Today I can take a deep breath and let out a sigh of relief: reinforcements have arrived and they will continue to come in the next week! My aunt and uncle arrived in town a few days ago and my parents and cousin (who we consider an Auntie to my children) will be here next week. Aside from a few short term visitors over the summer, we have been largely on our own since my parents left shortly after Doodle’s arrival.
My parents have a 2nd home about 30 minutes from us as do my aunt and uncle and we got spoiled through last fall, winter and spring as someone was always in town. It just worked out that when my parents would return to Colorado, my aunt and uncle would come within days and vice-versa so we were never really “alone” and it was so reassuring to know that we had help nearby if an emergency arose.
We have obviously survived the past 4 months just fine without the family support and this is in no small part thanks to a few great friends I’ve got here who are willing and able to help out when I’m in a bind. And while I am so grateful for these great friends (as well as my neighbors who have stepped up more than once to help me out), I try really hard not to abuse their kindness.
Having family around relieves a lot of the pressure on me because I know I have help when I need it. I know someone who loves my children (almost) as much as I do is around to tolerate them when I can’t anymore. It is nice to have someone available to watch the kids once in a while I take a shower so that I don’t have to have company (or waste my precious quiet nap time). It’s nice to have someone to leave the kids at home with while I do the grocery shopping. These are all the things that I would never ask a friend to do but appreciate that my family will help out in these small ways.
I also love that my kids get to have lots of quality time with their extended family and can build meaningful, secure relationships with people other than hubby and me. Growing up I loved spending extra time with my Gran’ma and Aunt, Uncle and cousins who were local and would count the days until my Nana and Grandpa and other Aunt and Uncle would come to visit. I cherish the memories I have of my extended family growing up and I’m so happy to be able to give that to my children in large doses as well.
