Today's high point is...getting the 2 girls bathed.

J has developed an aversion to sitting in the bath. She keeps crying and squirming and trying to climb out. Today, in a stroke of inspiration, I managed to get her to stand in the empty bathtub and play with her bucket of bath toys while I poured warm water over her. The only tricky thing is having to bend over during the entire duration of the bath, which, like bending over the cot, is a huge strain on the back.

And if anyone's cluck-clucking at my very low bar for domestic achievement, I don't particularly care either.

That, too, is a sign of personal progress. I have come to accept, in a joyous, relieved sense, that it's okay to not be a member of the fairy cupcake-baking, kids' party organizing SAHM brigade whose entire day revolves around the kids - their own and other people's.

I really couldn't do it.

The precious little I know of bonding with kids and managing my household (and I haven't even got round to taking care of the backyard yet, as CA likes to point out) is hard won, hard learned knowledge. Those who know me know I've never been particularly domesticated or "clucky". As a SAHM, I don't spend all my time engaging the kids in stimulating activities or ensuring their day is as structured as that of a schoolgoing child. I mostly teach spontaneously, as the opportunity arises. Hopefully, it's sufficient.