so I don’t know where to start.
I’ve tweaked MonsterTeeny to fix the bit I didn’t notice was broken at some unearthly hour this morning.
I ran hot water in the sink and then let it go cold…so much for washing up. I rinsed the clothes in the washing machine preparatory to hanging them out…and it started to rain again.
Big and I have done some work on the clock that she wants to make to learn to tell the time – we’ve practised drawing circles with a compass, divided it up into 12 to put the numbers on, practised writing the numbers – and I’m wondering why I can’t just let it go if she says something like “I’ll draw the numbers now” and I have to say “we usually say write numbers” and we end up having a massive argument for no reason (I’ve just sent her to her room so that I don’t scream at her).
What is wrong with me? Why can’t I just relax and let it be….she’ll get there in the end and it isn’t important right now. (Isn’t important at all tbh, don’t know why it bugs me.)
I would really like a few minutes peace and quiet every once in a while – instead of having two children running in and out when I’m on the loo, or Big trying to show me her drawing when I’ve got my hands full trying to change a nappy full of shit.
And I know that the days go like this when she’s been up for a while before me, so I keep thinking that I need to sort out Small and his sleeping – we lay in til 10am this morning because he was so late to bed last night.
Aargh….
Comments
4 responses to “Too much to do”
Oh Jax this rings so many bells and it isn’t any easier when you have only one – they still think you exist purely for their pleasure!
It boils down to your own style of parenting and what you feel is right for you and yours. In my case, as I was on my own with a child, I set the boundaries from pretty much day one – I didn’t want to make a rod for my own back long term. Thus small person has always known that there is time for her, time for me and time when stuff just has to get done. Its taken a number of years for her to actually ‘get it’ that if she let me do stuff that needed to be done (ie put shopping away/go to loo) she would have my attention that bit quicker. I got sick of hearing myself say “let me finish doing this and then you will have my undivided attention. The longer you stand there arguing with me, the longer it will take before I can/will look/do whatever”. Trouble is they are children and as such do not have the understanding yet of other ppl but they can be taught it gradually: children are essentially selfish and have to be to ensure their survival at a basic level.
I agree that getting Small’s sleep pattern sorted is a priority: you need regular sleep and it is beneficial to him to have a regular sleep pattern. Even if small person wasn’t tired, there was a cut off point when she went to bed, even if she only lay there in the dark resting and/or listening to a story tape. When she was moved from a cot to a bed aged 11months, it took a week of returning her to bed several times a night before she got the picture that she had to stay put no matter what. Since then, no problems with bed time.
And I think you hit the nail on the head when you said “it isn’t important at all tbh”. I have met so many home edders who think that they should take every available opportunity and turn it into an educational moment. Sometimes that isn’t appropriate and we should just enjoy the moment for what it is. She will learn whatever when she is ready to learn it. I’ve had to relax about that one too 😉 I think that I would have responded to her “I’ll draw the numbers now” would have been “ok, you write them on” which is reinforcing the correct language without making a thing out of it. Subtle difference I know but maybe an important distinction to make.
Or alternatively you can tell me to bugger off! 🙂
(((((((((Jax)))))))))) Just close your eyes for 10 seconds and imagine yourself in the most comfortable place you can be then open them.
Have some (((Jax))) from me (if my kids will let me have the two seconds it takes to send them without shouting at me, demanding something or generally being well erm kids!
Ady has not helped either but I will blog that :-)(under rants!)
Claire – your second paragraph really stood out to me – it’s true we do seem to see every single educational opportunity as one we need to grab – if they really are ready to learn it then the opportunity will arise again – thanks for that (although it was directed at Jax!). Better day tomorrow eh?
O, its so hard to have infinite patience! hope you feel better now. This is so like the story of my life. After a great day I suddenly lost it with J for interrupting F counting his abacus. It was soooo important that this educational moment was not missed! I call it HE disease – we have to be so good, at all times.