I have like, a crazy amount of wisdom to impart on this topic today - so here are my key tips for solo parenting while your husband goes to St Anton with his friends for apres ski vibes on your school holidays.
Let’s rock and roll.
#1: make sure that you start off with a stomach flu. You need to make sure that you’ve been horribly horribly sick the two days before he leaves and the day after he leaves, otherwise you’re gonna be way too rested and happy going into the solo time (actual advice here - the parent who is leaving actually should make a big pot of soup for everyone to eat, that ended up being such a lovely help and a way to feel taken care of while he was gone).
#2: you’re only going to have one day of daycare out of the five days that you’re alone with your kid, so on this day, there’s no such thing as too early or too late. Your child should be the first one there in the morning and the last one to be picked up, and you should not feel any guilt about this whatsoever - especially because you requested an extra day of daycare and they rejected you so you’re gonna squeeze every freaking minute out of them that you can.
#3: it’s important time this right as you are entering real toddlerdom with all of those big feelings AND at the same time, both molars popping through and the transition from two naps to one. By doing this you will make sure that your child is in the least stable schedule that they’ve been in for months, maximizing your own stress while you’re the only one who can tap in and tap out.
#3.1: related to the above, make sure that you have the best weather that Amsterdam has had in months. You want it to be really sunny and nice and warm. The reason that you want this is to make sure that your child’s nap schedule is as fucked as possible, because the blackout sheets in her room don’t actually black out the room, which isn’t a problem throughout most of the winter when it is dark and rainy, and shouldn’t be a problem with noise levels because the neighborhood is on school vacation, but by making sure it’s the most beautiful weekend you’ve had in a while you will have more foot traffic outside of your door making sure that she sleeps 33 minutes when she supposed to be sleeping 2.5 hours in her middle of the day nap.
#4: now, this is one of the most important tips - make sure that you have the first birthday party of one of your best friend’s children on this weekend. That way you can be really stressed that the baby needs to get a really good nap before you go to the party with a lot of people that she doesn’t know, whilst simultaneously knowing that she’s not going to do this because you need her to so badly. Arrive at the party having not showered, hair in a slick bun, and then you proceed to speak to no one at the party because your child is both sleep deprived and also the busiest toddler in the world and you cannot take her eyes off her for one second.
#5: there are no rules. Four bananas before 11:30 am? Ok! Elsa? Let’s watch one of the movies each day and make sure to have the soundtracks playing on the Sonos at all times.
#6: have your best friend come over for a sleepover one night so you actually sleep because you hate sleeping alone (and also have someone else who can read We’re Going On a Bear Hunt so you don’t lose your mind).
#7: when the baby falls asleep for her nap, immediate bubble bath. Even if her nap is only 23 minutes.
#8: take a second to appreciate how much harder your life is when your partner isn’t there and congratulate yourself on having a pretty equitable relationship and life. And make your husband take you for treats immediately upon returning home.
What I Read
I was going to read so many books this holiday but I just did not make that happen at all due to everything above. However, I have been reading
‘s , which is my favorite news source right now!!! She is hilarious and also an excellent reporter.What I Watched
Frozen and Frozen II - was that not clear?
What I Loved
I was featured on
this week!!!!
This was such a pinch me moment, as I LOVE Aja and Aliza’s writing, their friendship and their overall vibe!
Sydney of Close Friends:“My mom has always lived by: ‘Buy the outfit now, find the occasion later.’ She has the most fabulous, unique clothes and assumes that she will be invited somewhere equally fabulous to wear them. And if she isn’t, she makes the occasion herself. Life is a special enough occasion to get the fun outfit.”
Well done surviving the weekend I am so proud
WOW St Anton strikes AGAIN.