Comments | floatingtide: The internet welcomes you back.

floatingtide

The internet welcomes you back.

Nov 02, 2008 00:56

I've been away a long time. You wouldn't believe how many blog posts I've written in my head over the last year. Sometimes it helped my clarify my thoughts. There were still so many moments I wish I could have written down in order to hold them forever. Dated, posted and pressed in a flower book ( Read more... )

Comments 17

ann_leckie November 2 2008, 12:37:22 UTC

Do you have an old, maybe half-functional computer you're not using? My mom always kept an old one hooked up, with a keybanger program on it. It was really simple, just something that did something whenever you hit a key. It was amazingly popular with infant and toddler grandchildren. I'm sure there are similar programs still out there (this one ran in DOS, which tells you how old it was) or she might even like surfing the PBS Kids website, which she may or may not be ready for, but it won't be long.

One thing I learned, when my kids were little, was just how powerful their desire was to do what I was doing, to have the tools I had. Toy keys never cut it, the kids wanted real keys! Etc. Maybe a chance to "work on the computer" will give her something she wants and you a few minutes?

floatingtide November 3 2008, 07:58:15 UTC

"One thing I learned, when my kids were little, was just how powerful their desire was to do what I was doing"

Very true. I used to put a defunct keyboard in front of my own so that she could press tap the keys. She's older, wiser and longer-armed now and that doesn't cut it.

I should look into what we could set up for a toddler-computer.

pnew8 November 2 2008, 12:59:52 UTC

Welcome back, sweetie.

I've missed you tons and tons.

*tap-kiss to the top of Beatrix's beautiful noggin'*

floatingtide November 3 2008, 08:00:16 UTC

I missed you too. There were so many times I thought I'd respond to a post of yours, but I always read LJ while nursing and when I had my hands free again I was not set up to write anything to anyone.

silk_noir November 2 2008, 13:29:02 UTC

My dear, we've missed you.

floatingtide November 3 2008, 08:02:21 UTC

And we overworked writer-moms need to stick together.

silk_noir November 3 2008, 12:03:36 UTC

Oh, yes.

And yes, toddler-hood is much harder than babyhood. It's not so much that they're bad, it's that they are constant.

Hang in there.

ianracey November 2 2008, 13:58:29 UTC

I know just what you mean. From the time he first started moving himself around the apartment, Paul has absolutely refused to let me do anything that he couldn't participate in. It's only recently (he's two and a half now) that he's stopped. Actually, it was when we moved him into his big boy bed, at which point he quickly learned the lesson that if he wanted to get up at 6am, he had to be prepared to play in his room or the living room for two hours without constantly coming in and demanding I play with him.

Welcome back.

floatingtide November 3 2008, 08:05:33 UTC

Bee will have a few days where she begins to act really independent but they're usually followed by a longer spell of super-need-closeness. Exploring and returning quick to home base, I think. Was Paul like that?

ianracey November 3 2008, 13:59:14 UTC

\Honestly, Paul has never really been one for wanting to cuddle or feel safe unless he's scared or hurt himself. He's always just wanted to push away from you and go off exploring. This has just been exacerbated by moving into his big boy bed, to the point that he's now convinced he can do anything and everything from himself. He'll even angrily refuse an offer to turn on the tap for him when he wants to wash his hands, despite the fact that his arms are just far too short to reach it himself.

cammykitty November 2 2008, 18:50:26 UTC

Good to see you again! I'm sure you'll find a way to balance motherhood and writing! One of my friends is going through that struggle too. She works a part time job (30 hours or so) so found an hour or two where the baby was still at daycare. It's obviously hard to carve out time for yourself! Good luck!

floatingtide November 3 2008, 08:11:52 UTC

Thanks, it's almost impossible to describe just how full-time caring for a baby is. And Bee, like a lot of babies, didn't take well to not-parent care.

I have a toddler now, though. It's harder in some ways but much, much more active and flexible.

cammykitty November 3 2008, 15:13:38 UTC

I can believe it! Raising a kid well is the most important thing you can do.

cammykitty November 3 2008, 15:18:29 UTC

Sorry, that little anonymous post was me. I thought I was logged in.

I can believe it. We've always got a kid or two at our writer's group meeting. The older one always decides that's the night he wants Mommy to read the bedtime story, even though Daddy is available and has his favorite book in hand. The newborn still just eats and sleeps and smiles.