Lifestyle, Mommy Musings

Mommy Musings Mondays

January 4, 2016

Tomorrow I will be free. Free from my toddler. Free from my mum. This is a story about the freedom I seek.

The loosely hanging curtains give way to bright sunlight that blasts my face with vengeance. I turn to face the other side, hoping to catch some more sleep but not before I peep at my three month old daughter sleeping next to me. To my amazement, she is wide awake, staring at the wooden structure on the roof where the ceiling is yet to be fixed. In a few minutes, she will be cooing and kicking all her four limbs in the air excitedly announcing that she’s ready for a feed. She’s a calm one this one. Her 3 year old sister on the contrary has tested me to the limits. Severally, I have felt like running away from my house and moving to a place with no civilization. I remember once when she was a week old I almost took her to Mercury ABC to hang out with the dad at 3.00am on a Friday! Seriously that thought crossed my mind as it seemed to be the only sane thing I could do at the time.

I grab my phone from under the pillow to check the time. It’s 9.30am. As if on cue, the trouble maker, as we call her, calls out from the other bed. “Mama my eyes have tears.” I ask her why, to which she responds “Because I was crying in my sleep”. I ask her why she was crying and she says ” Because Kukumuku eat me” Kukumuku is what she calls chicken. This girl is more scared of chicken than she is of donkeys. Heck lions in the park dont even move her. I can already tell its going to be one long day yet again.

Breakfast has been promptly prepared by grandma and laid out on the table. Porridge, tea, cassavas, sausages, bread, boiled eggs and watermelon. She has been forcing me to eat heap loads of food since my arrival to ensure I have sufficient milk for the baby. My waistline which had started defining itself two weeks ago after running a total of 72 miles has disappeared and in its place are two layers of fat akin to my infant’s folds. I quickly serve the toddler porridge and instruct her to drink it up. As I proceed to breast feed the baby, the toddler dashes out of the living room screaming “bird come here” conveniently knocking her porridge which spills on the carpet. I am not just irked, but in total disbelief. It’s as if all law and order was left back at home in Nairobi. My mum tells me to ignore her.

Between having my breakfast of kings, washing the kids and catching up with trends on Twitter, time somehow finds a way of lapsing faster than I can change my baby’s diaper. It’s lunch hour already. I will not even get into my food frustration and my expanding waistline as at this point, this is the least of my concerns. I have bigger woos. Try feeding a toddler when everyone else is having a meal. You will most certainly be more successful at growing waist length African hair faster than you can get the toddler to finish their plate of anything. But fear not. Her hunger pangs will definitely check in when you are trying to have your afternoon nap.

Guests come over. Two elderly ladies in their fifties and a 7 year old girl. My toddler tears the plastic table mats, rolls the pieces and makes “glasses” out of them offering the guests “juice”. I choose to be positive and give her A for creativity. Montessori in action. She then sits right across me next to the other kid who she asks all sorts of questions and shows off her scooter to.

For about half an hour, the guests are taking turns to hold the baby, making comments about how chubby she is (a plus for me as chubby=healthy=I am a great mom), who she looks like, and other nonsensical stuff. She coos in a whinny tone and happily, I pick her from the guests to breastfeed her. She suckles so hard making this loud smacking sound (always does). One of the guests points out that I probably don’t have enough milk. I respond that she always does that even when feeding from a bottle. After about three minutes, she again questions whether I am sure I have enough milk. I pull out the nipple from the baby’s mouth and a jet of milk splashes out. I am tempted to point it in that lady’s way directing it on her face but unfortunately she’s seated quite far from me. I wind up on breastfeeding, burp her then pass her over to Mrs Know It All. She mentions that the baby hasn’t burped. I want to stab her.

Just when they are about to leave, we bow our heads in prayer. While I am busy having a moment with God, my hair is suddenly ruffled so hard by my toddler and she goes on to scream “surprise!” into my ears. I think she tiptoed from across the room as i was totally caught off guard. Someone please give me back my daughter and take away this imposter.

I tell my brother to take her for a walk to the neighbours to see some animals. They spot cows, goats, sheep, donkeys. She insists she wants to see lions and baboons. Does she really think this place is a park? In no time she is back. She finds her baby sister lying on the seat and pokes her finger in baby’s nose trying to remove crusty mucus. I guess the intention was good.

It’s 11.30pm. She is still at it. She’s just finished plucking grandma’s white plastic flowers and distributing them to my two siblings, my folks and I as holy communion. She’s currently making tissue paper and its holder from the torn plastic mat. Tomorrow is our last day. I cannot wait to get back to my house where discipline reigns supreme. Most importantly, I cannot wait for Mercy the nanny to take over. Yes I said it!

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Grace
7 years ago

Funny read!

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[…] she pulled a fast one on me. One morning, I was having my breakfast of kings as highlighted here, while carrying the baby on my laps. Suddenly, she came running from outside, skidding to a halt […]

Cecy
Cecy
8 years ago

This is interesting and your babies are such cuties miss belle

victoria
victoria
8 years ago

hahaaaaa!ati are you sure maziwa is enough!i can’t wait to be a mummy and look at those mathez badly!

Trizah
Trizah
8 years ago

Great read mama!!! And yes this is when I get to read it?? I guess kids are the same once they land at their grannies…those shags mama’s wooiii….. they dint bring you the heavy knitted suits with a mboshori and socks to keep your baby warm? ??

Rose
Rose
8 years ago

Good read…and her outfits! we need to raid her wardrobe.

MOKEIRAH
MOKEIRAH
8 years ago

??????…..little Miss Xena is awesome….and then some.I mean who isn’t scared of chicken…I know Iam,with their little side eye thing?.High five to your little charmers…hearts will be broken in this Nairobi I tell you.xx

Twidley
Twidley
8 years ago

Totally enjoyed the read Joy? And your girls are super cute!

Rachel
Rachel
8 years ago

theres nothing like terrible 2s coz I think it last longer than that. I love the photo with her looking at the chicken in the sufuria! And yes, God bless our nannies!!

Jacklyne Chelimo
8 years ago

My son n your girl can make perfect bffs. .he’s 3 n my little one 3 months…he pulls her legs puts blocks on her face.sigh! And let’s not forget terrorising me !

Googyman
Googyman
8 years ago

Lol, beautiful read…The Googie man loves it!!!!

bree
bree
8 years ago

? ? ? ? ? ?
Waah, Xena is just the one. By now she must have forgotten what discipline is. Pole Mama, I can feel your frustration from here. However, discipline or not, Grandma definitely has had the time of her life. What a holiday this must have been \o/

Faith K
Faith K
8 years ago

Beautiful piece. I enjoyed the read!

Eva
Eva
8 years ago

I love this piece….I totally relate to the toddler drama. My baby is now 6 months and his brother is 2 years old. You can just imagine my state of mind when we went to grandma’s for the holidays…lets just say i was also counting down to the day nanny will take over.

lisa njenga
lisa njenga
8 years ago

He he! You have made my day. ?

Sylvia Thairu
Sylvia Thairu
8 years ago

That was funny……nice read

Jay
Jay
8 years ago

Hahaha! This is a great read. Boy do I get fed up by those ladies who seem to know it all about your baby yet they have just met her. Like please, when I need advice my mum and aunties are sufficient. That boob thing you did was just so hilarious, would actually aim it to her just to prove a point. #Godhelpme I need patience in my life. All kids become disruptive at their grandparents home! They know that “watatetewa”. Did the same thing to my mum when at my grandma’s. Drove her nuts till she just started ignoring… Read more »

Jay
Jay
8 years ago
Reply to  Lil'missbelle

Family is crazy too, but they shall understand my sarcasm, which will get them off my back.
When I get children you will be there to help. plus Xena shall keep them engaged with good conversation and play.

Limwechela
Limwechela
8 years ago

Firstly,Mummy you write so well!!You always do,loved reading this.Secondly,you are a super mum and despite it all,we still love “the trouble maker” otherwise how boring would life be without all that shebang?!
Happy new year,love and light as always!! Xx

bree
bree
8 years ago
Reply to  Limwechela

Limwechela, I agree with you!

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