Save my brain

I have definitely emerged from the post-partum cloud, that mist that decends in the later half of the third trimester and persists well after the baby is born, the fog that keeps you microscopically attuned to your offspring’s output, to the exclusion of pretty much everything else happening in the outside world.

But now I fear: is it gone, that brain I once had? Will I ever be able to correctly string together an articulate sentence again? (Case in point: the preceding sentence.) Or am I, to my children’s peril, doomed to forever making up words and discussing nothing more perplexing than the plot of Disney’s Aladdin?

I’m asking you: what’s the number one thing I should be doing so this mushroom between my ears doesn’t atrophy? What should I be doing to ensure my kids are getting some sort of neurological stimulation as well? Save me from myself. All my news comes from watercooler scuttlebutt or the mangled grammar of a three-year-old Pixar devotee. I feel as though I owe my children a bit more than a mummy who, on her best day, lets her kids make muffins from a boxed mix and takes them to the Tiny Tot Town at the mall. Help me.

February 24, 2008 | Filed Under motherhood

Comments

15 Responses to “Save my brain”

Bad Hippie on February 25th, 2008 7:12 am

The brain comes back, trust me. Case in point…I enrolled at Oberlin College when Beavis was two, and did a double major in Medieval Literature and Ancient Christianity. And, even though I was surrounded by East-Coast College Prep kids, I pulled off a cumulative GPA of 3.4, while raising the kid and working 20 some hours a week. Not too shabby, even if I did not manage to pull higher than a “c” in my German classes.

It will come back! You will amaze your kids one day. That is, until they turn 14 and think you are totally as dumb as a box of rocks. And stuff. But, that’s just normal. It’s not a reflection of you at all.
Stephanie on February 25th, 2008 9:51 am

I had to de-lurk to comment! I am 3 weeks away from baby #3 and I know exactly what you mean! Just like everything else to do with parenthood, it takes time and practice! You’ll find a groove quickly, I’m sure. Then you’ll wonder why you ever thought having only one child was hard.
Elizabeth on February 25th, 2008 10:45 am

I dunno. Durrrr. I’ll have to get back to you when mine is older. 4.5 months haven’t been long enough for me to have restored brain function yet.

Though, I thought your reading Little House outloud was a good choice; lets everyone’s brain think instead of congealing on the repeats of the pixar gods. :o)
katie on February 25th, 2008 12:27 pm

well you are coming here, so you can be saved. bringing the macbook? you must let me tinker with it
Matt on February 25th, 2008 3:38 pm

you should author and edit an insightful and humorous blog. make sure to take lots of pictures.

right. check.

sorry, no help.
kelly on February 25th, 2008 4:06 pm

me know nothin.
Beth on February 25th, 2008 11:12 pm

When I figure it out I will let you know.

In the meantime give yourself a break. Having a baby and a 3 year old is exhausting in a mind numbing sort of way. You get at least another year before you are expected to think again.
your neighborhood librarian on February 26th, 2008 10:49 am

Senators show. Friday night at the 8x10. Funk will save your brain.
minnie on February 26th, 2008 11:11 am

i think i have to quit my job my brain is so mushy.
Christina on February 26th, 2008 4:32 pm

I love your blog! I linked it on mine if that’s okay.
Do you remember me…we used to work on the newspaper together…and our dorms were next to each other at BGSU…
supa on February 26th, 2008 7:35 pm

“funk will save your brain.” I will take this to heart. Barring funk, would Foghat be acceptable?
tonita on February 26th, 2008 9:45 pm

How about arts and craft time? Learning time, colors, alphabet, numbers. Think of yourself as a preschool teacher.
LetterB on February 26th, 2008 11:10 pm

Oh lord. I was just wondering myself if this time the stupidity is going to be permanent. I have absolutely no advice, only deep empathy.
your neighborhood librarian on February 28th, 2008 6:04 pm

SLOW RIDE!!!
Janet on March 1st, 2008 6:05 am

I’ve been stalking this post with great anticipation because I’m where you are at too. Most days I feel like I’m wading through mud with a head full of cotton wool. The experts over here say the main thing is to read aloud to small children, all the time. But the cool thing is it doesn’t have to be a kids book - it can be anything, even the newspaper or the back of a cereal box (pretty much the same thing here). A couple of things I picked up from my boy’s kindy are: two tubs, some kitchen utensils like measuring cups, slotted spoons etc and some water (with a couple of drops of food colouring if you want 3 year old wow factor). Apparently water play teaches them all sorts of stuff about volume, space, liquids v solids etc. The other is to home make playdough with them - I have a great recipe if you want it (and obviously play with it afterwards). Moon sand is supposed to be the next big thing, I need to get me some of that. Oh, and weekly swimming lessons - half an hour of structured interaction that you don’t have to think about, and as an added bonus they are tuckered out for the rest of the day! That’s all I know, I’m afraid.