Assured transition to mild insanity.

Okay, so the love hormones have passed. It was nice while they were there.
And now?

Now I find myself insisting on 5 minutes of silence just as soon as it is plausible. I refuse to take any questions or conversation openers from my co-parent, I close the door. And I sit quietly, enjoying the minutes as they pass with noone wanting anything from me. Usually this moment comes at about 9.45pm each day.

Um, is this normal?

Of course if you read any literature that canvasses the minefield of family life, babies, kids etc, you will find something that tells you almost any experience, thought or sensation is 'normal'. I say there is no normal in this most chaotic, insane of times. Creation of a new human being is no small feat, neither is ensuring ongoing survival of new bundle as the days and weeks roll on.

The days are all passing in a blur at the moment. I just finished an email with "have a great weekend", before it dawned on me it was Tuesday. I think it is Christmas soon, but I can't be sure. Coffee and enormous donuts are my staple, and yes - I suspect there is a paragraph in a patronising book somewhere that states "addiction to caffeine and trans-fats at this stage of post-partum is completely normal and to be expected". So I will continue. To simply survive.

Another thing - hapless members of the public seem to feel as free to comment on the physical appearance of the post-partum woman in much the same way as they did when she/I was about 11 months pregnant.
Eg:
Hapless yet happy citizen to me:
"Oh wow, you're doing well to be out and about"
Me:
"Thanks!"
Inside my head:
"WTF do you think I should be doing? Slowly dying in the privacy of my own home under a 100kg pile of used nappies?"
Eg:
Hapless yet happy citizen to me:
"Gee, you don't look like you've just given birth."
Me:
"Thanks!"
Inside my head:
"Yeah, I have actually showered and washed off the afterbirth since delivery."

Only another 12 months of broken sleep and we will be in the clear!
Yes, it is an amazing experience. Yes, we do it for the love.
But just don't tell me this is 'normal'.
It is anything but!