Parenting 101

Thanks, mom, for the title to this blog. I texted her today out of pure frusteration. Macy wasn't sleeping, she was so cranky, I hadn't had lunch and the only bread we had was molded, David walks in as I was just getting her to close her eyes and he wakes her up. On top of that I had a bad headache and just wanted to click my heels and drift away into dreamland. "Welcome to parenthood 101," my mom said. Is there like a textbook for this course? A spring break? Is there a quiz everday? I need a syllabus! I feel like my days are nonstop. I don't have a single second to think about my own needs. I look forward to 5:30 when I can take a 5 minute breather in the bathtub. Here I am now, writing this blog while hiding out in the bathroom. Yes, the bathroom. It's the only place I can't hear my baby cry. When she cries, it just upsets me and I want to rush to her every need. Sometimes, in parenthood 101, we need to find a few minutes to not think about anything but ourselves. It keeps us sane. On the brighter side, Miss Macy is growing so much! She has cracked a few smiles, but those are rare. I hope she isn't an unhappy child. She coos on occasion, but those are rare too. She still has fussy days, and I think, "Lord, get me through to tomorrow." She hates sleeping...especially by herself. So not my child. I hope one day she loves to sleep like her mommy. She will only sleep soundly in my or her daddys arms. That's it. But her down anywhere else and she'll let you know who's boss...quickly. It's like she has a mommy radar. Is this normal? I have learned SO much in the past month and a half. Being a parent is a lot more than I ever thought it could or would be. You can't really appreciate a parent until you are one...the endless nights they stay up rocking their child to sleep...the countless days they spend hoping around the living room trying to soothe their child for a nap. It's real. I'm living it. Is there ever a final exam in parenting 101? Or will I be preparing for it all my life?