Friday, May 29, 2009

its been a while

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted. This is going to be a very real post...
I am tired and stressed and in desperate need for my vacation. Ever since Landon was born Trenton and I have been working total opposite schedules. It was ok at first, but after 6 months we both are feeling like single parents. I am either by my self all day with the kids or Trenton is. We don't have days together as a family, and it is starting to really make me sad. At the moment we can't afford daycare for 2 kids, it is very expensive for a good daycare. We are looking for someplace that would take the kids for 2 days a week so that maybe on the weekends we could have two days as a complete family. One issue is with Natalie, she freaks when I leave especially if I leave her with someone she isn't comfortable with. I know what you all are thinking, she will get over it after a few times going, but I don't know. We haven't even been able to leave her in daycare at church, one time she escaped, and all the other times the teacher brings her back to me because she is still screaming bloody murder after 20 minutes. I do believe she would really enjoy playing with other kids. But I also am thinking who in there right mind is going to put up with her screaming until she adjusts. Landon on the other hand would be sooo easy! The next issue is our bedtime routine... We don't have one. When I work I don't get home until 8pm. From the second I get home I am running around trying to get the kids ready for bed. When I am off we aren't racing the clock, so it goes much smoother. So Natalie (again) sleeps in her own bed great at nap time, but at bedtime she screams and cries unless I sit with her until she goes to sleep. I would just let her cry her self to sleep, we did this before Landon and it worked great, she stopped crying after 3 days. But Landon is also in bed at this time and she wakes him up. So now I sit with her for 5 minutes and she goes to sleep, no big deal... except she wakes up screaming at 12am. One of us jumps up and runs in to try and keep her quiet so she doesn't wake Landon. If we get her back to sleep in her bed, she wakes up again 30 min later. So after playing this game she usually ends up in our bed. Then if she hasn't woke Landon up by this time he wakes up at 2am. He used to sleep through the night, but not anymore! So, we are all exhausted in the morning. Just so you know, I realize this is a result of 2 years of spoiling, and we made her this way, but now I really don't what to do. I am just tired. I don't even want to leave the house because I know I have to go by myself. My poor mom is probably sick of us because every time she is off I bring the kids over, just so I can have a little help. I know this was super long and whiny, but I love my kids and I want to do whats best for them, even if I don't always know what that is.

2 comments:

  1. Hi there! I just recently found your blog and I wanted to throw my 2cents into the ring on the bed time thing. I understand what you are saying about Natalie waking Landon if she cries it out - Elliott Richard is 3 and Emmett John is 11m. However, we had the very same issues with Elliott Richard. He would go to sleep and would wake up at 12am (what is it with that time? lol) and then again at 3am. In the end, I just bit the bullet. I threw Emmett John's schedule off by a few days or allowed him to fall asleep on Dad, while I sat with Elliott Richard and let him cry it out. It took a few days (as you know) but in the end, it was far easier to get Emmett John back on schedule than it was to continue going without sleep.

    I have no idea if that was helpful or supportive or not - I was going for helpful and supportive - but I hope so. If not, I'm sorry. I plead extreme exhaustion. :) Either way, good luck!

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  2. Amy, I am sorry that you are having such a hard time it must be so hard to be on your own with the kids on EVERY ONE of your days off. That would be hard for ANY mom. I am hoping that now that things are settling into a routine at daycare I will ask what day she might have a couple of open spots for your kids if you want. I know that Natalie would do better if Makaylah is there too. Looking forward to the zoo this Sunday!! Love Jenifer

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