stay at home moms? ever feel this way!!??

Question

Ever feel like you are being pulled in a million directions, or am i just having "one of those days" We have four boys ages 8,6,6,4 and im 11 weeks pregnant.Of course the older three are in school all day, but being pregnant i really feel like doing nothing more than sleeping lol.of course when the kids get off the bus im responsible for their homework,spelling words,and church verses.i also watch two little girls after school,so i need to have a snack ready when they all get home.Which leaves me another huge mess to clean up.i do all the dishes by hand everyday. At least 4 loads of laundry a day.We have a well so we cannot wash whites or bright colors at home.so i need to head to the laundry mat at least 2 times a day. The boys are in boy scouts we meet every other thursday. Have to try sell wreaths and popcorn which gets to be a hassle.They go to church every wen night.Not to mention i do ALL the housework,room mother at school(for parties).anyone ever feel this overwelmed?

and miss being a normal person??? somedays i just cannot handle it anymore. I love what i do but its alot of work, and it doesnt help having a man that thinks he works just as hard as i do. Who thinks theres no excuse for not having supper made or clothes folded or dishes done. Which by the way is ALWAYS done. im pulled in so many directions its not fun anymore.....anyone feel like this?

first off i have two children and i am the step mother of the other 2. which i consider my children. Not like ive choosen to have 5 children, thats just how it worked out and yes i love it. I wouldnt be able to do ALL the laundry at the laundry mat then i get accused of "wasting" money! crazy huh! yea i know.....our kids fight ALL the time. and it drives me NUTS. i find myself yelling at them all the time anymore and i dont know what to do

Answer 1

Try to cut down on your obligations, especially when pregnant. And you could teach your older children to help with the housework. Maybe even give a small allowance as an initiative. If you have to go to the laundrymat anyway, why not do all your laundry there where you can get it all done at once? Good Luck!

Answer 2

Oh boy! I don't have 4 children, just 2, but I know what you mean by feeling overwhelmed. You've got the hardest and most important job - you're a mom. With 4 boys though, I'd make sure that there is discipline in the house. Whatever you say - they do, this might take a little extra work, but it goes a long way. Secondly, you can give them chores, you don't have to clean up their messes, not after 6 and 8 year olds. Encorage them, tell them that they are your BIG helpers. Also, if you can afford it, hire some help once a month and go out, watch a movie or spend a day shopping or just with friends. You'll see how much you miss them by the end of the day. And definitely, once a year take a week of vacation, away from everything. Just stay at a hotel without a phone. Let your husband handle the house, he'll start to appreciate you more.

Answer 3

I too feel overwelemed at times.I don't do as much as you but I am 29 weeks pregant and also have 3 boys ages 6,4,3 and a little girl who will be a year old on Dec.10. The oldest one is in school all day and the 4 year old goes to headstart for almost 4 hours a day. Plus my husband is working out of state right now and is gone for 10 days at a time and home for 4.Plus I have to do all the housework,laundry,and keep appointments and everything straight.

Answer 4

Sometimes, but probably not as much as you. I have seven kids, 11, 9, 7, 6, 5, and 3, as well as a one year old. The oldest six all have chores to do (yes, even the three year old). We do three loads of laundry a day, but they help out with that too. They do the dishes, I cook.

Lots of people with wells wash their cloths at home, why is your well not working?

Additionally, you are not responsible for their homework, they are. They should sit until it's done, you have the ability to withhold snacks or fun til its finished. At the least leave it for daddy to help with.

Watching additional kids is your choice. You need to decide if it's worth the time or trouble (are you getting paid, is that why?) I watch two extras after they get out of school, but it's for church friends, I wouldn't do it for anyone else, and they help with chores too.

Snacks and meals don't have to be a big deal. Talk to your husband about getting one night a week. Maybe he could take them to church and you could go to B&N to read. Or even have some quiet time in a small room at church. When I'm pregnant I take lots of naps during the day, eat well, take my prenatals and go to sleep right after dinner. Dh guides the children through evening chores, checks work (we homeschool) and leads bible study daily.

Look into Managers of their Homes from www.titus2.com. It sounds like you need a system. Is your husband a Christian? You say you go to church every Wednesday, but he certainly does not honor you as the helpmeet of his family.

Good luck, a large family is a lot of work, but it is an unmatched blessing! Google large family blogs, or contact me.

Answer 5

You need to try to make "You" time at least once a week. If your husband could watch the children on the weekend for an hour so you could read a book or get a manicure this would make you feel less stressed and it would give you something to look forward to every week. I know this may be hard but the better you feel the better mother you will be, so take some time out and do something that is just for you

Answer 6

OK first off.... why are you going to the laundry mat 2 times a day? I hope you mean 2 times a week. Teach your kids to help. Its not fair they come home from school and make a mess and you are left to clean up after them. Unless youre one of those "thats my job" kind of women which is a whole other topic of discussion. If you dont teach them now to help out, good luck in a few years when youre really going to need it. As a woman who has been pregnant 3 times before why in the world are you overextending yourself to this point? A pregnant womans body just laying down exerts as much energy as a non pregnant body rock climbing.
You might want to also look into that new thing called birth control.

Answer 7

Oh boy - you sound like you need a break!!! I've felt this way too - but luckily the busy times are counterbalanced every now and then (but not NEARLY enough) with some calmer times. Make a list of it all, pick 1 or 2 things that fall at the bottom of the priority list and just cross them off. (Something your husband could do in your place would be good.) Tell him either he needs to help more (you are pregnant after all & need to stay healthy), or you will end up in bed sick (it has happened to me from trying to keep up a crazy pace.)

Answer 8

I am the mother of three boys... one biological and two stepchildren ( one of which is special needs.) there is so much that has to be done in a day that rarely does it all get done.
THIS is what my hubby and I have worked out. On one of his days off, I take a day off. He stays home with the kids and I go and do what ever I want. This is beneficial in two ways... it gives me a break from being Mom-chef-maid-chaufer-tutor-launderer- referee-etc.., and it allows my hubby the insight to appreciate what I go through on a daily basis. This allows us the oppurtunity to come up with solutions to the everyday problems that we deal with the kids on and gives the kids time to have a guy day. This has really helped alot. I wish you the best and hope this helps.

Answer 9

You cannot do everything. Make your kids help. It's good for them to learn how to work. You don't have to do all these activities, either. If you're overwhelmed you can take a break for awhile, especially with being pregnant. Of course if you want to do the activities you can, but mainly with as many kids as you have and all of them being old enough to work they should be doing A LOT more.

Answer 10

First thing you need to do is beat up you man to submission. No job of his can match your daily routine. He HAS to help you. Otherwise he's just a HUGE stone in your way. I think he's a lazy *** since those kids are both yours and his. I think HE should do something to ease your heavy load. And for peace sake, you're pregnant. What else can you do to "meet his standards"? I think he's being a bit unfair to you. I think you work way more than he does and even worse, you get no pay at all. The only way you'll be able to put up with all of it is sharing the load. Your husband is a lazy **** if he doesn't help you.