I need some ideas on how to deal in the moment when it gets to be too much

[hollytheteacher]

I'm almost 30 weeks pregnant and reallllly losing patience with ds sometimes.  Usually over something small, but it's the 4058420048 small thing this afternoon kwim?

I just got really frustrated with him because he spilled sunflower seeds all over my freshly made bed (in the sheets) after I asked him not to eat the seeds in my room.  THen refused to clean them up, then jumped on teh bed spreading the seeds everywhere, then climbing on me and scratching me (accidentally) instead of listening.

I am mostly frustrated because i'm soooo tired and having a lot of physical back pain.  It's hard to keep composure when i'm tired/stressed/in pain AND emotional from pregnancy.

I want a few magic tricks to help MYSELF not lose my temper.  After all that happend i stormed off and drank chocolate milk and put on a movie for ds (definitely NOT the best strategy).  

I kind of feel like i'm in survival mode.  BTW i'm usually the queen of Gentle Discipline as I use it all day with my preschoolers.....my own ds though....these days...have been dicey.

[nd_deadhead]

Some days, survival is the best you can hope for, and chocolate milk and a movie sounds like a pretty reasonable strategy.

Your son is 3 - a challenging age for any Mom, much less a pregnant one. He can't be expected to understand WHY Mommy is tired and cranky.

I don't have any useful advice, but I do have big hugs, and a story that might cheer you. When my neighbor was pregnant and miserable, her 2-year-old cried "I want the Mommy!" My friend said "Honey, I am the Mommy!". Her sweet little girl replied "No, I want the nice Mommy!"

It's not just you. Hang in there, and don't feel bad about occupying your son with the occasional movie so that you can deal with him the rest of the day.

[Super~Single~Mama]

Originally Posted by hollytheteacher 

I want a few magic tricks to help MYSELF not lose my temper.  After all that happened i stormed off and drank chocolate milk and put on a movie for ds (definitely NOT the best strategy).  

I have to say, this sounds like a pretty darn good strategy to me.  Get ds doing something (anything!), and then take care of yourself by getting something yummy to eat, or something yummy to drink, or both.

[happysmileylady]

I agree with everyone else.  Sometimes, survival is all it's about.  Especially those last few weeks of pregnancy.  I think chocolate milk and a movie is a great strategy. 

Not quite the same thing and not very helpful other than it might help make you feel better.

I have a (almost) 15 year old, a 2 year old and an 11wk old.  Last night, I spent FOUR HOURS, from 2:30 to 6:30, awake dealing with the two little ones.  Then, an hour after I FINALLY get back to sleep, the teenager wakes me up to tell me that she missed the bus.  I manage to get DH to take her to school and go back to sleep.  Only to have both littles up and ready to go at 8:30.  Needless to say, I have been exhausted all day which triggered a migraine.  And DD2 was being a typical 2 year old all day.

So, 3:30 rolls around and DD1 walks in the door and begins an immediate whining session, apologizing all over for having missed the bus, she feels bad, she's so sorry etc etc.  I told her it was fine and she continues.  I told her not to worry about it, she continues.  She has a regular habit of doing this.  So, raging migraine, exhaustion and frustration all caught up with me and I didn't handle it very well.  I basically yelled without raising my voice telling her I felt like total crap, I was exhausted, that the kids were up all freaking night, I had a migraine and I was NOT going to deal with her self pity right now.  I told her to shut up, the situation was over, no one was pissed at her about it, and I did not want to hear one more freaking word about it. 

Yeah, not my most shining moment by far.

Though, it cut off the mantra before it morphed into her usual "I am a horrible person" crap. 

So, I guess my point is that sometimes we all have "worst parent in the world" moments.  The kids survive them.