Cough choke cough cough...ack this blog is dusty. I'm not even sure anyone is reading anymore. Which is okay, but if anyone is, especially those lurkers out there in the spankno crowd, I'm sorry. I know that a lot of veteran bloggers have had to leave and it was never my intention to do that.
I have a perfectly good explanation...nope, I got nothin. Not good anyway. Finding time maybe. It's not truly that I don't have time. More like any time that I have I feel so mentally exhausted my brain goes to mush. Only activities that don't require a lot of brain power allowed. Like playing Candy Crush. Or maybe just staring blankly into space?
I can tell you that I've started writing posts a hundred times, but being the bit OCD perfectionist that I am where every post has to be rewritten, edited, and checked to ad nauseum, they just got started and left. Or almost finished and left (what was wrong with that last draft? I can't remember why it's sitting there unpublished? Oh yeah waiting for a picture?). And then pretty soon it's outdated and I have to start again.
Anyway, hi.
It's hard to fill you in on what's been happening here, in a nutshell just trying to keep my feet on the ground while I keep up with the joys of motherhood. In short, the transition from one to two kids was super difficult for me, much more than I could ever have imagined. Even almost two years later, I don't think I even still have a handle on it. My daughter hasn't entered the stage where she starts to test the boundaries seriously yet, and I thank God for that. I see it below the surface, and sometimes shockingly clearly, but mostly she's an angel that charms everyone she sees, including me.
My son though, oh my son. He's so amazing so full of life. But the transition he's had since his sister was born was no small thing. I don't think he's as difficult as he was last year, where almost every day was so overwhelming I wasn't even sure how to handle it. But he's regressed lately, and it can be pretty discouraging again. I feel a lot like I'm at my wit's end. Literally my wit is over, gone over a cliff. Probably to get away from this demon child. I want my sweet son back. I know he's in there somewhere. I've just got to be patient though and understanding, and that's not always easy. But I'm working on it.
Jay and I are good. Not much difference there. He's a wonderful father and husband thankfully. He supports me, encourages me, and we're as strong as ever in our marriage.
There's no DD at the moment. I know, lucky me! I think so too! It's great not having to worry about being in trouble! :D
All right, fine. I'll admit that there might be an "or else" list that I might have to accomplish before tonight. And last night hurt (ouch!). But there's still no DD right this second! Jay is at work for a couple more hours. And so I'm as free as a bird. Oh go with me here, I said at the moment!
Ok being serious, Our dynamic is alive and well. It's changed a bit, because of what we've determined together works better for us right now. Pregnancy seemed to leave me with a permanent pain intolerance, way more than I had before which I didn't think was possible. So we simplified things. Our dynamic heavily emphasizes almost daily maintenance instead of punishment (as long as I get that dratted list done tonight that I'm still procrastinating on!). He only uses one implement now that I can handle a lot more than the others (thank you Rogue again1), and I'm just fine with that.
I'll admit it keeps me grounded. During times we've stopped, it's been pretty clear what the benefits are, and why, even though I complain about it, it's the best choice for us.
So there you go, a post. Fully written phew. Not even edited really. But I should probably get this out before a few more months pass. So gosh darn it, I'm hitting "publish" this time!
And great, talking about the benefits of DD made me suddenly feel all convicted. I better get off the computer and out of la la denial land. Back to the reality of being a DD wife. That's loved and cherished and taken care of. And "taken care of". Gah!
I better get started on that pesky "or else" list. ;)
Hello Kay! I just wanted to say thank you for posting again. I recently found this blog as I have been doing research on this lifestyle and believe it would benefit my marriage. I have discussed DD with my wife and plan on sharing this blog with her. I'm very happy to see you are still posting as there are very few pure sites out there and I see many similarities in your relationship with your husband as I do with my wife. Oh, and I understand the OCD writing thing, I get the same way when I have to write something. Please keep posting and God bless!
ReplyDeleteWelcome, and thank you! This lifestyle is definitely not for everybody. But for those it does fit, it can be the difference from a mundane marriage to spectacular, or like in our case from total chaos to having the fairy tale.
DeleteIf you two do decide to start this journey, I hope you don't mind a few pieces of unsolicited advice from our experiences:
Make sure the positive always far outweighs the negative. By negative I mean any kind of correction. By positive I mean encouragement, praise, affection, and always feeling heard, the knowledge that she's more important to you than anything. If she's entrusting her heart to you, it needs to be handled with more care than possibly ever before. At least that's what I found I needed.
Vulnerability has to go both ways. You're asking her to take on a role of ultimate vulnerability and trust, and you should too. This lifestyle works best in what I've seen when there's no secrets. That means, "no guess what I'm feeling" games like so many non DD couples play. Everything needs to be in the open. Preferably no topics off limits. Including when you're having a hard time, not just when she is. Nothing stops me faster than when Jay tells me my actions are hurting him. Or makes me want to support him more when he lets me know he had a bad day. Support each other. Be completely on the same page with each other. To me this is the true foundation of DD, not discipline.
Okay that was a little long, sorry lol. But that's how my husband seduced me into agreeing to this for the rest of our lives.
God bless you both in whatever decision you come to :)
Hi Kay, what a lovely surprise to see you pop up in my dashboard. Welcome back :) Glad to hear you and Jay are doing well and hope things settle with your son soon.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the list!
Hugs
Roz
Hi Roz, and thank you! By the way I still need that luck, new list today, ack! ;)
DeleteHello Kay, as Roz said what a lovely surprise to see you pop up. We aren't as many as we once were but some of us are still here.
ReplyDeleteGlad things are going well with you and Jay. Children, what can I say they are our greatest joy and our worst nightmare, sometimes all at the same time. Hang in there, you'll survive.
Hope you stop by a little more often.
Hi Leigh! I know I'm surprised, I wasn't expecting anyone to even see this lol. And yes, totally true!
DeleteI hope to! I can't be involved as much as I used to, but I'm going to try to post as much as I can, I do miss it. :)
So glad you stopped by! I took a little break when things got hard but blogland was here waiting for me. Enjoy your little ones. They grow up so fast. I am a grandmother now! Time flies when you are having fun.
ReplyDeleteThank you DR! Yes time does fly, and I'm trying to keep that perspective. ;)
DeleteGlad to hear things are going well! Kids change things, but they are worth it! Take time to enjoy them! Time flies. Before you know it they are in their 20s!
ReplyDeleteHope to see you around whenever you have time!
Thanks Minelle! Yeah for my son I want time to fly just a teensy bit (just past this phase?) and stop lol. For my daughter, I don't want time to move at ALL. But ultimately, I have amazing kids. I just have to remember that when times get hard.
DeleteAnd yeah I hope to! :)
Ah well life has a tendency to get in the way now doesn't it? As for the pain thing, I think hormones or as I like to refer to them as, HORROR moans play a huge part. Then after your pregnancy the fact that you probably haven't been spanked as much, well that would continue your low pain tolerance. Actually it isn't a horrible thing, shorter spankings,less damage.
ReplyDeleteI have a theory about 'challenging' little ones. Kids challenge us as parents at one point in their life. Better when they are young and you can actively do something about it, than when they are in their teens ( one out of 3 was an angel until 15, the other two challenging from 18 months until 5). When they push your buttons early, everyone seems to forget that fact! Basically keep strong now, and later you should be golden. Then again no two kids are alike, so maybe not! LOL.
Regardless, welcome back!
willie
I don't know what the pain thing is about. We've been back to DD for awhile, and I think my sensitivity has actually changed, more than just not being used to it. I don't understand it. I have sciatic problems left over from pregnancy, too, so maybe it's related to that. Thankfully though, Jay has been pretty tuned in to what I can take and can't.
DeleteAnd ha good perspective! :)
Kay!!!!! Was so very happy to see your blog pop up on my reading list. I do know about challenging children...my oldest is so lucky he survived to adulthood. He and his wife are now being challenged by my granddaughters and I told him it was the mother's curse...I told him more than once...I hope you have a child just like you! My DIL then said...but I was a good child and I told her...you married the demon child and you get the curse that comes with him. :D Sending lots of positive energy that your kiddo levels out soon.
ReplyDeleteHugs and blessings...Cat
Hi Cat! That's funny! And your poor undeserving DIL lol. Thank you, and hugs and blessings back to you too! :)
DeleteI'm cracking up. There's "no dd at the moment" here either. (Give it a few hours, right?) Glad to hear from you, and glad all is well.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad there's no DD for you either, yay! Isn't "la la denial land" fun?! ;D
DeleteOh wow. Today is a good day. I love seeing familiar faces! I've had to disappear but am contemplating a return to blogland. I'm happy you're here too.
DeleteHi. Gosh I'm a little dusty too. I like seeing something on my feed that is familiar. I had to pull my blog (composing us) and I'm still summoning the strength to begin anew. Seeing someone familiar is pulling at my "back in the day" heart strings. I'm gloriously happy to know some folks are still trucking along happy as all get out even if we don't always get to peak in. Enjoy toddlerville,bask in your contenment,and love your husband. I'm feeling inspired to blog again. Thanks for that. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Jillian! It feels great to be back. I can't be involved with blogland as much as I once was, since it took so much of my time, but I do miss it. And it's great to hear from you! I wasn't expecting anyone to still be around lol. Hearing from familiar people has been a pleasant surprise. :)
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