Friday, June 3, 2011

Overwhelmed

Disclaimer:  I hesitated to write this post because there are some friends I have done things for this week that might feel like they were adding to my stress.  So let me say this right in the beginning - don't go there.  I promise that this isn't about you.

Sometimes I feel very, very overwhelmed.  This is one of those weeks, though I can't pinpoint one thing that is causing it.  In all honesty, I guess I feel like I'm being beaten to death by feathers.  In addition to some sick kids this week (why can't they be sick all at once and not take turns!?), there is a multitude of things that are hanging over my head that apparently only I can do and I can't GET to them during the day because they involve having a quiet period of time that I can work uninterrupted.  Yeah, right.  With a toddler and a baby?  Not happening.  They don't even sleep at the same times some days.

So what do I do about it?

To be honest, I don't really know.  Oh, I have lots of ideas.  And the more desperate I get the more radical they become.  Some of them will actually work.  For example, one of the things on my plate that doesn't need to be there is paying the bills and handling our money.  Ben could do that.  Granted, he may not run the fancy reports and do the fancy spreadsheets that I do, but that stuff isn't essential.  And if we just pay cash for most of our expenses, it's not really necessary anyway.  So I'm going to pass that on to him.  And I've already passed the girls' laundry on to them.  Maybe in some ways I'm just setting my expectations too high about how clean I should be able to keep my house.  But I sure do feel a lot more relaxed when my house has been cleaned.

Now I need the voice of experience.  I know some of you who read this blog have been here and can give me some good advice.  I really need some at this point.  I don't want to spend half of my life feeling like I have too much on my plate.  Yet I also want to have a respectable house and be able to do things for other people.  Is that even possible at this stage of my life?  What do you think?

2 comments:

*Jess* said...

I feel the same way most of the time, sweetie! I wish I had advice!

Barbara said...

I am in the SAME boat. I don't have any great advice. I was promoted the first day back from materity leave with Josh. A great honor, and more to deal with. I think no matter what life style you have, it is just Really Overwhelming to have two kids under the age of 3 at the same time. The good new here is that it wont last. So the best advice I have, enjoy it! It is ok to say NO to others for a while. In a few short months, you can say Yes again. And adjusting your expectations to what matters most helps. Did the charts and graphs really help? Or would a more simple system work? Give yourself 5-10mins a day to clear your head as well.
You taking on a lot with 4 wonderful young people, and will do a great job of it all. Hugs!