I've gone on strike today.

[confustication]

I have three kids, and while they are all amazing and I love them dearly, I have not read a book in well over a year. I have not slept more than two hours in a row in over two years.

After a long night last night, I woke up today being climbed on by the 11 month old, and shrieked at by the 2 yo. I tried to grab a shower to collect my thoughts while they hung out with their dad, when suddenly the door opened and the two year old pulled back the curtain, stripped off his clothes and jumped into the shower with me. Immediately he put the plug in and turned my shower into a bath. He looked at me, clearly annoyed that I was taking up space in *his* bath.

I left my husband and children- to go grab a cup of coffee alone. Returning home 30 minutes later, my oldest was screaming at my husband because she was mad that I had left her.

Having dealt with the immediate issues, I've decided to go on strike today. Dinner will be whatever is in the fridge already, I don't care if the laundry gets folded, kids' tv shows sound like a great plan for a while and I've put together a whole-town scavenger hunt for my oldest to do on her bike- keeping her out of the house for at least an hour.

Please tell me I'm not the only one completely overwhelmed by the intensity of being 'on' all. the. time.

[sewchris2642]

BTDT There is no guilt in taking a day off. Every one is entitled to one, especially moms of small children. Forget the housework, take the kids to the park, even feed them fast food. At nap time, put your feet up, have a glass of wine and eat bonbons (translation: have me time). Have leftovers for dinner. Or even breakfast.

On a more serious note, talk with your dh about how over whelmed you feel right now. Maybe he can take up some more on his end right now. Probably you need to scale some things back--like housework. Not me time. That you need some of every day. At least until you feel more on top of things. Then you can space the me time out to several times a week. But never less than once a week.

[chaoticzenmom]

Good for you! I haven't been able to take a shower alone for awhile too. Whenever I shower, my 18mo will come in, strip off his clothes and diaper and look at me with those big, pleading eyes. I also get tired of being "on." My "me" time is online because I can do it quickly, space out a little and leave as soon as I'm needed elsewhere without losing my place or concentration.

I hope you get to read a book and shower alone today!! Little Ceasar's Pizza is my "strike" food of choice.

[confustication]

Thanks for the support- it is really good to remember that I'm not the only mom who can't/doesn't want to pull off being supermom at every moment.

I'm really struggling to find a balance in parenting- as I feel like I've really lost myself and now that our youngest is nearing 'toddlerhood' I am trying to find some time for myself. (2+ years of PPD has been a challenge as well.)

My husband had a great sense of humor about my burnout this morning which made me feel better. He took over for a while so I could have a cup of tea uninterrupted as well. He's pretty good about doing his share (and sometimes more!), but the nighttime parenting is really getting to me and since I have the built in food, I think that's all me for a while longer.

[GuildJenn]

Your strike sounds more like a "day of relaxation" and I think you should consider how to repeat it on a regular basis!

[LynnS6]

You put together a whole town scavenger hunt? Sorry, but that's not a strike. You're going to have to try harder.

Here's my "strike" (day of relaxation) (My parents just left after a week's visit, I've been sleeping on a leaky air mattress on the floor for a week, I just finished teaching summer school and grading my finals, and our air conditioner broke during the only heat wave of the summer, I'm feeling entitled).

Ds was sent to play with a friend.
Dd said "I'm going to watch TV all afternoon" and I said "Sounds like a good plan to me"
We're going over to ds' friend's house for dinner.
The dishes may or may not get done, depending on the temperature of the kitchen.
Nothing will be cleaned, washed or folded.
The garden will not be weeded.
The toys will not be picked up.

So really if you're planning a scavenger hunt and to actually cook dinner, you've got a ways to go to reach my level of laziness!

[Tway]

My Mom went on strike twice when we were kids: once over laundry and the second time over making lunches that we all complained about. She just never went "back to work"--we either washed our own clothes and made our own lunches else we went around grubby and hungry!

If only my 10-month-old DD could work the washing machine...

[Learning_Mum]

Oh lord, you are not alone! Sometimes I just want to be able to do something by myself. Just going to the toilet alone would be awesome!

I actually just had my Dad come round and put a lock on my bedroom door so I could go in there sometimes, lock the door and just have five minutes alone without having the boys bust in and start climbing on me and jumping on the bed.

[confustication]

Originally Posted by LynnS6

You put together a whole town scavenger hunt? Sorry, but that's not a strike. You're going to have to try harder.

Here's my "strike" (day of relaxation) (My parents just left after a week's visit, I've been sleeping on a leaky air mattress on the floor for a week, I just finished teaching summer school and grading my finals, and our air conditioner broke during the only heat wave of the summer, I'm feeling entitled).

Ds was sent to play with a friend.
Dd said "I'm going to watch TV all afternoon" and I said "Sounds like a good plan to me"
We're going over to ds' friend's house for dinner.
The dishes may or may not get done, depending on the temperature of the kitchen.
Nothing will be cleaned, washed or folded.
The garden will not be weeded.
The toys will not be picked up.

So really if you're planning a scavenger hunt and to actually cook dinner, you've got a ways to go to reach my level of laziness!

lol- to be fair, our 'whole town' is about 500 people, so it only took a few minutes to come up with stuff for her to chase down and take pictures of. The idea was to find something out of the house for her to do.

Overall though, I had a very lazy day, and I feel so much more refreshed today.

[sewchris2642]

Originally Posted by confustication

lol- to be fair, our 'whole town' is about 500 people, so it only took a few minutes to come up with stuff for her to chase down and take pictures of. The idea was to find something out of the house for her to do.

Overall though, I had a very lazy day, and I feel so much more refreshed today.

Good for you. Now don't forget to schedule them on a regular basis. And seize every unexpected opportunity for an impromptu day off.