeleteand very typical as a parent to occasionally want to send baby back. everyday is a new day. take a deep breath. in with the good, out with the bad.
glad you are safe. We are avoiding the metro as well, at least for now.
we do go to the same gym - I go at odd times, and very occasionally - I have a nanny 2 mornings a week unless she has to work additional days for her other family - I try to see adults during those times, and try to squeeze in a run when I can. I thought at 18 months I could put her in the baby room, but I just found out from a friend that if they are under 3 years they charge $15 per hour! yikes! I will confirm though.
on your previous post - I have been so impressed with how friendly and helpful russian people are. I think having a baby helps, I think they are very family friendly. Strangers are always cooing and smiling at my baby when we are out. Talking to my kids - wow! you have 3, how wonderful! The difficulty is that moscow is not stroller friendly - stairs everywhere and few ramps. narrow aisles in stores, etc. That being said I cant approach a perihod without a nice russian man offering to carry the stroller down for me. The times that have been difficult for me are more based on inner-city living rather than moscow specific.
If you are a woman and a pretty woman, who is a mother with a stroller (push chair) at some steps in Moscow, a person will "usually" help you down the stairs, if you are a man like me, no one will help you, this is why I now have bad back pains, although ONCE a woman helped me which was nice and a BIG surprise.
ReplyDeleteI would like to also put my kid in a baby care place for a morning or two, but price forbids me. We are waiting till he is 3 for preschool aka "Kindergarten" but have to save for it for Moscow costs, big time!! I am thinking of opening a baby care center later as it seems to be a license to legally print money!
As the weeks go by, junior needs attention from when he wakes, till when he sleeps at night. I try to prepare English lessons on my PC but he goes under the table and unplugs the computer cable etc. As you say, deep breaths, keep calm and be cool !!! arghhhhhhhhhhh !!!
I go the gym at at 5.30 am but I am getting so tired now but I'll keep at it. See other post on this.
Every parents go through that TOOTH period)))
ReplyDeleteand after that believe me you'll pe awarded for your patience. Your pretty days are coming soon he's gonna talk to you. (but i remember i felt so exhausted at Those days and NIGHTS!!!)))keep calm... ther idea of opening a baby care center sounds great!!!!
About the gym. Could you tell us how it's going?? How many kilos did you loose???)
Sincerely. Oleg The Ubiquitous
'Moscow costs-big time!!'Never has a truer word been said!Not only financially,but health wise,stresswise and in so many other ways too!Of course many places like Mexico City,Bangkok,Cairo etc etc are equally grimy and polluted but at least the Thais smile more and you can literally find places serving delicious cheap food right on the pavement-the smog is warm there too and not cold and viscious like in Moscow!
ReplyDeleteHi expat! I heard the news on the bombings and thought of you. So scary! I'm glad you are okay and that you are well enough to complain about the kid. Mine just turned 3 and I thought it would ease up, I was wrong. He's a complete joy but at times I've forgotten how to think properly. He is always ON. On and on and on.
ReplyDeleteYou take care and know your blog world is thinking of you!
I'm OK thanks Amy. If I'm complaining I'm fine its when I don't complain that something is up !!! :-)
ReplyDeleteYes my boy never runs out of batteries. I was told today bu some mums, that I should not cook his food any oil or give him mushrooms. Any thoughts?