August 12, 2009

When Does the Fog Lift?

I knew the first year of raising quadruplets would be a blur. I have memories of it, but some things just run together. I've laughed about "mommy brain," but, seriously, does it ever go away?
Hubby will tell you I have/had an excellent memory. During arguments I used to remember petty indiscretions from years ago. Now I'm lucky to remember what I had for breakfast.
I am now easily distracted. I go upstairs and by the time I reach my destination I have no idea why I'm there. Lest you think I'm suffering from memory loss, let me point out that the journey from point A to point B is not a straight line in my house. Often I head upstairs and have to stop to take one of the girls from the bathroom, find a missing blankie and/or stop a fight. Then on the way upstairs I will likely have a laundry basket full of clean clothes to put away. After I put the clothes away I'll walk into my room and think "hmmm. Now what was it I wanted in here??"
I have become that parent who shouts out three names before I figure out which daughter I'm addressing. They think it's a game. They think it's funny to correct me.
Some days are better than others. For instance, I remembered three days before our recent wedding anniversary to buy Hubby a card. He didn't remember to buy a card until that day (I'm just giving him a hard time because he has always had a bad memory!) The fog seems to be slowly lifting... but I'll be glad when it's completely gone!


10 comments:

Jacqueline Miller said...

If it makes you feel any better, I only have two kids and I'm constantly wandering around my house - forgetting what I set out to do, just like you described.

And I too used to have a great memory. For me, I think it's mostly the lack of sleep - that really catches up with you and turns the brain fuzzy.

Stephanie Barr said...

You lose braincells with every pregnancy and, no, they don't come back. My hypothesis is that they are sucked up by the fetus. The smarter the child, the more brainpower you lose.

At least, that's my theory and the only explanation I've come up with.

Anonymous said...

Oh gosh, I know what you mean! At the end of the day I have to concentrate so hard just to complete a sentence, I swear. I think half my brain has still not recovered from the first year. If you survived the first year and beyond with quads and can still tie your shoelaces, I'd say you're doing brilliantly ;)

Quadmama said...

Based on Stephanie's theory, my children are geniuses!

MaryAnne said...

I have huge mommy brain issues, especially with names. My teenage brother and sister came to visit, and I was calling my son by my brother's name and my daughter by my sister's name! And then in the hospital I was talking to a nurse about baby Lily and called her Emma...

Quadmama said...

The name thing is a big one for me.

Lani said...

I'm right there with ya!
I think I have a little ADD/MommyFog combo going on.. I'm constantly jumping from project to project, trying desperately to accomplish 1,000 things.. forgetting what I was doing 2 seconds ago.. sigh...

Quadmama said...

I read an article yesterday that said "mommy brain" is a myth. Yeah right.

Claroux said...

I only have twins + a singleton and I feel like I am actively leaking brain matter out of my ears on a daily basis so I can only imagine how you feel!!! I am a Social Worker in a state run institution that houses developmentally disabled adults - I work in a unit that has criminally insane clients. My POINT here is that when I went back to work after I had the twins my brain was total mush. I used to remember EVERYTHING and never dropped the ball. NOW - I have my developmentally disabled clients reminding ME to write down what they are telling me so I don't forget. I also have clients that are afraid to give me paperwork because they know I'll probably lose it! It's a miracle I still have a job. But YOU....you are entitled to be absent minded to the n-th degree!

And I don't think they fog every completely goes away - sorry!!! LOL!

Quadmama said...

Some days the fog seems to be slowly be lifting... other days I have four 3-year-olds reminding me of things I've forgotten, so I think you're right about it never going away.

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