Elisabeth Hasselbeck learns you can't please everyone

The View co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck, 30, is learning the lesson that she can’t please everyone — including children Grace Elisabeth, 2 ½, and Taylor Thomas, 7 weeks, with husband, NFL player Tim. In her latest blog entry for Dreft, Elisabeth tells of taking her kids to the park and how the outcome wasn’t as she had planned.

I took both Grace and Taylor to the park yesterday and figured I could feed Taylor as soon as we got there…and play with Grace at the same time.

Just as we approached, he starts wailing, she wants to be on a swing…so I pop her out of the stroller, pluck him out of the baby carrier, throw on my Hooter Hider (it’s a cover-up for breastfeeding — that is the best name yet!), he starts chomping away, and I grab Grace with one arm and try to insert her legs into the bucket swing.

I thought that was hard, until I tried to get her out! Without a doubt, I bit off more than I could chew…as Grace was wanting me to go down the slide (which I could not) and Taylor was wanting me to just feed him, and stop moving all around the place.

In trying to please everyone, I ended up satisfying no one. That is the hardest part about adding another into the family — making sure everyone has what they need. I guess you just do what you can.

Click here to read the full blog entry at Dreft. Elisabeth returns from her maternity leave on Monday morning’s episode of The View — she’s bringing Taylor!

Thanks to CBB reader Priscilla.

What was the hardest part for you when you added another child to the family?

Comments

Elisabeth is so funny, I love her stories!

- CATE on January 2nd, 2008

I literally laughed out loud when I read the words “hooter hider”… how clever.

- Carrie on January 2nd, 2008

I was never quite sure what I thought of Elisabeth but with every entry of hers I read I like her more and more. She’s pretty funny. I totally relate to what she’s saying!! Our son will be 5 in March and we had a daughter in September. For the first couple of months after our daughter was born my husband would be spending time with one kid and me the other than we’d swap. I’m a stay at home Mom and when I’d be home during the week with the two of them alone it was tough b/c as soon as I got done taking care of one the other needed something and visa versa, it was like a never ending cycle. It is draining… working so hard to give the first child the same amount of time, or as close to as possible, as you did before the baby especially when you are sleep deprived from having an infant. But it is worth the effort and the not having any time for yourself. But still I can relate to what she’s saying in that you feel like you please no one and do what you can. I’ve had the nights where I’d cry to my husband feeling guilty and worrying if our son got enough of my time. So I’d say that was the toughest part for me, making sure I spent lots of times with both kids both individually and together like Elisabeth at the park and not having it always go smoothly. It starts to get easier though, it has a way of working and balancing out, thank God, literally!! =)

- heather on January 2nd, 2008

That’s so cute in the full post when her daughter announces what the present was. The little girl I used to nanny for did that to me when she was about two: “We bringed you present, we bringed you shirt.”

- Becky on January 2nd, 2008

Here’s a Tip:

Instead of actually running the water to calm your baby, try making a recording of it on a CD and loop it a few times and play it on repeat in the player.

No wasted water and no outrageous water bill.

My sister after a month of running the water continuously to calm and sooth her daughter got her bill in the mail and was floored. She made a CD of the running water and it worked just as well as the actual thing.

if anyone is interested in a copy of the running water clip (mp3 Format), let me know. I’ve still got a copy on my computer from when she visited last year and I’m happy to share!!

[e-mail]

- Heather on January 2nd, 2008

My daughter is 4-1/2 and my son is 18 months old. They truly enjoy each other’s company, and have a lot of fun together. The toughest thing for the past couple of months is making our daughter understand about sharing, and not to take things out of her brother’s hand (of course he cries when she does that) She will want to “show” him how to do something, but by snatching away from him. She’s so good with him, but the sharing still needs some work!

- KW on January 2nd, 2008

My son was 2 the month my daughter was born. I don’t remember much from sleep deprivation, but he did say “put that baby down” and “put that baby away”. He was mad at me for leaving him to go to the hospital and of course I broke down in my hormonal tears when I asked for a hug and he said “no thanks”. I think it was harder with the two when she started taking his things. Now at 11 and 9 (and a 7 year old brother)they get along great. They have their moments of fighting, but 95% of the time, they get along great and look out for each other. I can’t ask for better kids.

- Loralee on January 2nd, 2008

I can totally relate to Elizabeth’s post; my two children are about the same age difference, with my daughter being 2 1/2 and my son being 7 months old. While I have pretty much adjusted to caring for them both now, WHEW! When my son was a newborn….it was TOUGH sometimes, balancing it all!! The toughest part, for me, was when my husband had to work at night and I had to put the kids to bed by myself. My daughter USED to get a bath every night….I wised up and now she gets 2 baths a week! There were times where my daughter was so tired and needed to go to bed, so I’d meet all my son’s immediate needs (diaper, feeding, burping, etc.), put him in the swing in my room and then he’d usually have to cry for awhile while I put my daughter to bed. (He wanted to be held ALL THE TIME when he was a newborn.) We all survived and are all happy, despite some of the difficulty we experienced at first. Hang in there, Elizabeth!!!!

- Candace on January 2nd, 2008

My girls are 23 months apart. I have to say I was as lucky as could be – despite the terrible twos, my toddler was great with the new baby, and I had a new baby that makes you want 10 more. That said, the hardest thing was finding time for ME! What I wouldn’t do to just drink a cup of tea while the whole thing is still hot! Of course there were days when things got hairy, but it passes – my baby is now 10 months, and the dynamic of the two together is the most amazing thing in the world. There’s not much I love more than watching them sit together and laugh!

- heather on January 2nd, 2008

The joys of two! I developed a rare and often deadly pregnancy related cardiomyopathy and I can tell you the ONLY positive of that horrible experience was not having to deal with my 24 month old and newborn ALONE for the first two months. Once my heart healed and I could lift my toddler son for the first time in months (I was massive while pregnant) I was in for a shocking amount of exhaustion going from near bedrest at the end of my pregnancy to actual bedrest for 2 months post partem. There were days I didn’t know if I could make it!

Now at 9 months and 2 years, 9 months my toddler is almost over hitting his little sister and loves to make her laugh. It’s a rather smooth life we have, mostly!

Elizabeth

- Elizabeth Thomas on January 2nd, 2008

Tip”

I waited till right after the baby ate, and I fed him , that I headed out, saved time, and he slept!

- Deb on January 3rd, 2008

I love E.H.’s blog entries! The first thing that popped into my head… Elisabeth needs to get a good sling! Then she can breastfeed AND have both hands free.

To answer your question… I don’t know yet. I have 3 year old twin boys, so having two at once is tough enough right now.

Sarah’s note: She does, she talks about it in her blog entries, but I guess she doesn’t have the right kind or hasn’t figured that out yet!

- Christine on January 3rd, 2008

I have 2 two! All I can say is “Cheer-up”, it just gets worse!!

- Ggirl on January 3rd, 2008

breastfeeding? I thought she was the poster child for Nestle formula.

- jane on January 3rd, 2008

I was about to say the same thing Christine! Someone needs to give her a sling lesson… My sling was the single most used baby item. At 20 months, my son still loves the sling, and it makes life MUCH MUCH easier on momma! I love it!

- Nicole on January 3rd, 2008

When elisabeth returns to the view on monday, she is gonna bring out baby taylor. So if anyone wants to see him, check it out. From the picture of him when he was born, he looked just like tim and grace, so I’m curious to see him now.

- gabriella on January 3rd, 2008

Why doesn’t she just keep the baby in the stroller until she gets her daughter in the swing? Seems like she made things harder on herself!!

- Tiffany on January 5th, 2008