Time. I just need more time.
End of blog post.
The OddBaby is due very soon… in less than two months. And there is so much I need to get done. So, obviously, I’m using this time to write a blog post.
To be fair, the biggest thing I have on my to-do list isn’t even related to the OddBaby. It’s the OddDaughter’s birthday very soon and shit needs to be organised. Largely, the story book I create for the kids for each of their birthdays.
If I was smart, I’d just use AI to produce this in an hour or so. As it happens, I choose not to use AI so the kids will grow up to understand just how much effort I put into these things. I write the story in my own words, I draw the illustrations by hand, and I add about 40 photographs from the last year in the front and back sleeves.
All that effort for the OddSon to see if he can either eat the book or smack me across the face with it.
It seemed like a nice idea when we had just the OddDaughter. Looking back, I had all the time in the world. Then the OddSon came along and time became more scarce, but I still get these books created.
Next year I’m going to have to create three.
Yes, THREE.
The to-do list is going to get bigger.
It’s funny how we don’t realise just how much time we have until we lose it. I can’t even remember what life was like before we had kids. How did we spend our evenings? What time did we have dinner? What TV shows would we have been binging?
In fact, at one point we even used to regularly go to quiz nights at a local pub.
Now, I sit here quizzing myself on how I can fit three car seats in my car without needing climbing equipment to get to the driver’s seat.
It’s certainly going to be interesting to see how we manage when we’re outnumbered.
Right now, we tend to divide and conquer. I’ll take the OddSon, Mrs OddFather will take the OddDaughter, or she’ll take both kids whilst I do the dishes, cleaning etc.
Perhaps we just stop cleaning.
I mean, what’s the worst that can happen if I don’t vacuum or mop regularly?
Even more importantly, when is the washing machine going to get a break?
Right now, it’s full pretty much every day. On the days there are few clothes to wash, it’s time to wash the towels and bed sheets.
We’re going to need a bigger washing machine.
I wish clutter didn’t bother me and I could sit in a continuously messy house. Instead, I really struggle. Every piece of clutter in every single room represents a misplaced thought, a task that needs doing, or a piece of feedback I need to address.
To be honest, it’s probably easier for me to overcome my issues with clutter than it is to have a spotless house.
I probably don’t have a choice, do I?
Ah, what am I worried about? We’ve dealt with two kids pretty well, all things considered. How much more work will come from having three instead of two?
I do think the idea of being outnumbered is probably influencing me more than how it actually will.
Like I said, I’m pretty comfortable looking after two kids on my own regularly. What impacts me more is when a situation goes south and I get the thought:
“What are we going to do when we have another one?”
And that thought then starts influencing my decision-making.
Yes, it’s not going to be easy. Nothing changes there.
Yes, I’m going to have far less time than I had 10 years ago — but it’s only slightly less time than I have today.
And yes, I’m going to have to adapt and get better at controlling my OCD tendencies.
But we’ve smashed it as a family of four, and I’m sure we’ll smash it as a family of five. There will be lots of smashed things.
Crisis averted.
Expect several more moments like this before the OddBaby actually arrives.
