I’m going to go out on a limb here and take a guess that every mama of little ones has had a day (or lots of days if you’re me) that she just wants to pull her hair out and scream “My Kids are driving me CRAZY!” This has been me this week, but I’ve learned a lot along the way.
This has been a pretty challenging week at our house. Hubby has been working 15 hour days, meaning he leaves for work before the kids wake up and he gets home after they are in bed. Since he’s working extra, he’s had to drive himself to work most of the time, instead of hitching a ride with a coworker. This means I’ve been stuck at home with two toddlers all day for multiple days in a row. Sure, we try to do fun things, we go for walks and we had a play date earlier this week, but it’s still been a long week. And yesterday I started to lose my peace.
This afternoon, hubby was home and the kiddos were overjoyed to see him. This evening I’m able to take a step back and relax out of the house and by myself. It’s wonderful. And it’s given me time to reflect. I’m proud of myself for lasting 4 days without the car & stuck at home with the kids. I’m happy that I didn’t feel as crazy this time as I would have last year if I’d been in the same position. Progress has been made, and for that I’m thankful.
As I reflect, I can think of a few things that I’ve discovered along the way. These simple tricks that help me keep my cool when the kids are starting to drive me crazy.
- Tickle Time – It never fails, I’ll be sitting down stealing a quiet moment to clear my head, and one (or both) of my kids will come jump on top of me. They will push and pull, trying to get me off the couch and over to where they are playing. I don’t know why, but this really annoys me, but I have found a solution! When this happens, and they will not be appeased with a “please go play and give mommy just a minute”, it’s tickle time. Instead of shoving them off me, or yelling at them to stop, I start tickling. There is nothing like hearing their sweet giggles to remind me how sweet they are, that they are only young once and gosh aren’t they the cutest things in the whole entire world?!?
- Throw them in the bath – Okay, don’t literally throw them, but you know what I mean. Bathtime is glorious because they entertain themselves. If I’m lucky I can get a good 20-30 minutes of peace as they play in the bath. I have to stay in the room with them for safety of course, but they aren’t demanding snacks or launching themselves off the couches every second, and in those moments I don’t have to say “no” or “get down” or “stop doing that to your sister!” they just play and have fun, and it can be absolutely blissful (albeit noisy).
- Just Go Outside – There is something magical about outside. I learned this trick when my oldest was a baby. He’d be screaming and crying for the longest time, but the moment I took him outside he would calm down and look at the world in wonder. The same is true today. The kids could be fighting or fussing, but the moment I take them on a walk outside they are much happier (bonus, they also get worn out and nap better later in the day!)
- Ask Them to Run – My oldest can never resist an opportunity to show off, and I’ve learned to use that to my advantage! When he’s driving me crazy and clearly has too much pent-up energy, I ask if he can run fast. Then I challenge him to run his “super fastest down the hall”. I tell him I want to watch how fast he can run, and he gets SO excited about it. He runs his little self down the hall and back as many times as I will watch! Afterwards, he’s typically a bit more calm, and a bit less crazy. Nothing like working the energy out to help the kiddos behave!
- Play with them – Sometimes, my kiddos act crazy because they just need my attention. I’ve noticed that some days they just need more attention than they did the day before. On these days I try to give myself a breather, and then jump right in and play with them. If the kitchen stays dirty today that’s okay. My kids need me, and I’d rather have a dirty kitchen and a happy home, than to stress myself out trying to clean it while the toddlers vie for my attention and fuss.
- Pull out the closet toys – On crazy days, sometimes I pull out all the closet toys. Usually they only get one a day, or at least one at a time, but if I feel myself losing it I just get them all out and let the kids go crazy. WE may have a big mess at the end of the day, but I can pick up toys a lot easier than I can pull myself back together after a day that’s been beyond stressful.
What is your best tip for staying sane when you’re stuck at home with the kids? I’d love to hear more ideas!!!
Sarah197 says
Hi Paula, well done for surviving the week! It’s so hard when my boys (3 & 16months) don’t get to see their daddy for a couple of days, they miss him and play up like mad. One of my coping strategies is baking – just something easy that involves a lot of stirring like fridge crispy cake or fairy cakes – my 3yo loves it(I started when he was much younger!) and I let the baby go mad with wooden spoons and Tupperware and plastic cups. Sure, they end up all over the house, by my policy is always to wash them before I use them so I try not to stress too much about what he gets up to with them!! Plus last week my big boy blessed me by asking to help to do the washing up! He loved it and doing the drying up, too! Just like bath time but less water! Every blessing. X
Paula says
That’s such a smart idea! My oldest son LOVES to bake!!!! thanks for the tip :)
Brianna @ Craft Thyme says
I’m a big fan of the ‘go outside’. I am dreading the super cold months solely because it removes that option!
Paula says
me too!!! boo on cold weather! lol
Jennifer says
Going to play outside is my go to way to get a bit of my sanity back!
Paula says
it’s one of my favorites too!
Amber Dawn Morris says
Hello:)
I am SO very happy I have found your blog, it is wonderful, really is!.
I am also a stay at home Mama, I am 29 years old and my Husband and I have
3 children, Joshua 9, Gabriel 7, Autumn 2.
Thanks for sharing:)
Paula says
So happy you are here Amber :)
Amber Dawn Morris says
Oh Sorry also, if you ever want to chat about Motherhood, anything at all I love meeting
new people and making friends!. I have face book it’s under JoshuaandAmber Morris.
Thanks again and take care:D.
Paula says
thanks! : )
Darlene says
I have the privilege to raise one of my granddaughters. She is five right now. Two of her cousins are also five then we have a six month old darling to love.
I find the girls drive me nuts mostly when they are bored or over tired. You are right bath time is wonderful. They seem to be able to keep themselves occupied easily in the tub.
And yes I agree again – stepping outside quiets a grumpy child.
Like your tickle time – I find getting down on the floor with the girls and playing something with them works miracles. Sometimes you just have to stop trying to get that bit of me time, give in and dive right in.
Have a great weekend.
Amanda says
tickle time is a huge favorite of mine; also, my children only get to color/craft when I am there to supervise them, so that is something else I will pull out if they are bored. When they are super hyper I give them water to drink; sometimes they are just dehydrated and need some extra water. Something I read somewhere that I try to keep in mind (Sorry, but I don’t remember where I read it)…grumpy children need one of four things…food, water, attention, or sleep.
Kimberly @ A time to freeze says
Great post! I feel like that most days with my 2 year old and 1 year old. What helps me is loading up the boys in the double stroller and taking a walk to the Starbucks nearby. Mama needs her coffee–and they enjoy getting outside. :)
Stephanie says
Great tips! Whenever my kids were little our closet toys saved me many many times.
Kathy Penney @ Sparkles And A Stove says
Hugs friend! The saying the days are long but the years fly by with little ones is so true. I’m sure it’s even more true when you’re at home with no transportation. It’s wonderful you’ve turned it into a positive and found solutions that will help you and other moms! Thanks for sharing at All Things Pretty.
Katheryn @ The Healthy and Fit Homeschool Mom says
Oh my goodness what great ideas! Especially during the winter when no one wants to go outside! Thank you so much for sharing. I love it. Especially tickle time.
Abby says
Great tips! I love the go outside one myself. For some reason just a change of scenery always seems to help matters.
Elisabeth says
Going outside for some active play followed by a bath is an amazing two-fer (and usually, the littler ones end up drowsy and napping… a three-fer!!) Awesome list of ideas!
Amanda Smith says
Get a dog! My son loves to throw the dogs toys and play hide and go seek with them. They also wrestle.
Amy says
Indoors with 5 kids… Sit on the floor WITH the kids and purposefully play. Set up an activity to work on as a group. Google sensory play activities and you’ll be amazed at what can be done for indoor play with little ones.
Mine are 7, 5, 4, 2 & 6 months so there are certainly crazy days but I’m surviving so I dare say you will too :-)
All the best xx
Emma says
I like your ideas. The bathtub is my go-to sanity-saver in the winter, when my preschooler is just bored with everything and can’t play outside! She also likes putting the sofa cushions on the floor and hopping on them. Simple but effective! lol
Carrie from Carrie This Home says
Thank you for being honest because I have the same feelings most days. Most times I really think my kids are just needing more attention! I found this really helpful so I’m pinning this to my parenting board. Thanks so much for linking up to Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop!
Monica says
Paula,
I love lists like this for when I run out of ideas – Thanks for sharing! Featuring at Family Fun Friday! Monica
http://www.happyandblessedhome.com/category/family-fun/
Crystal & Co says
I love all of your suggestions. I can;t tell you how valuable bath time is. Especially when kids are acting wild and just need a change of scenery.
My readers loved your suggestions too. You were feature this week. Check it out here: http://www.crystalandcomp.com/2013/10/best-mom-advice-101313/.