Today I am a tired mama. Our teething baby has been getting up roughly 6 times a night, though sometimes it’s more and sometimes it’s for a long time. He’s in an incredible amount of pain from those darn teeth – he’s on Advil & Tylenol and Orajel. We’re doing it all. But still he grimaces in pain. Still he wakes up crying with tears. He gouges his ears and hits his mouth and pulls on his gums. He hurts so much he can’t always nurse – even when drowsy and with a mouthful of numbing.

Sometimes you’ll hear me say that Aiden is a fussy baby. That he’s a lot of work. Being brutally honest about the temperament of my child may make me sound like I’m complaining “too much” or that I love my child less because of it – I don’t. I feel guilty for saying these things, but it’s my nature to be honest. Aiden is not an easy child to care for. I’ve seen enough babies to know he’s not an easygoing kid by nature. He loves new people, but he needs to always ‘go go go’, and can’t stay in one physical location for very long. He complains. A lot. He needs his sleep.

With the increase in pain and the decrease in sleep (night & naps), he’s become more difficult than normal. I’m finding it hard to get through the day without breaking down in tears too. I don’t know how to keep him distracted from the pain on my own. Sometimes just seeing me makes him burst into tears – he wants me to know he’s in pain. Other people can keep him distracted, but not always mama, no matter where we are. It’s hard on this poor tired mama.

I wish I could do more. I wish I could take away his pain. I feel guilty for saying he’s a difficult child – he’s not a bad child in any way. I love him with every part of me. But he really kicks my butt. You know?