The insidious parasitic genius of babies

Wow! StephanieW commented: "I teach the fourth grade at a school in Utah. Last week was librarian appreciation week. To celebrate, we had the kids answer trivia questions about books. One question was: "What book has been requested/put on hold the most this year?" Answer: "Calamity Jack."

Oh, how much do I love libraries! Thank you, StephanieW. It was Librarian Appreciation Week, but you made me feel appreciated! Nate Hale will be stoked. He worked so hard on that book, and though it's hard to track down in bookstores, it's so rewarding that it's been embraced by librarians like you. [EDIT: Doh! You're a teacher, not a librarian. I meant librarians like yours.]

Last post, some of you congratulated me on getting out of the house. I should clarify: the interview I did with Stephenie Meyer was in August of 2008. I blogged about it now because The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide was published last week. No, I couldn't fly to Arizona for an overnighter right now.

I have blogged often about how completely joyous and exquisite it is having these two baby girls in our family. And every word is absolutley true. But it's hard too. I don't want to pretend otherwise. This winter and cold spring have been hard. I've been a shut in. There have been weeks where I leave the house maybe once. The demand of two infants with all their feedings and delicate nap schedules and ever changing routines prevent most outings. There have been days when I'm downright blue. If any of you mothers feel that way too, let's just agree not to feel guilty about that, okay? It's hard enough to have the blues without adding guilt to it. Sometimes I feel trapped and sad and, more than anything, depleted. And yet I am so in love with my babies and I don't regret them, not for a second.

Logically that doesn't make sense. Which makes me suspicious...have I been bewitched? I was observing to some writers on email this week, "This year has felt really, really long, but truthfully, the babies are so great. I'm completely in their thrall. Babies are the most deceptive, cleverest predators in nature. I serve the baby master overlords and am happy in my captivity."

But I will be getting out of my house tomorrow! Logan, Utah, the event venue is now Mount Logan Middle School. I'll be there at 6pm with James Dashner, Brandon Mull, Ally Condie, and Jessica Day George. I hope I remember to change out of my pajamas before leaving the house.

Comments

[Tiffany Schmidt]

More than once this spring I've loaded the babies in the stroller, gathered their gear and set out for a walk... only to look down and realize I'm prancing about the neighborhood in my Pajamas...

Oh well, everyone who sees me is way more interested in the wee ones than they are in my cowboy PJ pants.

Have a great time tomorrow!

[megwrites]

That makes more sense...I was wondering how you could get away for a few days with four kids (two of whom are babies!). I think being a mom is one of those things that has a lot of good and bad in it, but, ultimately, the good stuff is more important and stronger than the more difficult things.

[Amy]

Ok, "Babies are the most deceptive, cleverest predators in nature. I serve the baby master overlords and am happy in my captivity." May just be going on my wall.

[Becky]

I love how much you love to be "captive" to your babies! It makes my heart happy. :) I have always struggled with friends who expect me to just up and leave my babies for an outing - "They can survive without you for an hour or two..." But can I survive without them for that long? It never feels like I can (or at least, I don't want to!), even if it's hard and frustrating at the same time to stay home and only leave the house maybe once a week, like you say. There's something magical about the whole baby experience, and I just love to soak it all up.

I'm telling you, keep up these sorts of posts and you'll never be anything but my all-time favorite author, for books and for real life. :)

[Amber Argyle]

I'm so excited about tomorrow! I'm bringing my rolling suitcase of books, cause there's no way I can carry them all. :D

[S Blackburn]

There's nothing like having twins! Each day it's a big accomplishment to just get through the feeding and changing and cuddling (getting dressed yourself is obviously optional). I don't think mothers of twins need to feel guilty about anything. My twin boys are now three and they still enthrall me and I still don't get out of my pajamas some days before noon. I love to simply watch them. I'm so glad that you are enjoying your girls so much. I sure envy everyone in Logan tomorrow!

[Amanda]

Yay, you getting out and going to Logan, my kids and I will be there with books to be signed.

[Alexandra Wood]

Tomorrow sounds fun! Wish I could come...

[Bonnie Childress]

I say you are allowed to come in your PJ's I might.

[Mary@My Life in Scotland]

OH MY GOSH! I'm the say way!

I'm a new mom. I've got a 12 wk old baby boy. I live in my pj's and I can't remember the last time I brushed my teeth. I don't get out much because he is a "crib only" sleeper. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself and then guilty for thinking I wish I had the energy to shower or how nice a walk would be by myself. I know I shouldn't feel guilty. I'm trying. But being a new mom is hard work!!!

Totally with that fabulous panel of authors would come to the UK!!

[rockinlibrarian]

We just had a bunch of houseguests-- one family, and one childless married man-- and he spent much of that time being harassed by the rest of us over Why doesn't HE have kids yet, so as to join in the insanity? And it reminded me of what it was like to hear people with kids talk about it before I had kids, how it sounded so AWFUL, the catastrophes and the upsetting-to-your-own-schedule-ness and the constant disorder and etc etc; but what you don't get until it actually happens IS how madly in love with your kids you are, how you're able to survive the complete upheaval to your life because they DO just take hold of your heart so hard. Or, to put it the other way, it must be a survival instinct, that kids MAKE parents fall in love with them so badly, because otherwise WE WOULD NEVER LET THEM SURVIVE.

[Bekah]

You're such a sweet mom.

[Amanda]

I'm only a kid and once a week my family watches one of our neighbor boys who's about 1. He is such a handful! I can hardly imagine how twins must be! But then you look at how cute any baby is and can't help hut loving them. It's a love/hate relationship but not quite as drastic as hating them.

[Emilie]

I sit for several moms I know through my church so I can get out of the house but still have plenty of writing time. These moms are the best bosses I've ever had because no one else has ever been more grateful for me. I don't understand this for myself, but just from watching them go from exhausted when I get there to revived when they get home, I think I have some idea what you're talking about. Because even though they know they're coming back to the same insanity they left, they're full of hugs and kisses for their little ones, and that makes me feel like I've done a good job:)

[Virginia]

Hahaha! You know, how do we ever survive the utter sleeplessness combined with utter boredom? Honestly, the broedom gets to me. There's only so many times you can sing 'itsy bitsy spider' before your eyes cross.

And yes, I totally agree with it being ahrd to leave the house. I have friends who want me to zoom off for a movie... But I'm adding up the hours and shake my head. My baby is so little. There will be plenty of time for a movie dates later.

Here's for SUMMER! And getting outside!!! I think my baby is broed with the living room...

[Vanessa]

As a mother days crawl, but years fly.

[Tawnya]

I just wanted to log on and comment... I was at the event in Logan and LOVED IT! SO MUCH! Luckily I was able to leave my 3 and 2 year old behind and just take the baby (sure you didn't see me but I was sneaking around in the front with him trying to get him to sleep!). It was so worth my time! You guys were hilarious and it really makes me want to buy ALL of ALL of your books!

Thanks so much for taking the time!

[Shannon Morris]

Such a terrible night last night with my teen. Thanks for the reminder that even at fifteen they are still so very worth it!

[Crystal Cook]

I just can't tell you enough how much I admire you. You are brave and honest and kind in these posts and it's a treat to get a look inside your thoughts. And also, I read your interview with Stephenie Meyer (who I also love and admite) and I think it is just so cool how you said you don't want to hear any negative talk on hear. I'm so tired of haters! I wish there were more people who would stick up for friends like that (even famous ones) or at least more people who say nice things or if that isn't possible then just say nothing.

And whenever I read about your struggles with motherhood and writing it lifts my heart, not because you struggle, but then because I know I'm not alone. I love to write, and I'm a mom to three boys and it is so hard to make time for it.

Ok, I think I've rambled quite enough. Just thanks. For being super awesome and genuine. And Enna Burning is my favorite book of yours ever.

[Christy Grigg]

I have to admit that while I'm sad that you get blue sometimes, it's a relief to hear that you aren't super human. Sometimes I read your posts and wonder to myself how you can possibly be so cheerful, optimistic, sane, when stuck home for days at a time. I get so blue after having a baby (one week to go) and it's nice to know that I'm not alone in my baby blues and cabin fever. Thanks for being real Shannon.

[Melissa]

I am so sad I don't live in Utah and missed that! I love you and Ally Condie and Jessica Day George, I haven't read the other authors. That would have been amazing! Lucky Utahns.