Hi! Today is a special newsletter as we are celebrating my daughter’s 2nd birthday and therefore my 2nd anniversary of motherhood!
For the past 2 years I took copious notes, in graph paper notebooks. “Why not track in an app?” you wonder. I chose an analog method because it felt really good to me, and it was also the easiest method for our nanny and grandparents to participate in.
And sooooooo….to celebrate this milestone, I’ve created a spreadsheet! Yay! I consolidated all of my notes into a spreadsheet to save as a reference and to share with anyone who finds it useful! Voila! My piece de resistance!
Paying subscribers scroll on to access the spreadsheet. The audio voiceover of this newsletter will explain the spreadsheet in more detail!
Look, there are many right ways to raise a baby, based on your personal preference and lifestyle. I am a schedule person, and I like consistency, and I find pure joy in creating efficient systems and procedures. So with baby I thoughtfully constructed a framework of timing for the past 2 years that really felt like a true alignment of pediatric guidance, early education industry standards, my baby’s natural rhythms, and my own personal values.
I’ve noticed several benefits from having solid structure. For one, I have a very consistently good sleeper. She started sleeping 8 hours at 8 weeks and 12 hours overnight sleep by 12 weeks. Since then, I can honestly count the number of times this child has woken up in the middle of the night on 1 hand.
I also have a very good eater, very important to me as food is my love language. I think that providing consistent eating “routines,” a consistent dining environment, as well as consistent timing has given my baby an opportunity to learn dining etiquette, and develop a natural hunger pattern. Because I don’t have her grazing throughout the day, she arrives at a meal actually hungry and ready to focus on her meal.
Overall, I think providing a consistent schedule has fostered good temperament thus far. Because my baby is always well-rested, well-nourished with a variety of nutritious foods, and can predict what's coming next, she’s in a pretty good mood all the time! We like this!
As we prepare for pre-school, I’m pleased to find that our 24 month schedule aligns well with the schedules of the schools I’m interested in (tbh they are mostly Montessori). I set Daisy and our family up for a smoother transition into school.
Of course this approach comes with compromise. The consistency required means I’ve adjusted my social life around the baby’s schedule. I’ve said no to a lot of fun outings and have left events early so as not to compromise a nap time. I will go to dinner at 5pm and then race home to start a bath. This can feel a bit rigid and not very flexible. I can see how this could suck, I can see how this would not work for everyone. That’s okay!
That’s the nuts and bolts of it.
Beyond the mechanics of baby care, the overall vibe of the last 2 years has been nothing short of surreal. I’ve learned so much about myself and the world through the lens of this new person. I’ve learned how to trust myself, I’ve learned how to ask for help and accept support. Motherhood has been a lot more fun than I expected it to be. It has reawakened my sense of purpose as well as my sense of joy, play, and wonder. I’ve become more present and more thoughtful about what I’m doing, how my decisions affect my well being, and how that translates to my loved ones’ well being.
Okay that’s it for now. A lot to munch on here so feel free to email me me with any specific questions or leave a message in the comments! sosupersam@substack.com