SAHM- Am I the Only One Who Has Crazy Days???

Oh, yes! We ALL have those days! lol I have a 4-yo and a 2-yo, and my 4-yo is very indepedent with a lot of energy and curiousity; so, I have my days many days. lol I try to plan things with other kids that he can meet (and Moms I can socialize with). Luckily, there are lots of things in Dallas to do (cheap), if you plan right, you can do a lot for FREE!

I just had a slumber party with my friend. It was an ALL GIRLS party, with us and our daughters! It was a blast! We took them to dinner, then went home and painted their nails, and the girls dressed up as Princesses. They played "Princesses" in her daughter's room while we watched a Chick-Flick. :D It was great!

In the meantime, our husband's got to spend time with the boys. So, it was really beneficial for everyone!

And don't forget to take time out for YOU! Just like your car need gas, YOU NEED RE-FUELING, TOO! So, do something fun for yourself, alone or with your friends, and just have fun!

When you feel great, everything is a lot easier to deal with. I know from experience. ;)

M.,
I have 3 girls (6 yrs, 4 &1/2 yrs, & 3 yrs)! Life is A WILD & CRAZY THING!!! ;) The only 2 things that I try to do every day is get me showered,dressed & makeup on (so I feel a little "normal"), & make our beds! If I get NOTHING else done @ least It LOOKS like I did something!!!
A SCHEDULE???>>>>.....I try to get breakfast served by 8am, & lunch between 11:30 & 12:30, then dinner by 6:30 & bed by 8:30!! ONLY TO MAKE MY LIFE A LITTLE SANE!!!! My hubby gets off @ 4:30pm so dinner is early to make all of the GRUMPY people HAPPY!!
I try to spend as much time outside & active in the mornings in the summer-time & wear them out so they'll take a late afternoon nap for me to do dishes, or laundry, or vacum or heck just for me to sit still with quiet time to watch a chick-flick or the news or a soap or......well anything that's NOT a kids show!!!(But you know that we're always humming some type of kids tune---Barney, Doodlebops,Dora, Backyardagans,etc..)
I used to stress about the housework & all of that but the old syaing is TRUE.......IT CAN ALL WAIT BECAUSE THEY ARE ONLY LITTLE FOR A BLINK OF AN EYE-----THE HOUSEWORK WILL STILL BE HERE WHEN THEY ARE TEENS WHO DON'T WANT TO SEE US OR TALK TO US MUCH LESS HAVE US READ A BOOK TO THEM OR PLAY WITH THEM!!!!!!
So just do what you can that's all anyone can ask!! And enjoy EVERY MINUTE of them because too soon thier going to be BIG & too BUSY for us!!!
If when my girls get big they can say my mom was NEVER too busy for us & we know she always loved being with us I'll feel that I've done a pretty good job!!!! What more could anyone want from us>???? KEEP THE FAITH & HUG THEM ALOT!!!! AND KNOW THAT YOUR G R E A T !!!!!

Nope you aren't the only one. And no you aren't doing a horrible job and you shouldn't feel bad about having them have "rest time". I have a four year old who also is in a half day program at school. Having the same issue with "rest time". She used to take a nap right afterwards without any problems but not anymore. We've got into a routine, where she watches a movie of her choice in her room. That's her quiet time. But I definitely feel like I go nuts as well. I work out of the house on the computer for my company, so it gets really stressful at times having to entertain her and work at the same time. It's a juggling act. Then, it's still up to me to keep the house, cook, etc....I have several of those crazy days. The only thing I could tell you is to set up some sort of routine. Kids do well on routines. They need that structure. Things will become easier if you do that over time. At least they should. You are being a great mother, I can say that because a great mother would be concerned about this. Try a routine, one that will work for ya'll. Good Luck!!

I have those EVERY day!! I have 2 boys who love to whine and fight all day long. My 19 month old has only one nap now and my 4 year old has either nap or quiet time during that time, so I can get at least 30 min. of quiet or peacefulness. We dont have a schedule but meals are usually at the same time. It gets so frustrating staying at home because whats the point of cleaning when 2 min. later its dirty again by the boys and a husband that is just like a kid. I try to teach my 4 year old but its hard when my little one comes and starts screaming to get in my lap. Yes, he is independent but when I have my 4 year olds attention he gets very jealous. Plus, its even harder to do errands with them and then stick to a schedule. I am under LOTS of stress by the kids, financial problems, job hunting and not only that we live with my mom so its hard with no privacy and she doesnt interact with my kids. I agree with the other moms about trying to get away somehow, but I cant because no one wants to watch our kids (they say they are too hard). Just want to say you are not alone!!

You are not the only mommy going through this, we have all had our days, months, heck some even years. We all figure out how to deal with it or more or less wait it out eventually. Find what works for you guys and try to get both of them out of the house together at least once a week, I find for me life's better when we go for a walk or go to the mall for an hour or so :) Good Luck and you are doing GREAT

Girl, rest time is mandatory in my house so I don't end up a raging maniac by 3pm. Right now there's a baby gate up in my 4 yr olds door way to help keep her in there until 3:00. No, I don't maintain a routine/schedule every day. It's as much hassle to stick to a schedule as it is to let things slide half the time.
Breakfast is the only thing that happens with regularity.
I've been at the end of my rope for a while so I have actually scheduled "girl time" every Thursday night. If girlfriends aren't available I find a reason to spend an hour or so at Target or somewhere. And we got together with another couple to trade date nights every Tues. We go after the kids are in bed, so at 8pm one Tues I go to their place while they make a run to Starbucks or even just take a walk. The next Tues my girlfriend comes to our place while my husband and I go out.
Cleaning? I never imagined I would live like this. My bathrooms get cleaned as I see guests driving up in the driveway (really, you can get a lot done in 2 minutes with the right motivation...). Honestly can't recall the last time sheets were washed. I vacuum if I am wearing black and decide there's a bit too much dog hair clinging to me.
I have lots of baskets for tossing toys into to make a path through the living areas. I recently made a decree that if I find toys in the kitchen I will throw them away because I got sick of tripping on things while trying to transport pots of boiling water, etc. I try to use the crock pot at least once a week. I try to do one load of laundry per day. This doesn't, by any means, mean that a load is COMPLETED every day, it just means that I put a load in the washer one day, transfer it to the dryer the next day (or the next) when I add another load to the washer, then a day or two later I transfer clothes from the dryer to the laundry basket, then spend the next week dressing the children out of the laundry basket...
That said, I have half-way done one load since Monday this week....
Do I love my kids? Yes! But it's not all roses being home all day with them. Even when we have things to do -- story time at the library, dance class, play at the park -- it can get oppressive. Yes, there are mothers who were simply made for this. There are women who are energized and fulfilled and completed by caring for their family in this way. I am not one of them. It's a daily sacrifice for me. It's something that I have to draw strength from God for every day. Do I do that every day? No. Of course not. Sometimes there are days when I have children all in my business and under my skin at 5 am and I don't get another break until 9pm. But God is good and He is gracious and he will forgive us and carry us through everything. Even, and especially, motherhood. If He didn't support us, generations to come would fall asunder...

Hi M.,
Sounds like you've gotten a lot of good advice, so all I wanted to say is, girl, you are sooooo in good company! I would be willing to bet every single mom on EARTH feels the way you do from time to time! Including me... I read a quote this morning that made my day. "Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." And no matter how frustrating our little ones can be, they truly are "little bits of good..."

I also like Philippians 4:13 "Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am."

Hang in there!
Love,
K. :o)

I also feel your pain! I have 2 children, almost 4 and a 27 months. I am also pregnant with our third child due in July. Now that I am 33 weeks pregnant the only thing that I want to do all day is sit. I feel so quilty when I let them watch TV so that I can get anything done! I also seem to yell alot more these days. My kids are always arguing and fighting over the smallest thing. The only way I remains sane is getting together with other moms from my playgroup. This really helps you realize that everyone has the same problems as you do. (You are secretly relieved to see another child behave worse than your own) I also work parttime and my husband keeps the kids. This is really helpful because he sees how hard it is to do anything other than take care of 2 demanding children. Working also helps me by letting me talk to adults and using my skills. The best thing to do is find a good way to vent off your frustrations (alone time, get togethers with friends, taking a shower with the bathroom door locked so that you don't have an audience!!!)

M.,
Sounds like a perfectly normal existence to me! I have 4- ages 10,6,5 and 3. It is always a trade off- if I spend time in the yard the laundry doesn't get done. If I clean house (ha!) we don't play....
I try and be realistic. My goal for the day may be to get the kitchen floor washed or 3 loads of laundry done. That's it. We do plan mornings out- especially during the summer.
I still have rest times- even for the big kiddos (during the summer and school holidays) Sometimes that consists of a movie or reading- but it is QUIET!

Good Luck, you are NOT alone.
D.

Crazy?! I'm impressed at how well you're surviving the lunacy. Some days around here are so crazy that I feel like hiding and weeping. I have a 16-year-old stepdaughter and a 20-month-old daughter that I stay at home with. The oldest STILL expects to follow me around the house for a minimum of three hours after school every day to tell me every second of her day. (She was an only child until she was 12.)
You're doing fantastic! And, to be frank, it's a relief to see another mother going through this very same thing. Some days, it feels like nothing got done, but you DID do all the most important stuff: the kids are safe, fed, and healthy. Isn't that why we stay home?
What I've learned over the past almost 2 years about my stress is that it's a way of life. This is your job, and all the stress you have on the job just piles up. Personally, I've learned to just let a LOT of things go. The house isn't the cleanest every day. The laundry sometimes doesn't get folded until we have to go digging through it for clean underwear.
The key is that if YOU are happy and relaxed, the kids will pick up on that and respond. Please don't do housework after bedtime!! You need sleep too, and the kids need to see that Mommy has other things that she has to do than just play with them. Maybe giving them, particularly the 5 year old, some responsibilities around the house while Mommy is doing things too will bring some relief. My youngest has to pick up all the crayons, pans, dolls, chalk, etc. that she got out during the day while I'm vacuuming, dusting, folding, etc. The oldest can chatter away at me while she does the dishes, walks the dogs, or cuts up veggies for dinner. This is helpful for everyone and, because I'm not trying to handle it all, I find that I am more open to conversation or new ideas on dinner, entertainment, etc. from the girls.
As for "rest time," that's mandatory around here too, but we're pretty flexible on when it happens. If the littlest starts getting fussy, it's time for a nap. I just follow her cues on that.
Good luck!