If we can just make it through one more day…
The last few days have been quite chaotic with Jack, and meltdowns have been running high. We’ve had tears, we’ve had yelling, and at times we’ve had total out of control behaviours.
Why? The only thing we can attribute the heightened irritability to is the ‘let down’ following the Christmas / holiday season - or maybe it’s the current heat wave we’re experiencing. We’re not sure, but we are all very much worn out and looking for a reprieve (from heated behaviours as well as weather)!!!
If we can just make it through one more day…
And to add to Jack’s meltdowns, Annie has developed a sudden fear of not being able to find us - she cries and whines or screams every time she notices one of us has left the room (if we haven’t told her we’re going), and we are battling to get her to sleep during the night.
All combined it doesn’t make for a very calm household at the moment.
So, if we can just make it through one more day…
How is it that we can pick ourselves up and just keep going?
January 3rd, 2008 at 6:13 am
Hot weather is causing chaos at our place also. Bedtime has shift back from 7pm to 9pm just to allow the bedrooms time to cool down after the heat of the day. Bonus is the girls are finally sleeping in a little.
We had a minor meltdown from Heidi yesterday when I started taking the decorations down. Ugh. My Annie has been misbehaving because her sister is getting more attention. Gah! kids!
I hope Jack and your Annie calm down and give you a break soon.
January 3rd, 2008 at 6:35 am
Hi Marita,
I think maybe our 2 are sensing what’s going on with the other - and because we’re so exhausted with it all, this is simply getting them more wound up… it’s a vicious cycle.
I’m hoping the calm is on it’s way!!!
And I hope you get some relief from the weather soon in Melbourne too!
January 3rd, 2008 at 8:28 am
Christmas hols i always find the most difficult, and its cold here!
Hang in there!
January 3rd, 2008 at 10:44 am
God thinks highly of us huh? We had total chaos here last night after a long string of scary good behaviors (give or take from The Younger but he IS two and has learned to love the word NO). I guess they were waiting until I was tired and cranky? I mean, how else will we master those skills if we aren’t tested? Grrrrrr…
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:10 pm
We’re having lots of meltdowns here too with lots of nighttime wakings - averaging four a night with a wake up time around 5 a.m. with both kids. I do think they feed of each other. My daughter, the one being evaluated and suspected of HFA, has had a rough month though, not including Christmas with almost ten doctor appointments, family in town visiting, my husband home for three weeks and an MRI that COMPLETELY messed her up - the sedation we think.
I guess we pick ourselves up and keep going, because we have to. Because our kids need us to. Because what else would we do? Quit. Not likely for most of us, right? Courage and perseverance isn’t usually found before a task, but when it’s needed for a task.
I hope things settle down for you quickly as this new year begins and Christmas gets packed away.
January 3rd, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I’m sure things will settle down soon once they are back in a normal routine now that the holidays are over. I sure was ready to send two of mine back to school today and I think they were ready to get back. Our high was -10 here yesterday so we’re on the opposite end of your problem
January 3rd, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Hang in there. M has been a bit off here too. I do think there is something to be said of the post Christmas time. We go from doing a few family gatherings and gifts to practically nothing. I can’t blame the heat here, however the extreme cold is making us all stir crazy as well. I hope you can find some time for yourself. Never easy.
January 3rd, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Sorry to hear things are so rough there. Looking at those two photos (which just speak volumes, by the way) makes me wish I felt comfortable posting pics on my blog.
School breaks are always very difficult here too. Having a different routine each day is so hard for SB. I hope you get some relief soon … from the holiday crazies and the heat. It’s cold here but I’d take cold over heat anyday. The heat just makes everyone crazy (in my opinion).
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Thanks everyone for your comments.
Casdok - yes, it is harder without as much structure as we normally have.
Jen P - it’s always when we’re most tired and cranky isn’t it!!
Laura - Sounds like things have been really rough at your place, sorry to hear - especially with the MRI - I hope things settle soon for you as well.
Joy - I’m counting down until school starts! We desperately need the routine!
Marla - I have to keep reminding myself that we go from gifts and gatherings to nothing - it’s easy to overlook that. And I’m treasuring my 2 hours respite care on a Monday afternoon!
Tulipmom - I think it really is routine, and all the changes that happen over this time of the year with the holidays. In Australia this is our end of school year as well so we have about a 6 week break - only 3 1/2 weeks to go!
(And I snapped those 2 pics during the crazies of the day.)
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:35 pm
And I forgot to mention we think we’ve discovered the cause of Annie’s distress - we tried to talk to her last night about being scared and about being without mummy and daddy and she said “yes when Jessie comes and I can’t find you”…
A while ago we had to call in a babysitter at the last minute for a meeting we had to go to in the evening, and Annie was asleep when the babysitter arrived so she didn’t see us go. Apparently she woke while we were out and was quite distressed that we weren’t there… it’s all starting to make sense now, just after this was when the problems began… Hopefully we can just work through it with her.