It does, does, does get easier. Not for a while. But it does. As the oldest of 12 kids who spent my teenagehood as a stay-at-home-mom in many ways, the best antidote to crazy is socialization. Call people. Talk to grownups. Call someone who will say hi to M on the phone and then chat yourself while carrying the meeping baby around (how cute is “meep”?)

So this is all unsolicited advise from a snot-nosed 24 year old, so feel free to feel if I’m too big for my britches, but here’s one more thing. You know the phrase “a tired dog is a good dog”? It applies to toddlers and preschoolers. Is there something particularly physical you can get M interested in before this scary 4 o’clock time? A little rebounder for bouncing? Jumping on the bed? Racing her imaginary friend around the backyard? (do you have a backyard? I seem to remember a War of The Root or something but I might be hallucinating)

Are you “wearing” L? I know a good back-sling can work wonders for the never-ending carrying.

Also, can you stand to involve M in dinner-making? “Dump this, stir that, can you grab mommy the frying pan?” This is one way I dealt with whiny I AM HUUUUUUUUNGRY pre-schoolers. They feel important and they also have physical evidence in their own hands that dinner is coming. I am also a huge fan of the carrots and wheat thins trick. They aren’t very filling, but they can

1.) Be chewed on, satisfying the DEATHLY HUNGER of the minute
2.) Involve going in the mouth, which involves shutting up.

Which I am about to do. Shut up, I mean.

keep going, rockstar.