Do you ever find it hard to step back and look at the "big picture" while the chaos and drama develops around you? Today I am having a hard time doing this as I selfishly take some time to write down these words because I can't look at the big picture. I know how demanding my kiddos are when they are awake, so I make sure I wake up extra early (5 a.m.) to work out so that I can do one mommy thing for myself in the day. However, both my children had a different plan for my work out time, as Ayden awoke at 5 and Audrey at 5:45. I still chose to get on the treadmill, but my hour walk turned into maybe 30, as I had to get off the treadmill to rescue trains from the big mean cat, break up multiple fights over light switches, and to put in multiple tapes for the kids to listen to books. I finally gave up and decided breakfast was our next option.
Of course breakfast leads into the most challenging activity of the morning because Ayden has to eat whatever Audrey is having, and well she did not like that he wanted to be like her. Meltdown number 2 was complete by 6:45 a.m.! We all finally ate our cereal, fruit, and yogurt, and moved onto reading the $0.59 books from yesterday's Goodwill purchase. Best money spent in my eyes as I have a few moments to write and drink the great cup of heaven created by my Keurig.
Here is the deal though: It is calm right now, but I know very well that in fifteen minutes the next crisis will occur and I will have to run and referee the next altercation because that is my job. My stay at home, remind myself that I love my children, job! Yes I am in one of those ruts where my kids are under my skin, I feel like I am a giant ball of crabbiness, and I just want to pee alone! This past week I truly feel like I am the only mom out there that is using every last ounce of energy in my soul to just seem like I am holding it together. Screw all you got it together moms! Actually I take that statement back, us moms need to stick together, would you please share some of your wisdom and sanity?
I will get out of this funk soon, and I will stand back and look at the big picture. I will even laugh at my irrational behavior because I am truly pouting like a toddler. No wonder my kids act this way! However until then, you are more than welcome to join me in venting about the little picture so you don't feel like you are the only mom out there who doesn't have it together.
Is there anyone out there? Please say yes or it may send me over the edge:)
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Monday, May 12, 2014
Nightmares
I am not sure what research says about when nightmares begin with children, but we hit that milestone yesterday about 3 a.m.
For once I was soundly sleeping and awoken to that blood curdling scream that every parent does not want to hear. I seriously thought there was someone breaking into the house and Audrey was scared of the burglars. (Yes I am a worse case scenario gal, and I was planning my attack once I opened the door.) While the screams of terror are coming from Audrey's room, never fear, my sleep through a tornado husband doesn't stir one bit!
Once I ran into Audrey's room, she was screaming to tell me that she couldn't move because of the poop. Seriously? I was wiping her hands, feeling the bedsheets, and her pajama bottoms and there was nothing there. She then proceeds to tell me that her dog was at her bedside pooping on her before I walked into the room. Newsflash friends…we don't have a dog!
At this point something must have awoken Tyler, and he says he heard the word poop and came running. Never thought that would be the code word to awake him from a deep slumber. And he only stuck around to find out there was no poop and went back to bed.
I finally realized at this point that she was talking about her toy dog that bounces around and barks when turned on. I explained to her I don't think it would poop on her, but she insisted it did and she wanted it out of her room! So I proceeded to make sure she was okay, cleaned from all dog feces, and put the dog in the recliner where our fearless cat was sleeping.
Of course after all this drama, I was not able to fall back to sleep, so I tossed and turned and sat up in bed every time I heard a noise. About ten minutes after I had left Audrey in her room, I heard the weirdest noise…instantly I am delirious enough to think the damn dog came to life. To my surprise it was only Audrey dragging in her couch to fold out and sleep on the floor. She didn't care if the dog was not in her room, I guess she needed my protection from the dog poo.
So there again I lay awake, listening to my daughter and husband breathe away as they are in dreamland, and I am trying to figure out why Audrey had a nightmare. My only conclusion is that she has been told she cannot get a dog until she is old enough to take care of it, and that means scooping poop as well. Both kids pretend to clean up after this toy dog and feed it whatever they whip up in their play kitchen, which is the start of showing responsibility, but we are unfortunately years away from getting a dog.
Audrey's nightmare could have been a lot worse, but for one day she did not talk about a dog, so hopefully she realizes how much responsibility a pet is and not ask for a dog for awhile.
For once I was soundly sleeping and awoken to that blood curdling scream that every parent does not want to hear. I seriously thought there was someone breaking into the house and Audrey was scared of the burglars. (Yes I am a worse case scenario gal, and I was planning my attack once I opened the door.) While the screams of terror are coming from Audrey's room, never fear, my sleep through a tornado husband doesn't stir one bit!
Once I ran into Audrey's room, she was screaming to tell me that she couldn't move because of the poop. Seriously? I was wiping her hands, feeling the bedsheets, and her pajama bottoms and there was nothing there. She then proceeds to tell me that her dog was at her bedside pooping on her before I walked into the room. Newsflash friends…we don't have a dog!
At this point something must have awoken Tyler, and he says he heard the word poop and came running. Never thought that would be the code word to awake him from a deep slumber. And he only stuck around to find out there was no poop and went back to bed.
I finally realized at this point that she was talking about her toy dog that bounces around and barks when turned on. I explained to her I don't think it would poop on her, but she insisted it did and she wanted it out of her room! So I proceeded to make sure she was okay, cleaned from all dog feces, and put the dog in the recliner where our fearless cat was sleeping.
Of course after all this drama, I was not able to fall back to sleep, so I tossed and turned and sat up in bed every time I heard a noise. About ten minutes after I had left Audrey in her room, I heard the weirdest noise…instantly I am delirious enough to think the damn dog came to life. To my surprise it was only Audrey dragging in her couch to fold out and sleep on the floor. She didn't care if the dog was not in her room, I guess she needed my protection from the dog poo.
So there again I lay awake, listening to my daughter and husband breathe away as they are in dreamland, and I am trying to figure out why Audrey had a nightmare. My only conclusion is that she has been told she cannot get a dog until she is old enough to take care of it, and that means scooping poop as well. Both kids pretend to clean up after this toy dog and feed it whatever they whip up in their play kitchen, which is the start of showing responsibility, but we are unfortunately years away from getting a dog.
Audrey's nightmare could have been a lot worse, but for one day she did not talk about a dog, so hopefully she realizes how much responsibility a pet is and not ask for a dog for awhile.
Friday, May 2, 2014
I Never Understood...
There are many things I do not understand, however the one thing I have come to realize I never understood until I had kids was the amount of energy it takes to raise them. It is down right exhausting, trying, gross, devastating, challenging, and worth every minute of it!
I don't know if I thought it was going to be easy, but right now I am grateful my two love bugs are in their beds still at 7:30 am sleeping away their morning because of a couple reasons. Number one, I know that they are getting the rest they need which will bring the tantrum number down from 100 to 50, and number two, quiet! For the first time in a long time, I was able to shower and get ready for the day without a child attached to my leg or getting into something they were not suppose to. I need to thank God that I had this opportunity because I know this event is far and few between.
It seems lately by the time dinner rolls around in our house, I have gotten to the point of exhaustion and my children have gained their third wind. I just want to eat dinner and begin our bedtime routine, and my kids want to negotiate how many bites they need to have or what is for dessert. Then they get into a mood of competing with Tyler and I who are trying to have a two minute conversations about our day or reminders we have for each other. This craziness goes on for about fifteen minutes at the table, until one of us eats our meal quickly and then it is on to cleaning up and referring a fight over a puzzle or something ridiculous. Oh man…I was refreshed just a few minutes ago, and now that I explained our dinner fiasco I am exhausted. See just talking about things that occur exhaust me, and that would have never happened ten years ago.
Raising children takes energy from parts of your body you never existed. Having to stay one step ahead of the chaos is what drains me the quickest. I never can just sit and get distracted by something simple, otherwise my house may be set on fire or another call to poison control may have to happen. I guess what I am getting at is that we probably should be appreciative to our parents for raising us with so much energy and enthusiasm, in hopes that one day our kiddos will do the same. Therefore, I never understood the energy and efforts is took to raise children, and I now come to appreciate the quiet time, nap time, and bedtime for my children a lot more each day.
I don't know if I thought it was going to be easy, but right now I am grateful my two love bugs are in their beds still at 7:30 am sleeping away their morning because of a couple reasons. Number one, I know that they are getting the rest they need which will bring the tantrum number down from 100 to 50, and number two, quiet! For the first time in a long time, I was able to shower and get ready for the day without a child attached to my leg or getting into something they were not suppose to. I need to thank God that I had this opportunity because I know this event is far and few between.
It seems lately by the time dinner rolls around in our house, I have gotten to the point of exhaustion and my children have gained their third wind. I just want to eat dinner and begin our bedtime routine, and my kids want to negotiate how many bites they need to have or what is for dessert. Then they get into a mood of competing with Tyler and I who are trying to have a two minute conversations about our day or reminders we have for each other. This craziness goes on for about fifteen minutes at the table, until one of us eats our meal quickly and then it is on to cleaning up and referring a fight over a puzzle or something ridiculous. Oh man…I was refreshed just a few minutes ago, and now that I explained our dinner fiasco I am exhausted. See just talking about things that occur exhaust me, and that would have never happened ten years ago.
Raising children takes energy from parts of your body you never existed. Having to stay one step ahead of the chaos is what drains me the quickest. I never can just sit and get distracted by something simple, otherwise my house may be set on fire or another call to poison control may have to happen. I guess what I am getting at is that we probably should be appreciative to our parents for raising us with so much energy and enthusiasm, in hopes that one day our kiddos will do the same. Therefore, I never understood the energy and efforts is took to raise children, and I now come to appreciate the quiet time, nap time, and bedtime for my children a lot more each day.
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