Image by Today is a good day via Flickr
Welcome to a new week of Being Elle. I'm taking on a new format this week, so please bear with me as I work out the bugs (aka my head). Each post will have a theme depending on which day of the week it is. Monday's will be either parenting or PMDD. As life would have it, today's post is on parenting.
We celebrated my eldest son's 9th birthday on Saturday. The last two weeks he's been at his dad's during the weekdays. I honestly didn't think I'd have a problem with it, but the reality of him not being here every day has turned me into an emotional wreck. He's gone for one more week and then life will get back to normal.
For the last 4 years I've been working full time and my husband has been the stay at home parent. My contract ended mid-February and I've been at home since. My husband re-entered the workforce (quite successfully) about 2 months ago. I was quite excited to have the summer off and spend time with the kids.
Well, summer is half over and I had a complete melt down this morning. As my husband so kindly pointed out to me, this is the first time I've been at home full time with the kids (other than maternity leave). It's challenging to work full time and come home to take over...but it's so much more difficult being home 24/7, especially during the summer. We have no set schedule, the kids want to be outside ALL the time...who knew one could get sick of being outside?! Sure, I have a nice tan, but nothing gets done in the house. How do people do it? Really, I'm asking...how do you do it?
The other problem I'm facing with my kids is all the fighting. I'm an only child so I really don't understand the sibling dynamic. I have three kids - ages 9, 6, and 4. I've been told by friends that it's just normal, but how do you manage your kids fighting? I'd love to hear how you cope with your kids fighting, please leave a comment below or message me directly.
Have a good night and stay tuned for Training Tuesday!
Oh my, do I understand! I have four kids (ages 11, almost 9 and twin 7 year olds) and I've always been a stay home parent...some days they fight like cats and dogs (although, come to think of it, I've got a dog and two cats and *they* get along just fine) and I feel like the worst mother in the world, because I end up losing my patience and bellowing at the top of my lungs at them...and then just when I think that school can't start soon enough, they're sweet and kind and gentle with one another (I think it might be nature's way of keeping me from committing some heinous crime ;))...
ReplyDeleteHow to deal with it? Pray. Some days it's the only thing you *can* do...if I figure out a more helpful way of dealing with it, I'll share the secret with you and we'll become millionaires...;)
Babs
I'm so glad I'm not alone!! The other day in the midst of losing my mind I did stop and pray...truthfully at the time I didn't feel much better, but later in the day a friend called and took me out for coffee - three hours later I came home and felt so much better.
ReplyDelete...TWINS?!!! You really must be super woman!!!!!!!!!!! :)