As the year draws to an end, there are lots of things we start reflecting on. Being my first full year as a Mum, it's amusing to think back over the year and be amazed that, at the end of it, my daughter is still happy and healthy, despite some interesting times...
It's confession time. Here are my top three, um, finest mothering moments of 2009:
I took 13 month-old Abbey out for the day and we ended up at a playground. She was picking things up off the ground and putting them in her mouth - as little ones do - and at one point I found her chewing on a cigarette butt. Yes, that is completely disgusting. But I got it out of her mouth quickly and all was fine (she doesn't seem to have developed a nicotine addiction). But here's what I found myself saying when I told Steve about it that night: 'She was putting things in her mouth and so it took me a little while to realise she was chewing on this gross thing because I thought she just had another rock in her mouth.' Oh dear.
I put 14 month-old Abbey into childcare for the first time. They asked me if I wanted to do an orientation (i.e. stay there with her for the first session). My response: 'Nah, she'll be fine'. Then, when they told me they could do casual care, I said (maybe a little too quickly): 'Can I bring her tomorrow?' And lastly, I didn't even think about her when I left her there. Admittedly, I was madly trying to get some work done while I had some peace and quiet, but surely I should have felt guilty? Even just a little concerned? Nope. Oops.
10 month-old Abbey was playing happily in her room. I could hear the sounds of her chatting to herself and toys being played with, so I didn't go in to check on her. Mistake. She toddled out and came over to me and, looking at her, I took in the scene in front of me: daughter smiling, something on her face, something on her hands, OH NO her nappy is off. Yep. I flung her straight into the bath where she started to laugh and play (with me saying sternly, "Do not laugh. This is not a fun bath"). Once she was clean, dried and dressed, I put her in her cot (to keep her contained) and surveyed the rest of the house. Poo on the floor in her room and in the lounge room - thank god for floorboards. Oh damn, new rug in the lounge room - and poo also on toys. Abbey screamed in her cot the whole time I cleaned (me sternly again: "Don't you cry. I should be the one crying; I have to clean this mess"). But I was kind of proud of myself in a weird way - I cleaned it all and didn't even throw up. Yay me.
Here's to 2010. Cheers.
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