Question for all you SAHM's

[CBRorBust]

Okay...Today has been one of those days for my SIL who is a SAHM. I keep telling her that if she does not find a way to release stress she is on the road to the looney bin!


So my question is...what do you do when you are about to loose your mind?

 

[HollyJoy]

LOL... we have many of those days around here!! I usually put on some dance music with my dd and we dance it all out! LOL She just needs some ALONE time!

 

[AmazingGrace]

I put myself away from the kids for a few minutes, either out on the yard swing, in my bedroom, or on the computer. I'm having one of those days today, and it's only the first day of summer vacation. The boys are out playing, and Grace is asleep!!!

 

[CBRorBust]

 

[onecoolmama]

Well, about 6 weeks ago. i told my DH I needed to get away. I was headed down that road. Dh booked a trip to Disney..no kids.

Alot of times I go out to eat just DH and I. I call my girlfirends and tell them that I need a mom's night out. I don't think they every turn down a night out with the girls.

I take a long bath and tell DH I better not see one kid come in there or no sex!LOL! Finally, if no one is aroud and I am losing it with my kids, I go to where other moms are..McDonalds playland..(or any of those) a crowded park..somewhere that I can find other moms.

Finally, I would leave the kids with DH and go shopping by myself. I LOVE my kids, but if I dont take breaks...I would lose it!

 

[Jolie C]

I drink heavily.

 

[CBRorBust]

you guys are so funny!

Her problem is that she has 2 boys ages 3 and 5! The 3 year old is autistic, so that makes for lots of fun everyday!

I was talking to her earlier and she was like...I cannot even go to the restroom without one of the boys knocking on the door or trying to get in, etc!

I knew that you guys would have some better advice than mine!

DAYCARE!

 

[WhenUwishUponAstar]

i send my kid out to the backyard for 10 minute recess (weather permitting) and he usually stays out longer. I have a wireless card on my laptop so I can watch him from my patio room and Dis at the same time. Days that the weather keeps us in, I usually break down and play video games with him.

 

[onecoolmama]

Originally posted by CBRorBust
you guys are so funny!

Her problem is that she has 2 boys ages 3 and 5! The 3 year old is autistic, so that makes for lots of fun everyday!

My Aunt has one child that is Autistic and the other who has Downs. She and her husband usually can't leave both with a babysitter, but they go out seperately alot. They do have one person who is excellent and will watch both, but she is not always available when they want to go out.

If there is a college around her...she could see about a college student who is majoring in child autism...or something simular. They would be the perfect babysitters (aside from grandparents!)

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

I don't have many of these days anymore, since the kids are in school all day now. But when I got frazzled when they were younger it was tine for me and my friend to go to the mall and out to dinner. The kids would ask 'What time will you be home?" "after bedtime' was always my response. She needs to get out for a little while, take her to dinner or a movie or something, I promise she'll feel better tomorrow.

 

[Beauty]

Jolie ... LOL!


John-Cole has been hyper all day today. He is buzzing in and out of the house and up and down the stairs driving me nuts. A nice hot bath before John gets home sounds heavenly! I think I'll go there now.

 

[Idaho]

Yeah right, Jolie. Drinking heavily only makes the problem go away for a short time....

Seriously, when I have days like that, I do several things. First of all, I try and send the kids outside or something even for a short time. If I can't send them outside for whatever reason, I find that a long shower (you can't hear them bang on the door with the shower running) helps, as well as putting in a DVD for them and then I usually call my sister on the phone to vent. If I tried to keep it all bottled up inside of me, I would explode. I also find that doing something physical helps me. Heavy cleaning, exercise, walking, plus listening to music are all good ways of letting off frustration. And finally, I try and remember that I did "choose" this staying at home thing and I remind myself that I am grateful for it 90% of the time. (OH, and then I make my husband take me to dinner and leave the kids home with a babysitter. Babysitters are a gift from heaven!!)

 

[WhenUwishUponAstar]

Babysitters are a gift from heaven

I've never had a babysitter except my mom and my sister.

I never really needed one but lately I've been toying with the idea, how did you find yours?

 

[Epcotgal8]

Originally posted by CBRorBust
you guys are so funny!

Her problem is that she has 2 boys ages 3 and 5! The 3 year old is autistic, so that makes for lots of fun everyday!

I was talking to her earlier and she was like...I cannot even go to the restroom without one of the boys knocking on the door or trying to get in, etc!

I knew that you guys would have some better advice than mine!

DAYCARE!

Oh bless her heart! I feel her pain, trust me! I was a stay at home mom until my youngest went to kindergarten and ever since I substitute teach which is a bit stupid because instead of getting AWAY from kids I'm taking on 22 at a time. BUT, it does get me out of the house and make me feel like I am doing something. (Plus I have same hours and vacations as the kids). So I'm basically still a sahm, and since school is already out I have them home with me all day. And I thought I was looking forward to the summer???? I love my kids more than anything but SOME days I want to scream and just run away! Obviously with kids her ages it is hard for her to get away to herself but just let her know that even though it seems hopeless she WILL survive and she's not alone. She needs to FIND a way to have some alone time whether it's taking 30 minutes to walk with a friend or neighbor after supper or going to lunch with a friend now and then - she does need to enlist dh's help and just do ANYTHING, even run errands if need be just to have some time to herself. And she has you to talk to and I know when I'm feeling burnt out it helps just to talk to someone about it and get it out. Husbands aren't always the best listeners where this kind of thing is concerned because somewhere I think in their mind they're thinking "I've worked all day and you've gotten to stay home and you're griping?" Let them stay home with the kids by themself for one day and they will be ready to head back to work though lol!

 

[Beth76]

Oh I have been having MANY of those days lately. I have a very active 3yo boy and am 8 months pregnant with another BOY!!! My son's 2 day a week preschool ended last week and it's been hard on both of us. Oh and he wasn't napping for awhile (however, today he did take a short nap finally--yay!!!)

I was having some moments where I would literally scream at him and I would just start sobbing too. He's just driving me crazy. He only wants to go outside and I can't handle the heat and humidity. Plus I'm exhausted and can't get anything done around the house. I just can't handle being with him and entertaining him for 12 hours straight. In a couple of weeks he's starting swim classes and gymnastics. That should help out a little. Of course, everything is going to be shot to heck when the baby comes. At least my DH will be home for two weeks.

So, I guess I really don't have any advice. Just a ton of sympathy. I can only hope it gets better.

 

[Idaho]

Wish, I was lucky to move to an area with family, so my first babysitter for my kids was my cousin who is now 13. I don't live near my MIL, who would love to babysit, and my own mother doesn't like to babysit and neither do my siblings who live near me so I don't ask them except in an emergency.

Other than my cousin, I have 3 neighbor girls who are in my church ward who babysit my kids. They are 11 and 12 years old and I have found they are the perfect age because they are too young for boys, young enough to like playing with my kids, and old enough to know what they are doing. Also, since their parents live right by me, if anything did happen, their moms are there to help them. I usually let my kids choose which of the babysitters they want on any given day, too. It makes my leaving that much easier for them, I think. I have found that my son especially (who is 6) likes me to leave. Then when I come home, they are glad to see me, I am glad to see them, and we all like each other again!

 

[WhenUwishUponAstar]

Then when I come home, they are glad to see me, I am glad to see them, and we all like each other again!

That was a hard lesson for me to learn , maybe because I love myself to much lol but I eventually bowed to the notion that perhaps my son needed a break from me (gasp ) sometimes too.

 

[tlgoblue]

Originally posted by Jolie C
I drink heavily.

I'm with you! BTW Love your avitar!

Keep the Faith!
Tracy

 

[mommytotwo]

I come on the computer or go outside and tend to my garden.

 

[Jolie C]

Originally posted by tlgoblue
I'm with you! BTW Love your avitar!

Keep the Faith!
Tracy

Thanks! (And Go Blue!)