Not wanting you all to feel sorry for me, but I am a little stressed at the moment. I seem to default to low level worry at the best of times, and right now, sleep deprived and with no obvious means of financial support, is not the best of times. I know that I’m not much fun – I don’t smile very much, and I haven’t laughed in a little while. To look on the positive side, I haven’t cried all that much either, although I’ve been close a time or two.
Anyway, I’ve instituted a new regime to try to get through this (yes, another new regime). I briefly tried Flylady, as part of what is getting me down is the clutter, disorganisation and yes, dirt, in the house, but I rapidly discovered that I don’t like being nagged by computer. So I’ve decided to borrow the best bits, which to my mind are the ideas that you are not behind (so you don’t need to catch up), you can jump in right now. Plus the idea to do bits in 15 minute batches – so so far I’ve been trying 15 minutes working, 15 minutes housework and 15 minutes concentrated child attention in the hope that I might make some headway everywhere. Then there’s the 27 fling boogie, where you run through the house and chuck out 27 items – can’t say I’m up to running, but I’m trying to pick up obvious rubbish and dispose of it immediately rather than leaving it lying about. (I’m not talking about dirty rubbish here btw, it’s just stuff like receipts that are several years out of date, labels out of clothes that get put on chests of drawers instead of bins, empty containers that I used to save because they might come in useful – you know the sort of thing).
It seems to be working – I haven’t really yelled at dd yet today, which is quite an achievement in itself. I have dumped her outside a number of times – I understand that a lot of ppl are relaxed about jumping and climbing in the house, but personally, it pushes every one of my buttons, and while I fully accept that this is my problem and I need to work on it, right at the moment, it’s a bit of self-improvement too far. So if she jumps, yells or climbs, she gets one warning, and then it’s outside.
However I have managed some work, some housework, some gardening (child activity) and breakfast and lunch, so I think I’m winning?
Off to do some concentrated one on one child attention as Small has keeled over for a nap.
Comments
10 responses to “Finding it hard to remember to laugh”
hmmm, interesting parallels with my life there once again! I have certain things which are just ‘unacceptable behaviour’ and leaping about on furniture is one of them. Purely by accident we seem to have cracked the counting to three school of discipline. I’ve always doe it with Monster and never ever get past two, although he often sulks and stamps he always stops the bad behaviour. Teeny is way too small to listen though and the current threat is going in her cot when she gets out of order – which probably explains why she wakes most nights and cries to come out of it!! Don’t know what to suggest about not laughing – somehow me and Ady always mahange to be silly enough to make each other laugh no matter what – have to say its been through the tears a few times of late though – oh well, it could be worse – you could be Ahmed!
oh, and i think your routine sounds good – I’m trying to do something similar heree today, so far have not shouted or reduced any small people to tears, on third load of washing and have even ticked some stuff off my job list. The downside is that the kids have been allowed to play with water so there are puddles in many places, and as for flylady – well life’s too short for shiny sinks and wearing lace up shoes round the house!
Yes, i think you are winning, especially as the work you have manged was for me (((((jax))))) – and i do know how you feel; were it not for the distinct upstairsness of my kids this week i suspect walls would be being climbed.
Fran is currently doing the thing that pushes my buttons, which is to chunter constantly the entire time , never mind stamping around like a fairy elephant!
Funny, that’s another of dd’s little tricks – the chuntering and stamping I mean. Today I’ve responded to every attempt to annoy with – outside – and when she has demurred, picked her up and removed her. I *think* it’s an improvement on screaming at her?
(((Jax))) Shall I bring a joke book tomorrow?? Seriously, I’ve tried Flylady and I do find it can work for me, but I can’t be doing with the e-mails so I do what you do and fit it into my lifestyle. Can’t say I’ve done it well lately though!
I’m looking forward to tomorrow, so don’t you dare say you’re not much fun!
*hugs* Jax, we’re trying to instigate new clutter-free living here, maybe you should move house for a headstart? Your ‘regime’ sounds promising though, I hope it continues to work for you, sounds like it’s going well so far 🙂
Jax (((((()))))) Just for you. I totally understand how you feel.
At least you are trying to do something about the way you are feeling.
The Flylady sounds fun. I am totally unhappy with dh today – one
day on holiday and I want a divorce!!
Great Big Virtual (((((((HUG)))))) just for you – no sharing! I really do appreciate how you feel and wish we could do more to help. I’ll try to think of something. But you do seem to be making the right decisions and things are beginning to look up a bit.
(((Jax))) You’ve inspired me to have another fo at living a little tidier. (Thats no small thing!)
Flylady – just looked at it, I might even give it a try, though I don’t respond well to nagging either! I completely identify with a lot of what you wrote there, especially the clothes tags that are always on chests of drawers around here, I have absolutely no idea why I do that, but I know I have to stop it before DD learns that “thats the way its done”!
Aw, more hugs from here too Jax 🙂
I do the 15 minutes thing most of the time already ….. but not by design, more that my concentration is crap these days, and I’m forever interrupted anyway!
We seem to be on an endless quest to sort the house out, and get everything arranged perfectly …. trouble is, I’m beginning to wonder whether this is ever achievable? Can’t imagine life ever being static enough for us to catch up with it!