difficult
So, this whole baby-raising thing… everybody said it would be the most difficult thing you’ll ever do. Bull$#!^. When I hear the word difficult I see it as a challenge - a dare. You think it’s difficult? Well, I’ll show you!
We started our business on credit cards. In a couple years we had acquired over $60,000 in credit card debt due to start-up and maintenance costs of the business; about a year of groceries and rent and emergency flights at the last minute from Indonesia to Australia on September 13, 2001 (our honeymoon). Within two years after setting a goal to find better clients, get better projects, get out of debt and buy a house - we did. THAT was difficult. THAT was hard.
This baby stuff is not. It is, however, repetitive and at times infuriating, but, it is not difficult. I think we (”we parents” - I’m officially in the club and can now use the collective) use the term “difficult” or “challenging” so as not to discourage others from trying this out for themselves. Be warned (all non-child-bearing-friends) child rearing is an exercise in patience, nothing more. It is a battle of wills. A test to see if you can outlast your baby.
There is a bright side to this. And in the past few weeks I have been guilty of focusing on only the negative. The “difficult” stuff is not constant. And apparently, “they” say it doesn’t last forever. Although, at midnight when your child hasn’t slept all day and has been crying on and off for four hours, it seems as though he may just have to go to his first prom crying and screaming because you can’t believe that it will ever stop. Harrison really is a good baby, though, and as long as we make sure (and sometimes that means the strong-arm of Marc and the rocking chair) he sleeps enough, he is what “they” refer to as a pretty easy baby. So, I really should cool it with all the negativity. Because I know for a fact that other people have it a lot worse. I think I’ve also been holding back from the good stuff because I was afraid I would jinx it. By coming right out and saying that the kid slept for eight hours (this is true - eight amazing, glorious hours! all together. in a row. without a peep.) last night, that we would open ourselves up to the kid morphing into BAD BABY. But, I believe we are lucky - the tough times are maybe 10% of our day. And we can handle that.
Listening: Cat Power
