I need to ask you fellow moms for some advice. I know some of you have it way harder than me. Someone out there must be willing to share tips with this stressed pregnant mama!
What do you do when you know you are about to snap?
When the kids have worn you so thin that you feel as though you're suffocating?
When you want so badly to run and hide but know they'd burn the house down while you were gone?
Do you have a secret trick you employ?
I need to know!
I feel like I just need a break-even for just an hour. Problem is, I feel this way almost every day lately!
One of the challenges of raising a child on the autism spectrum is the constant supervision that is necessary. Even if your child should be old enough to play alone for brief periods of time, they can't. Because they'll burn your house down or hurt the pets, or engage in some type of destructive behavior. The never-ending need for self-stimulation means constant chaos-at least in our house.
One of the challenges of raising multiples is the group dynamic. The children feed off of each other. This also creates chaos in our house! The girls do not slow down from the moment they wake until they fall asleep at night. They climb out of their cribs, take off clothing and diapers (sometimes to smear poop) and generally just cause mischief.
Then the one child who is fully capable of being trusted to behave and play quietly is completely accident-prone. Which means he can't play in the yard unsupervised and has to be watched in the house to ensure he doesn't crack his head open. So even though J is bay far my "easiest" child I am constantly worried that he'll hurt himself-and he usually does.
I am outnumbered and there is mutiny! Abandon ship!!!!
Even a brief shower during the girls' nap this afternoon meant I step out to see that M has colored in marker all over my desk. J is crying because M hit him. The phone is ringing and I can't answer because all 3 of our phones were mysteriously fried when the workers were digging up our yard a couple of weeks ago. The dog needs to be fed and the dishes need to be done for the second time today. I'm on my 4th load of laundry and it's not even lunch time.
So what I need to know is what do I do?
Hiring help is not an option. Selling the house and moving closer to family is not an option. Asking most of my friends for help is not an option. Using TV as distraction only works for a few minutes-I've tried!
My mom may be coming to visit for 2 days next week and I need to maintain some sense of order or I will never hear the end of it!
Any suggestions or ideas will be most appreciated! Seriously. ANY suggestions. Try me.
