Mama's with other kids, how are you holding up?

[maciascl]

I know my patience is at about a negative 10 right now, so I thought I can't be the only one. I am just so tired lately. Plus DS seems to want to do exactly the opposite of whatever I'd like him too lately. He is also getting a bit clingy again. Papa just doesn't seem to cut it when he's upset anymore. Gentle Disapline is difficult for me normally so lately I have really been feeling like the crappy mom that yells to much & gets upset way too easily. I hope I can deal with 2 kids. I just keep trying to remind myself that I am not the 1st person to have more than 1 child, lots of people do it & we will get through. Plus they will continue to change & grow, so the challanges will too I think I've decided that "And this too shall pass" is my favorite parenting mantra.

[SammyLucasNHarper]

Some days are better than others. Today wasnt a good morning. It started off on a bad foot when DS started screaming crying because he woke up when DH woke up to go to work and he couldnt go with DH. So, that started out the day cranky. Then everyone was cranky (including DD for some reason?). We all took an early nap and woke up in a better mood....but the kids havent been listening to me today. They were fine and then all the sudden the phone rang and they started SCREAMING and would not stop. :

On the other hand. DS was really helpful today. I was proud. I have been cleaning and he "picked up" the living room. (hes 4 so it wasnt CLEAN, but picked up!)

All is well,

[Piper's mama]

I am feeling totally the same way. Luckily DH is doing almost all of DD duty, but she can make it a bit difficult. She decided last week to add a little spice to her temper tantrums by screaming this really high pitched scream that is really close to fingernails on a chalkboard. Plus it takes all of 5 minutes (literally) to literally cover the playroom floor with books, papers & toys. She is also totally clingy, along with the dog . It's funny, I keep asking them when the baby is coming...you know, the whole kids and dogs and a 6th sense thing. For some reason they aren't answering me

On the flip side DD gets cuter every day, and has really started to use words lately. Her faves are "milk", "more", and believe it or not, "please"! I've been feeling really discouraged lately because I am so far past my EDD, but I try to look at her and think that we are going to have another little person soon. It makes me feel much better. Oh yeah, and is there anything better than getting a kiss from your child?

[littleteapot]

Originally Posted by maciascl

I know my patience is at about a negative 10 right now, so I thought I can't be the only one. I am just so tired lately. Plus DS seems to want to do exactly the opposite of whatever I'd like him too lately. He is also getting a bit clingy again. Papa just doesn't seem to cut it when he's upset anymore. Gentle Disapline is difficult for me normally so lately I have really been feeling like the crappy mom that yells to much & gets upset way too easily. I hope I can deal with 2 kids. I just keep trying to remind myself that I am not the 1st person to have more than 1 child, lots of people do it & we will get through. Plus they will continue to change & grow, so the challanges will too I think I've decided that "And this too shall pass" is my favorite parenting mantra.

Oh man, I am SO feeling you.
I am being a CRAPPY mom right now. Real crappy.

[~PurityLake~]

I have a 15 month old girl and a 3 week old girl. My older one is very jealous, although she is helpful in some housecleaning ways. She likes to help with laundry and if asked to, she will pick things up and put them away, sort of. The hardest time is when I'm breastfeeding the younger one. Abigail gets sooo jealous, tries to pull Sophia off my breast and get up on my lap. This is worst when Abigail is a little tired. Abigail also wants to help by pushing a pacifier in Sophia's mouth (but misses the mouth completely and does it way too har), when I pat Sophia's back to burp her, Abigail pats her hard, imitating me but so much rougher, and she gets blankets to cover up the baby and will try to pick her up!
It is so hard keeping Abigail entertained. She always wants to go somewhere, asking for her coat, tries to put on her coat and shoes and points at the door. She is just so bored in the house most days when so much of my time is spent taking care of Sophia. I feel really bad for Abigail and give her lots of reassurances. I tell her I love her and that she's my beautiful, special baby girl. She likes the compliments and attention. I praise her when she is gentle with Sophia. I also take special one-on-one time to be with her, playing, reading, or massage (she has exzema and needs special lotion put on twice a day anyway) whenever Sophia is asleep. I just hope it gets easier with time.

[bohemama]

I'm right there with you mamas! I have had zero patience for the last couple of weeks. I feel so bad for DD! I did feel better last night after we watched nanny 911. I've never watched that show before, but I just happened to have the tv on that channel. The mom on that show was always yelling. DD told me that I was definitely not like that mom and thanked me with a hug and kiss. I'm glad I haven't gotten that bad yet!

Anyway, my favorite mantra is also "this too shall pass"!

Hang in there mamas!

[ilovemykids]

My DD is 6 and is a wonderful helper. My DS on the other hand is 3 and VERY 3!! They have both been sick (one has double ear infection, other has croup/asthma) and he has given me fits about every medication and has a really strong will. I find myself yelling more than I should and a little more high strung and since the delivery is closer I'm definitely more irritable with EVERYONE!! Like another lady said "this too shall pass", but WHEN??? LOL:

[crazyeight]

: I was coming to post a very similar thread titled "I got something done!!" I have dh home for another 2ish weeks so i am thanking my lucky stars that he scheduled that much leave in advance. I KNOW that i would be going nuts if i had to take care of them both by myself. I just feel like I will never again do anything with the both of them. Going out of the house is going to be hard enough let alone trying to do dishes, laundry, or cook dinner! I can tell already that dd is going to be one of those babies who wants to be held all the time and i am just hoping that my back will hold out for the stage when she is ready to explore the world.....

I know my patience with ds before she was born was at the end of its rope (in fact some was on loan...) hes not pushing my buttons right now as much but thats cause i can pawn him off on dad.....i am scared of the future.....

[noteworthy]

I have some good news... it gets easier! You learn to adapt, grow another hand, and they learn to adapt and wait their turn. It really does all work out in the end. My house will never be clean, the laundry will never be done and the shoes on their feet may not match, but we all love each other.
Go easy on yourselves, having more than one is not only a gift, but a challenge and you can do it!
(Now, someone politely remind me of this post when my third is born )

[littleteapot]

Originally Posted by gsmama2

I did feel better last night after we watched nanny 911.

I seriously considered calling Nanny 911 and being on the show. I feel that bad right now.


(originally I just put "calling 911"! Um, it's not quite that bad yet! )

[SammyLucasNHarper]

Originally Posted by noteworthy

I have some good news... it gets easier! You learn to adapt, grow another hand, and they learn to adapt and wait their turn. It really does all work out in the end. My house will never be clean, the laundry will never be done and the shoes on their feet may not match, but we all love each other.
Go easy on yourselves, having more than one is not only a gift, but a challenge and you can do it!
(Now, someone politely remind me of this post when my third is born )

:

My dh travels...In fact, he had to go on the road less than a week after DD was born. Hes gone every week. We manage...and manage quite well. Those first couple weeks will be hard, but then you will find your "groove" and be just fine!

And yes, someone also remind me of this when this baby is born

[mojumi]

My dh travels, too, and as a pp says it's all about finding the groove. And being patient with yourself as much as with the kids ... some days all we do is hang in the backyard and then watch tv before bed ... not my ideal of momminess but I'd rather enjoy time together doing 'nothing' then try to drag us around to the park, museum, etc when I know I'll be too stressed to let anyone have any fun. Oh, and I get really liberal with 'making a mess' -- we paint faces, hair, tummies, swing sets, toy cars, decorate mud cakes, and then take a nice loooong bath to clean up, sometimes more than one in a day. They don't mind letting me sit in a chair if they're allowed to run a little crazy and I think that's a fair trade!!

So, what was I talking about? Oh, yeah, patience and why not have fun making a mess today?

[time4another]

Yeah, its difficult here but in a different way. My kids are older and we have the "begining of the School year" crud that needs to get done. They both start dance lessons this week, next week is the school's Open House, I have PTO tonight the fundraiser starts the day after my DD, the waiting for the bus (which involves walking down and back up my 160ft driveway on a 20% incline). They are being pretty good actually...

Heather

[maciascl]

Originally Posted by littleteapot

I seriously considered calling 911 and being on the show. I feel that bad right now.

I am so glad I am not the only one that feels like the ultra crappy mom right now. I am actually surprised I handled DS pretty well today. We were at a friends house & he wacked his friend with a big PVC pipe. I think it was an accident & she is ok, but she has a black eye, a welt across her cheek & a small cut above her eye. I normally would have started bawling hysteracally (got to love the preg hormones) & SCREAMED at him. I did cry a little, but I atleast stayed calm & I could tell he felt bad.

[littleteapot]

Originally Posted by maciascl

I normally would have started bawling hysteracally (got to love the preg hormones) & SCREAMED at him. I did cry a little, but I atleast stayed calm & I could tell he felt bad.

BTDT. Big time. I broke down in my LLL group last month because my daughter pulled on this kid again (trying to get her to play) and her mom freaks out whenever she trips because she was a really sickly preemie and is super, duper clingy and coddled now. Kid in question is older than DD, she's almost 4 I think.

[Summerland]

Im feeling the same way right now, short on patience and tired and worn out, im nervous that im going to be even more cranky after the baby is born and im sleep deprived

[maciascl]

Originally Posted by littleteapot

I seriously considered calling Nanny 911 and being on the show. I feel that bad right now.


(originally I just put "calling 911"! Um, it's not quite that bad yet! )

I didn't even catch that!!! Big hugs mama!! We'll make it one way or the other.

[clovergirl]

my kids are watching wayyyy too much TV. : it keeps them from fighting and me yelling, so it's not all bad, right?

[unitytree]

Originally Posted by noteworthy

I have some good news... it gets easier! You learn to adapt, grow another hand, and they learn to adapt and wait their turn. It really does all work out in the end. My house will never be clean, the laundry will never be done and the shoes on their feet may not match, but we all love each other.
Go easy on yourselves, having more than one is not only a gift, but a challenge and you can do it!
(Now, someone politely remind me of this post when my third is born )

You know, people often say...how do you do it with #4 on the way??!!! but its true, it does get easier. My kids are 8,5,3 and get along for the most part. They love eachother and play together all the time. Its great because they occupy eachother so much more then when I had only 1...or even 2 nad they were younger. It is so much more challenging when you have to provide so much of the mediation/entertainment!!

My patience right now is nearly non existant and I am yelling more these days for sure. But I know it will pass. I try to give as much love and understanding when I can, when i can't the watch a movie or go play outside while I try to BREATHE through my rage. I think one of best things we can do for ourselves right now is lower our expectations and accept that we are tierd/uncomfy/hormonal/tested in every way. So rent a few extra movies, let the house go and try to relax. We will be done soon and this will all be a distant, blurry memory!! Yes, even those who have already had baby!!