I am not a "fly by the seat of my pants" person usually. I adapt to change easily, but I like a loose plan in my back pocket just in case. We are quickly learning that, as parents, a loose plan is our best ticket to sanity.
Here are a few recent examples of loose plans and the wonderful outcomes they evolved into.
Loose Plan: Drop Grandma off at the airport and then return cable box and remote control to former cable company before the Little One needs to eat again.
What Actually Happened: Dropped Grandma off at the airport. Waited in long line at cable company briefly before leaving to provide an impromptu feeding in a deserted area of the parking lot. Along the way helped a stranger with a broken car and a forgotten cell phone call for a tow truck. Fed hungry but patient baby. Performed miracle cleaning of toxic diaper explosion while Little One laid on changing pad at a funny angle in the front seat of car. Purchased much-needed coffee from McDonald's drive-through (Decaf, but I pretended it was caffeinated). Returned cable box and remote control while smiling baby cooed up at me from stroller. Rewarded self at home with an afternoon snuggle with sleeping baby on shoulder. Laughed and smiled all day.
Loose Plan: Get ourselves to bed early and get the Little One on a nighttime routine.
What Actually Happened: The Little One took a long early-evening nap and woke up ready to play, play, play! The Husband took an unexpected, important work phone call. Bath time got a late start when dinner ran late because I forgot to defrost the chicken. Okay, these didn't all happen on the same night, but different combos of them popped up. several nights in a row. We are getting our act together though and a nighttime routine of pajamas, feeding, snuggle, bed is emerging. A quick book mixed in there would be great too. One thing at a time.
Loose Plan: Win the lottery so that one or both of us can stay home.
What Will Probably Happened: We won't win any money. We did win big though with this simple life we've carved out together. Plus, we like our jobs and found a sweet woman to take care of the Little One during the day. Being working parents Is not our dream scenario, but, given the economy, we are grateful to have jobs.
Needless to say, we are grateful for a lot of things these days,
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