It is inevitable that expanding a family is going to change relationships, we must read the word bond every second sentence in 'What to expect when you are expecting', only I wish there was a chapter on what to expect when your other half kindly doesn't hear the baby crying, or what to expect when he declares 'Oh the baby slept well' after you were up sixteen times that night. I'll tell you what you can expect though, shouting, tears and single parent contemplation. I would be a complete liar if I sat on social media and pretended we've had a solid relationship over our eight years, because we haven't, don't get me wrong nothings ever gone really bad but during those first four months after having Noah it was easily our most testing time. I quite honestly, detested John from around week 6-16. I really did, and though I'm sure he would be too kind to admit, I think he felt the same. Our main problem was comparing - we both wanted to be the one who had it worse off, how on earth could he find life so tough when he was at work, getting a lunch hour, a whole hour to do whatever the hell he liked with, uninterrupted sleep and adult interaction. Whilst I felt as though I was stuck at home with a baby for company, surviving on two hours sleep and a bowl of weetabix, I hadn't drank a warm coffee in weeks and an uninterrupted shower was something dreams were made of. However, in his eyes, I'm at home all day - watching television, sitting on my arse and being paid for the privilege. How wrong could we both have been? Of course in a haze of sleep deprivation, raging hormones and a lot of adjustment, neither of us could see the others point of view and truthfully I'd definitely got past the point of even wanting to see his side. I had it harder and that was that.
Obviously, if you're an avid reader of my blog you'll know that Patrick joined us last year so it's safe to say that we managed to find some middle ground after Noah, I'll not say we were best friends again straight away because we weren't, I think it took a lot (and I really mean a lot) of bending over backwards for each other in order to both come to terms with our new roles, having a baby changes everything and to go from two quite honestly selfish people, to now having to devote 24 hours out of your day to another human was crippling for a while. But, you find your new normal and make the best of what you can. After having Patrick we definitely benefited from hindsight, it was a lot easier because we knew what to expect 'been there, done that, got the t-shirt'. Being a brand new parent you are much more anxious over doing the right thing, what society deems is the right thing and what your parents are telling you is the right thing, but with number two I think we realised that we'd managed to raise a two year out quite successfully so we could trust our own parental skills in doing exactly what the hell we wanted with Patrick. (An update, he's not broken so it's going well).
If you're going through a rough patch post baby, don't worry you are most definitely not alone. Though Instagram might be full of over saturated family-day-out pictures, a lot goes on behind the lense and I'm sure 85% of families would tell you they despised their other half at some point during those first years.
Oh having a baby sure does change the relationship. We've had some bad days with J after D was born, but I'm thankful that we never argue about anything. I couldn't stand all the yelling and so far we've managed to discuss things through :D
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you on this one, we have been through so much and you do look at each other differently once you have children. If its worth sticking with though you need to put in the work!
ReplyDeleteYou are doing fab with 2 and I am just about managing with 1! I really had no idea the stress/strain a kid puts you through and I look shattered half the time but team work is key for us.
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Well to be fair I would of loved to if had this experience, yet I didn't I had to see it all on my lonesome. But what is great you both got through it together.
ReplyDeleteHaving a baby is so tough on a couple we reached are max at three and split, it wasn't down to the kids just us growing apart but it did cause a stain over the years x
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