im currently pregnant with my third child.at home i have a 3yo and 16mo.wen i have this baby my daughters will be 21mos and almost 4.im also in the middle of a messy divorce.do you have any ideas on how to minimize stress
2007-12-03 09:22:32 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
my first 3 were about that same distance apart. i have no idea how to minimize divorce stress -- sorry, i bet that's really tough. but for kid stress, the tricks i've found that work are to sit down and cuddle with a kid when people are starting to get cranky, or turn on some music and dance. exercise helps. i swear by turning on the classical music around 5 when people are getting grumpy. definitely the occasional night out helps. your kids are still pretty little, but with mine we all have a "read to yourself" time at the end of the day where kids and parents all sit around and read whatever they want (book, newspaper, whatever). i love that (a cup of tea makes it even more relaxing). definitely don't overschedule the kids ... i know the one winter when i let the three older kids do 3 activities each was a disaster! say no. i have decided to ignore the people who clearly think i should be volunteering more at school (i do have one volunteer role, and that's all i'm taking on right now with 4 kids under 9, thank you very much). have a mom's group or book group or other scheduled time when you can get together with friends and either vent or talk about something that has nothing to do with the things that are stressing you out. okay, and then there's the occasional chocolate bar. ;-)
2007-12-03 12:14:15 · answer #1 · answered by ... 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow - when my third baby was born, my other two kids were almost 3 yrs and the other was 13 months. So I can relate to that part of it. But you have a divorce on top of that, yikes!
If you can afford it, hire a babysitter - or take any offers from help from family. The more help you get and the more breaks you get, the less stressful the parenting part of it will be. Try to be as organized as possible. And again - get help, help, help. I wish you the best of luck!
2007-12-03 09:31:48 · answer #2 · answered by Mom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh my goodness, you do have your hands full. And this certainly won't end anytime soon. I have one toddler (and I'm single as well) and I think that's a handful.
You have to give yourself credit for what you have done already. Keep the faith. Look at your children: I'm sure they are healthy bright (energetic) children :-) Just remind yourself that you have done the job thus far, and they certainly won't be little forever.
Drink espresso and be sure to make time for yourself, even if its a 15 min bubble bath after they all fall asleep.
Best of luck!
2007-12-03 09:35:12 · answer #3 · answered by P.Y.T.23 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
consistency is the best remedy. Since you are pregnant and divorcing do your best to make a everyday routine for the children and eventually it will help you and them to feel some kind of relief.
2007-12-03 09:29:25 · answer #4 · answered by mariarh79 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have fun with your kids, usually the stress comes from the divorce.
2007-12-03 09:27:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
find things that you like to do without the kids, even if it's only for half an hour. get someone to come watch them so you can soak in the tub or go to the grocery alone. do little things for yourself.
2007-12-03 09:31:16 · answer #6 · answered by wendy_da_goodlil_witch 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Naps
2007-12-03 11:15:19 · answer #7 · answered by TryItOnce 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry. You have a tough situation. Pray and ask friends for help. I wish you well.
2007-12-03 09:36:18 · answer #8 · answered by Beachgirl123 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
get some help and support either at church or form friends and family
2007-12-03 09:40:51 · answer #9 · answered by just duky 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋