I have a tendency to take too much on my shoulders and to plow through it until it's done.
It tends to make me cranky.
Cranky with my kids.
Cranky with my friends.
And it magnifies what might otherwise be minor problems.
Problems like when my 18 month old wakes up at 4:45 in the morning.... Or when I can't find my son's shoes...
I find myself yelling too much. And that's not who I am. It's not who I want to be. So, it's up to me to change it.
I have to find a better way to handle all that I have to do. I need to do it so that my kids don't have memories of a stressed out, overworked, overwrought mom. I want their childhood memories to be of having fun.
Of laughing and playing...
And that's one more thing I'm willing to take on to make it happen.
How do you get everything done and still have time to be a fun parent? I'm open to suggestions...
Just Keep Coming Back
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No idea, but it has got to be tough to be in your position. I think I drank to get rid of stress. You also sponsor people too and work as a lawyer. Wow! That's a lot.
ReplyDeleteFirst, realize that there are so many hours in the day. Things are going to slip through the cracks. Live with that fact. Take care of the big things first, most of the time. No one is going to take your kids away if your son's shoes don't match.
ReplyDeleteHere's a story: a professor filled a jar with large rocks and asked his students if it was full. They said yes, so the professor added in smaller rocks. "Now is it full?" Yes... so he added gravel between the rocks. "Full now?" yes! Then he added sand between the gravel. Surely now it must be full? The students agreed that it was. Then the professor opened two cans of green tea and poured them into the jar. The message? No matter how full your life is, there is always room to sit and have tea with a friend... and.... take care of the big, important things first and fit the little stuff in when there's room.
No, I'm not really good at this, but I'm a work in progress, like the rest of us. I tend to juggle, too many balls in the air and sometimes they get dropped... But that doesn't stop me from juggling.
Now then, take a deep breath and a bubble bath. There's still some room in your jar... really.
I guess working eight on eight off for four shifts in a row is crazy but I am nearly there. Things are sparkly and blurry at the edges of my vision, but I'll have some extra cash to blow on all that Christmas Stuff.
ReplyDeleteBalance?
The checkbook maybe, at this time of year...
When I'm at the end of my rope (single mother, works full time, just finished graduate school, you do the math), and I can tell that I'm losing my temper, I'll just yell. Yell! Let it out! Turn up the AC/DC and jump on the sofa with my kid and go crazy. We have a pillowfight and roughhouse and roll on the floor. We make lion noises. Then we snuggle and make dinner together. Works every time.
ReplyDeleteFor me, holding my anger (or frustration) in is way more dangerous than letting it out. I think it's OK for kids to see their parents have feelings, and deal with those feelings in a healthy (though maybe goofy) way. But it sucks to feel "stuck" and like you're stretched too thin. Hang in there, mama. (@clayroody)
I admire your strength. I am an addict in recovery and I am having a difficult time staying clean. I don't even have half the responsibilities that you do. I wish you the best and let God guide your steps. That is what I am finally doing and I have found some peace.
ReplyDeleteInstead of arguing with my 4-year old when she doesn't want to take a bath, I'll just wipe her down with a dozen baby wipes. Do you know when it's time to do laundry at my house? The basket full of clean clothes I brought back from the laundromat last week is now empty. Fill it with dirty clothes, and voila.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, you just have to get your Fukitol prescription refilled.