Wednesday, October 08, 2008

The Witching Hours Worsen

3:00 to 6:00 p.m. has always been my least favorite time of the day. Even before I had kids. It is like this odd, blah in-between time...too late for napping, too early for dinner, much too early to begin drinking heavily. What do you do during those hours?

But now? Now I HATE those hours. Andrew has decided that he likes to wake up around 4 p.m. and be held and nursed continually until 8 p.m. I am unable to put him down for more than 3 minutes before he goes into White Silent Screaming Rage Mode. I don't mind holding him. I love it actually, but I can't do anything. Becca often wakes up from her nap crabby and needing something right this freaking second. I just want to sit and nurse the baby and watch Oprah for crying out loud. I somehow need to figure out dinner and bathtime and bedtime for Becca while having a crabby baby attached to my boob for four straight hours. It isn't pretty. Especially when John is night flying. Night flying SUCKS. He is here during the happy morning hours and then is gone for the worst part of the day.

I put Becca in the tub early and gave her some new bath toys I have been hiding and hoarding for the last couple months in preparation for days like today. But, then when I wasn't looking she dumped half a bottle of shampoo on the top of her head and then cried when I tried to get it all out. Have you ever tried to rinse out half a bottle of shampoo while either holding a baby or listening to a baby scream so loud he loses his voice? It is, like, impossible!

So, it is 8:00 p.m. and Becca is having a complete and total meltdown in her bed screaming "I WANT TO READ BOOKS! I WANT TO READ BOOKS!" And sobbing in between words. I have gone in there twice and yelled at her that it is TOO LATE. IT IS BED TIME YOU ALREADY HAD YOUR LIGHT ON FOR 20 MINUTES AND IT ISN'T MY DAMN FAULT YOU DIDN'T READ YOUR BOOKS WHEN YOU HAD A CHANCE! GOD!! She is just completely over the brink. I finally just plugged in a night light and told her to do whatever she wanted but to stop screaming for the LOVE OF GOD.

She's probably in there tattooing herself or spray painting "My Mom's a Giant Bitch" on her walls. But hey! It is quiet now. Blessed silence.

In summary, my nerves are rather frazzled. At least Andrew finally conked out. I think there's a DVR full of The Daily Show and a beer somewhere around here with my name on it. And tomorrow, we will be leaving the house after naptime, no matter what.

13 comments:

justme said...

oh how i hated those hours. hang in there.

Anonymous said...

You say drinking before 3pm like its a bad thing.
Just remember this too will end, and then it'll be something else,like homework (5 hours to do 30 minutes worth of work)

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry -- is it okay that I laughed at that? That was hysterical.

On the other hand, I'm sorry to hear that your hands (and boobs) are full. You'll get through this. Hang in there!!

Angie said...

I vaguely remember having days like this in Christopher's first month. Sleep deprivation helps block that out from your long term memory. It will get better, but those have never been good hours with kids.

Anonymous said...

Andrew might like being in a sling - just a simple one piece of fabric thing that makes him feel all snuggled up & safe. Plus he's "on" you and your hands or at least one for sure can be free!

Unknown said...

As everyone has said before, right now, I suggest doing whatever works. I hate 3-6 too. Lila's 2 and Liv's 3.5 and it's not any better on this end. If I don't have a healthy snack prepared, I sometimes let them stuff whatever they want in their mouths just so the crying and on-the-floor tantrums stop. My husband thinks I should be refreshed after their long naps(at the same time). Refreshed my ass! Any bit of refreshment I get during naps is done the second someone wakes up screaming and throws herself on the floor.

Lila lived in her MobyWrap for several weeks (www.mobywrap.com). Olivia was so busy, I needed two hands at all times. So, I'm going to second the babywearing. Is the sling not working out? Lila didn't like the sling, she liked the MobyWrap better and at 3-months, I started wearing her on the front in the Ergo-we still use it now w/both girls EVERYDAY. Sometimes, you just have to find the right babywearing device (they consign really well - but, is there a babywearing workshop or store you can go to try on different ones?).

Getting outside is a great idea too. If he's snuggled next to you and getting some fresh air, he may stop eating for a bit and give you a second to breath!

MaryB said...

Oh my gosh! I am so sorry! I remembe this stage. It is awful. But it is short lived - really it is. Maybe, right before naptime, you could promise Becca some kind of special activity or treat after nap (preferably something that keeps her occupied for a bit while you nurse.) That way she wakes up excited to collect her promised treat/activity instead of with the nap-craps as we call them here.

also, laughed my head off at sgtsharp's comment because THAT is my reality! Last night was THE WORST!!! At least when thay are babies they are little, cute, and helpless. When they are old enough to know better - AARGH!

Swistle said...

Those hours are THE WORST! I remember when the twins were newborns and they BOTH cried during that time. I used to put them in another room together and just close the door, or else lie down on the bed with them while Paul handled the rest of the household. Ter suck.

The Quinn Report said...

Those hours are the WORST and I can't (and don't even want to imagine), what it's going to be like with 2..I'm scared!

Lysandra said...

I can't believe you said that! Awesome. I flip out too but I don't have an excuse since I just have the one child.

Andrea and Ben said...

My mom's a giant bitch - oh my god, Ben and I almost peed our pants while reading that. I am laughing with you....right?

I use the bjorn when Reid absolutely refuses to be put down which is becoming less and less the case these days - thank you infant baby jesus. Hang in there, I can definitely empathize/sympathize and am thankful to read Reid's crazy moments of insane crying (which are waning as the weeks go by) for the sake of crying aren't uncommon.

Thank you for making me feel less like a lunatic - I was really starting to wonder!!

Anonymous said...

Danger Will Robinson!

Jen said...

That is the worst. I remember putting a screaming Claire in the bouncy chair on the kitchen table while Kate whined and whined about various things and I tried in vain to make dinner.

I hope things calm down soon for you.