Me with Garrett (blonde) and Emeth’s son, Zuri
The following are things (many of them unpleasant or dangerous) that I now know are possible to do with only one hand. The other hand, of course, is busy holding a baby. Feel free to add your own one handed feats in the comments.
P.S. If you don’t own one all ready slings, wraps and backpack style carriers like Ergo’s are heaven-sent. My little guy just wants up and down constantly so sometimes it’s easier just to hold him.
The List
-Wash and chop potatoes.
-Use the bathroom.
-Wipe older child’s bottom while holding younger one at an unnatural angle so as to prevent younger one from pulling older ones hair.
-Wash my hands with soap and water. You’ve got to switch hips and wash them one at a time.
-Put things in and out of the oven.
-Wash, dry, fold and put away laundry.
-Pre-wash and load and empty the dishwasher. I’ve also done this while on the phone AND holding a baby. I don’t recommend. It leaves a kink in your neck.
-vacuum.
-Throw up. Not that throwing up is ever pleasant but to do so while holding a child is even more so.
-Clean the bathroom.
-Eat within 3 bites any meal that I would care to partake of while simultaneously defending my meal from my child.
-Sign receipts or any other nonsense. At least most of the women are thoughtful enough to hold the paper still for you so that the signature is more than garbledygook.
-Lock the front door with keys. For us this is tough because you have to pull the handle while simultaneously turning the key.
-Carry as many as six grocery bags plus three books under your arm up a flight of stairs. Ok, I cheated on this one. Two grocery bags were in my hand that was carrying the baby but I’m still pretty impressed with this one.
-Put my hair up in a pony tail. This is a lot harder than it sounds.
-Drive. I admit it. I have driven with Garrett on my lap (through a parking lot).
-Type an email/blog post or Facebook entry using my cat like reflexes to thwart unwanted additions.
-Sleep. Everyone should try this one, it’s worth it.
-Brush my teeth.
-Blowdry my hair.
-Shop and push the shopping cart.
-Shower. This is hard and precarious.
-Prepared countless breakfasts/lunches/dinners.
-Push an empty stroller. Oh, the irony.
-Console an older sibling, who erupts into further crying while younger child (once again) pulls hair.
-Take pictures. Retake the picture. Clean lens. Retake the picture.
-Try to balance in the squatting position. Fall over and attempt again.
-Put on shoes while standing. Like above, fall over and attempt again.
-Mail packages
-And my personal favorite? Cut your own fingernails.
