Spend the day with Soph and Flo: GP Appointment Edition
Last week I daydreamed about becoming a momfluencer and my various failed attempts at filming a day spent with Flo. While those dreams of TikTok stardom remain farfetched (admittedly, I would need to download the app first), I did note my way through a Wednesday spent solo parenting and managing to get Florence to her first GP appointment on time. This allows me to realise another daydream, one that has been held perhaps even longer than my ambitions of momfluencerhood. This is the dream of being allowed to write day-in-the-life articles, a la Stanley Tucci’s Life in Quarantine and various others.
Glamorous as any celebrity, Florence and I spent a Wednesday of solo parenting going to the GP. It was truly gripping stuff, and I hope you enjoy it.
7.30am - Sam brings Florence upstairs before he leaves to catch his train to work. He also brings me breakfast and coffee, which I keep next to me before trying to take advantage of Flo being asleep and catch some extra sleep before needing to get on with the day.
7.40am - extra sleep immediately interrupted by loud screams from Florence. She has her breakfast and falls back asleep, so I manage to eat breakfast and drink my coffee in relative peace which slightly makes up for the tiredness.
8.50am - realise I’ve been sat on Instagram for an hour and my window to shower before Florence starts screaming at me again is rapidly closing. Panic.
9.20am - make it to showered and 75% ready to leave the house before Florence politely lets me know she is now hungry (screaming, with no prior hunger cues)
9.25am - my first experience of someone knocking on the door as soon as I sit down to feed Florence. Briefly debate getting up to answer the door. Remember my priorities. (I will later find a missed delivery note from UPS in the letterbox that says they will try again on the next working day. They have not, and we have no idea what they were trying to deliver.)
10.45am - my initial plan to make it out of the house in time to run all my errands before the GP does not materialise as Flo immediately cries when placed in her bassinet. We spend 30 minutes cycling through nappy - feed - cuddle - mirror distraction with no success. Eventually we have to leave the house or risk missing the appointment; we walk out the door and in the time it takes for me to turn around, lock the door, and turn back around Florence is immediately asleep. Lesson learned for future outings.
11.45 - leave the GP appointment, convinced that it could have been a phone call and dismayed at the state of post-partum care. GP asked if Florence has smiled yet. I relay that we don’t think we have seen her do this, but that the NICU team who visited two days earlier repeatedly said that she was smiling at them. GP notes ‘baby has smiled this week’ and I choose not to argue. I did manage to get a repeat of Florence’s prescription formula and take this win.
13.30 - in what can only be defined as a miracle from God Florence has slept the whole way home AND also long enough for me to sterilise a load of bottles, prep multiple feed dispensers, and eat a Subway for lunch in peace. I take joy in the further win of being able to eat deli meats again.
14.50 - think the baby has smiled for the first time. At her own reflection in the mirror, but still.
15.00 - we have a visit from my cousin and her 10 month old little girl who is GORGEOUS. It’s so exciting to start to see what Florence might be doing at the same age, and there is something so wonderful about cheering on a whole new person as they learn to do things for the first time.
17.00 - go into a panic about having done nothing with the day and speed mop the floors. Wonder why I have a headache and realise I last drank water at the GP. Notice that Florence has not slept a lot today and is at risk of overtired mania. Further panic.
18.10 - Sam gets home and takes the baby to Tesco; miss her the entire time.