Mom Talk: Let’s Get Real

Alright, moms. While we dream about spa days and breakfast in bed, let’s talk about reality. We deserve a day without cleaning up poop from places it shouldn’t be and a night without kids in our bed. We’d give almost anything for a good night’s sleep and we’re not above bribing our kids to put on their shoes to get to school on time. Moms deal with some serious issues on a regular basis and I want to talk about them. Not much will be off-limits here. We’re not alone in this and we can help each other. Let’s pull back the layers, drop all judgment, and let’s get real!

What is my kid doing with his poop?

Many moms can relate to the issue of fecal smearing. It even has a medical name: scatolia. Everything seems to be going great until you turn around and realize there’s poop. Everywhere. It hit the fan, the wall and everywhere in between. It’s surprisingly common for kids to go through this phase, when they are suddenly and inexplicably interested in what’s in their diaper. If you’re lucky, your kid is in their crib when it happens, thankfully confining the mess to the radius of a small arm’s length. If you’re really lucky, your kid grows out of it quickly. But if you’re the mom of a child with special needs, fecal smearing may become your new reality. So we learn how to deal with it. Have you tried masking tape to reinforce the waistband of the diaper? Don’t bother. Onesie pajamas with the zipper in the back? A little better. If your child is seeking sensory stimulation, you might try substances like play dough, shaving cream or stinky cheese to satisfy cravings. In the meantime, you’ll come to realize a really good washing machine is your primary defense. (By the way, making all Abram’s Nation products completely washable is one of our design priorities.) Moms, how do you deal with this issue of fecal smearing?

Sleep in your own bed!

For my fellow moms out there with more than one kid, how many times have you joked that your younger kid is lucky to even be here, since their older sibling never seemed to leave your bed to let you, ahem, take care of business? If you’re not having sex, I’m sorry. A sex life is a key aspect to a good marriage, and it’s not happening when there’s a kid in your bed. Date night is cut short when you hear those little footsteps headed toward your room. But for some moms, co-sleeping is the only way to get any sleep, especially when their child has a sleep disorder. When he was younger, Abram struggled to fall asleep and stay asleep. He would find ways to escape from his crib and wander around, throw himself against walls and risking injuring himself. I spent countless nights sitting outside his room ready to intervene when needed. So many of my fellow moms have similar – or even more trying – stories about years of sleep deprivation while trying to figure out solutions for their child’s inverted sleep schedule. I ended up creating my own lifeline, and I’m thrilled by the opportunity to share The Safety Sleeper with so many others. We’ve always said we’re giving the gift of sweet dreams. Maybe we should say we’re giving the gift of date nights! Moms, what’s your solution for co-sleeping?

 Just put on your shoes!

Does this sound familiar? We’re running out the door and I tell Abram to put on his shoes. Before I even turn around, we’re in meltdown mode. He’s in sensory overload, kicking and screaming, ready to attack. I’m wracking my brain – what did I do wrong? It’s cold and snowy outside, and I simply asked him to put on his boots. After finally calming him, I learn that he wants to wear flip flops today. I give in, we rush out the door and make it to school just in time. Judging by the side eye from unknowing parents in the school drop-off line, I may not have won any parenting awards that day but we did make it to school. And did I mention we were on time? Over the years I’ve learned how to force myself to be patient and diffuse the situation, but it took a while and many mistakes of losing my cool before I could say that. My fellow moms with a child on the autism spectrum know this meltdown situation, and the judgment from unknowing bystanders, all too well. Moms, what do you wish you could tell onlookers when your child is in meltdown mode?

Fellow moms, even if spa days and breakfast in bed are just wishful thinking, I want you to know you are not alone. I see you, and our Abram’s Nation community sees you – and not because we’re giving you side eye. Let’s talk about what’s on our minds and help each other get through the tough days. Moms, you are doing a great job. Together, we’ve got this.