I’m sure that all mother’s can relate to that feeling of being stressed out and close to their breaking point.  Havings kids can be a trying ordeal some days.  They don’t always stick to a schedule, or listen to instructions, or eat the dinner that you’ve so carefully prepared for them.  They splash water out of the tub and spill cheerios on your just-vacuumed floor.  And yet, kids are the most lovable tyrants you will ever work for.

I’m trying lately to be more cognicent of my own moods, and not just the children’s.  If the kids aren’t quite ready for a nap but I really, really am, I will put them down a few minutes early and let them play quitely in their rooms.  I figure that it’s better to go down while I’m still able to give them a kiss and a hug, rather than when I have that urge to just plop them down and run as fast as I can.

The biggest thing, as always, is communication with your spouse.  Last week was tough (what week isn’t?), and Gabe was very fussy and clinging and not sleeping overly well.  By the time Friday came around I had reached my limit of whining for the week and I was DONE.  I had to just tell my husband when he got home, “I need a break!”  So I went to the mall for a couple of hours and grabbed a coffee and it was pure bliss.  Sometimes it’s nice just to have the alone time, not even time spent with friends, but just by myself where nobody needs their sippy cup refilled, their boo-boo kisses, or an answer to the millionth question of the day.

And when you get back home, man, it’s nice to be needed again and have your batteries recharged so that you have something to give back.  I love my kids so much, but some days I need a break to remind me of that.

In other news, I have really been trying to reinforce with Tristan that actions have consequences, so everytime he takes a toy away from his brother or hits him he goes to timeout.  We have been doing this for quite awhile using the stairs as a timeout spot but it never quite worked.  I’ve now made a chair in the livingroom timeout, and Tristan finally seems to get it!  All you have to do is say, “Go to your chair” and he goes and sits there until you tell him to move.  He whines and kicks and has a little fit, but he stays.  I always wondered how the nannies on Nanny 911 managed that, but wow, we’ve done it!  It’s a big break through for Tristan.  If he’s really in a mood and the timeout isn’t working we’ll take him up to his bedroom for awhile so he can move around and play until he’s ready to come out and be nice again.

So tomorrow is the start of a new week, and hopefully a good one!  I find the holiday season to be a happy and stressful time.  I have a lot of expectations on myself of what I want Christmas to be like and what I want to accomplish, and unfortunately with two little active boys to take care, I’m sure I won’t finish half of what’s on my list.  I need to remind myself to slow down and enjoy what I have… they’re only young once, and I’m sure they don’t care whether there are fresh cedar boughs in the window boxes or not!  They just want cuddles and tickles from their mom.