What your MIL says is very true. Another thing I read somewhere is that MOM must carve out some time just for Mom, because babies will demand all your time not knowing you need some for yourself. And this is the hardest part, MAKING some time for yourself, a 30 minute walk by yourself twice a week, or one afternoon/month that is yours - not to get groceries by yourself! - but to get that hair trim, shop for that elusive new bra or new denims. Even to take a bath while hubby keeps the kids from clawing at the bathroom door to get in with you (because a bath isn't relaxing while THAT is going on!). I myself am guilty for concentrating on the things I thought mattered most (home cooked meals from scratch that took time), laundry kept up, house vacuumed and dusted, then one day I looked down at my 18 month old who was pestering me to play with him while i was performing one of these 'important' aspects to being a stay at home mom, and the thought occurred to me that he'd be happier if I'd gone back to work, because his day's would be filled with playtime with other kids, instead of following a working house mom around the house and being put off all the time, and I figured since I quit the job to benefit HIM, then I had better start making this stay-at-home thing about HIM, and not about how clean and organized I could keep the home. We didn't live in a pigsty, but it felt like I was always behind on something, if the place was vacuumed, then the bathrooms needed attention, then when I got to the bathrooms, now the laundry needed to be done etc etc (the late Richard Carlson wrote about that in one of his 'don't sweat the small stuff' books), remarkably, we could use the 'messy' bathroom safely, had enough clothes that laundry could pile up, and no asthmatic sufferers in the house so a bit of dust wasn't a health problem. But my 18 month old would only be that age for such a short time, I had to grab what I could while he was there. I have done that, and never regretted it, and look at all the extra housework I got out of doing! Keep smiling Stacie, you've got a good handle on what's important, stick with what your gut is telling you. kioni

Oh yes dear! I was not 'glowing' when I was pregnant - I was howling! It is very likely that you may also start having terrible PMS after your pregnancy. The biggest thing that helped me was keeping a chart on the calendar of my emotions and physical condition. It didn't change wether or not I was cranky, moody or headachey. But I did learn that this behavior fell into a definite pattern over the course of a few months. Knowing that helped me deal with it a little better. Anytime that I felt that I was about to really lose my temper over something I checked the calendar. If it was in the middle of the 'pattern' I made myself wait a day or two before I took any action on whatever issue was bothering me. Believe me, it was not pretty. I had 4 pregnancies in three years (miscarraige problems) and my hormones were all confused. I think I destroyed two whole sets of china in that period. Good luck to you. Pamper yourself, and hug your child and your DH at least once a day wether you feel like it or not.

Like others, I'm moving on to landscaping. In addition to the kitchen last year, we built a garage. The backyard is still a construction wasteland. I've been poring over the latest (last?) iteration of the yard plan all weekend. Instead of checking in here to see who's agonizing over ORB vs. PN hardware for their cabinets, I ought to be agonizing myself, over the choice of a crabapple or a magnolia by the front walk, and hundreds of other particulars. Of course, the kitchen isn't quite finished. I need to make, or have made, some shades before the blazing summer sun through the west windows drives me out of the new kitchen. I made the mistake of looking at, and falling for, William Morris fabrics last week--so lovely, and *so* not in the budget. Maybe when the last few details are finished I'll feel differently, but right now I'd say that the pleasure of being able to cook for real again far outweighs any regrets that the creative kitchen process has come to an end.

Yup your MIL sounds about right… right up there with mine lol. not much help but I hope this story can make you feel better since mine is a bit sadder. I have a 21 year old step daughter and my husband ( her dad) and I have a 4 year old son. Both are bio grandchildren . The only two grand children. My MIL visibly favours the stepdaughter so much that every one in the family notices. Heres a bit of background. Hopefully you can relate and maybe feel better? SD is to put it nicely, a twit. Drug addicted , spoiled brat, always had her way and not homeless only because she is in jail for welfare fraud and credit card fraud. MIL has always praised her and bought her whatever she wanted. still does. BIo son is at 4 years old already in grade 1 ( he skipped kindergarten after being labelled gifted) is well behaved , polite and doesn't really ask for much other than lots of attention like a 4 year old usually does :) My MIL picks on him, calls him a nerd, doesnt buy him anything for xmas or birthdays, doesn't call him, and is just generally very mean to him when she does see him at holidays. It so bad that I had to tell my 4 year old that jail is not a good thing. He thought it was because MIL still praises the SD so much. Hopefully your MIL isn't as wicked. After all of this my advice is to just not take it personally and limit the time she has with her grandkids. Trust me it will be much less stressful in the end :) cheers!