How do you do it all (and more)?

Avatar for momtolizabeth
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-02-2003
How do you do it all (and more)?
2
Thu, 08-03-2006 - 7:35am

Hi ladies!

I am soooo frustrated right now - how do other moms handle this???
Some of you may remember me saying that my wedding is coming up... I wasn't able to take a lot of time off of work, so I am still working, while trying to finish up all the final details for the wedding...

On top of that, I still have to be mom (and guardian). Sometimes *I* need help with something. If my clothes are in the washer, and someone throws a load in, why not move my clothes to the dryer, not a laundry basket on the floor?
I feel so strechted to the max right now, I don't even have time to breath. No one seems to realize this, even when I ask for help - my cousin and my fiance still keep coming to me with x,y,z .... aye! I can't do it. Does anyone else feel like if you suddenly disappeared, no one would notice until things stopped getting done - and they would continue not getting done, because no on else was capable of doing them??? How do other moms do it?

I've always been able to hold it together... through highschool, finals in college and studying for/passing the CPA exam... but now, I feel like I'm dropping the ball and losing my 'strong hold' - I just need a break. Please tell me that some of you ladies reach this point sometimes???

~Becca

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-01-2006
Thu, 08-03-2006 - 8:08am
Of course we all reach this point.....more than once. It just happens at different times for each of us and while we are going through different things. You are not alone. My advice would be to tackle one thing at a time and realize that you are NOT superwoman and cant' do it all yourself. Whatever you can get done, so be it. If noone else will do it, the rest will have to wait.
As for the laundry thing, why not give them a dose of their own medicine and see how they like it when their wet clothes are in a laundry basket! That might do the trick.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 08-03-2006 - 9:08am

I have given up hope that anyone will ever take care of me-I wish upon a star but, truth be told, the only one who will take care of me is ME

So, take action to change the situation-you cant change the people

Put up a laundry schedule so you are not overlapping. Or just try a simple sign on the washer door-please place in dryer and run for 30 min on medium(eliminates the 'I was afraid Id mess it up')

I know thats one example but, in general, try to modify the situation to prevent what is most driving you crazy

Ive had far better luck with signs than words. DS2 never locked the door-a note card with 'lock door' worked wonders; I even got to take it down eventually ;)

It also prevents you from blowing up at a stressful time(weddings always are and youve had a rough year)Cant blow up too much on a 3 x 5 card!!!!!

And when they come to you with x, y, z-say "im sure you can handle it" and walk away. DH had me googling everything under the sun because "you're so much better at it"

Idiot that I am, I fell for this-and yes, I can search faster than him-but I finally learned to say no.

Sometimes humor helps lessen the sting of saying no and sometimes you just have to say NO