What to do when baby comes clingy: Don't panic; run!
Over the last couple of weeks, my six month old, now coming up seven months,
has grown increasingly clingy. I’m pretty certain that he’s found the word
‘mama’ but it only comes during a whimpering or crying fest. When I leave a room, he notices instantaneously
and leaving him anyone, even his gran, is becoming more and more
difficult. I’m sure this is all pretty
normal as he starts to understand the difference between strangers and people
he knows but that doesn't make it any easier as many of you must know.
So, I have tried to make sure that I get
out for a run most days when the hubby comes home from work. Or on really motivated days, I’ve managed to
get out in the mornings while baby is still sleeping. I would love to lose weight but given that
my ‘reward’ for running is usually twice the amount of cakes I would normally
eat, I don't think that will happen.
But running is about more than just losing
weight. It’s half an hour, or more if I can, of time on my own. Genuinely on my
own. I’ve tried going for a bath before
but I end up lying there trying to work out what to do for dinner, or what I
should dress Logan in – trivial things that I can’t shut my mind off to. When I run; however there is no thinking
involved. And also the baby is still in
the house which makes it hard to switch off.
For some reason, while running all my brain is capable of thinking about
is running.
I have been a runner of sorts since the age
of 21. I’ve gone through phases of being
obsessive with it to not running for months.
For the last 5 years, I struggled with running as I linked it with my
battle to conceive a baby. Was I running
too much and affecting ovulation? If I didn't run, was I unable to conceive
because I was unhealthy? It was no
longer about me, for me and therefore it was not enjoyable.
On my recent run, I realized that finally
running has become fun again. It’s hard
– I’ve loved it but in all honesty I’m no good at it and granny’s on zimmer
frames have run faster - but the achievement that I feel at the end of it
is worth it and now it helps to set me up for the day ahead. If baby is clingy, it’s fine. I’m his mummy
and it’s my job to comfort him but I feel so much better if I’ve taken care of
myself at least once.
