Not feeling so gentle today....

[JJMama]

I am a frequent lurker on these boards and I get so much good information. I NEED help today!! I have read every book on the planet about GD. I am usually a pretty good mama, but right now I feel like I have completely lost it. I KNOW everything I should be doing, what I should be saying, how I should be treating my kids, but I keep losing it with them. I have no patience and feel like every parenting skill I have acquired in the past 7 years has just disappeared! I totally lost it with my DS and DD this morning. I know they are just being kids and my expectations of them are completely unrealistic, but all of a sudden, I just don't feel like being a mommy today, let alone a patient, kind and understanding mommy. I don't even know why. I feel so bad about the way I have treated them for the past couple of days and I just can't snap out of it.

Has this ever happened to anyone else out there? What do you do? How can I find the strength to be the kind of mommy I want to be??

We are leaving for a family vacation tomorrow and I am seriously worried that we will have an aweful trip if I can't get my act together.

I need some words of wisdom.

[allgirls]

well I assume you are stressed about the trip, I assume you need a break and if I were you I would check and see where you are at with your cycle as well as my patience ebbs and flows with the monthly hormone levels

maybe tomorrow will be a better day!

[mamaduck]

When your kids are "loosing it" behaviorwise, I assume that you put a lot of thought into why and find a way to address thier needs in a way that sets them for success. You, mama, deserve the same. Figure out what your needs are right now, and find a way to meet them so that you can set yourself up for success.

And be gentle with yourself... you are a pretty darn good mother, and you are allowed to be human.

[azyre]

*hugs* the previous posters said it all, just wanted to add a hang in there - sounds to me like you are doing a good job, picking yourself up when you fall down. That's the real skill! I would imagine closing the door to your bedroom with a hot drink and chilling for 30 minutes would do you the world of good, if you have the opportunity. I have been known to come out of my self imposed timeout and apologise for behaviour I thought was entirely justifable half hour ago

[JJMama]

Thanks for the support/replies. I feel much better today! Looking forward to a nice vacation with my fabulous children.