The Day
Admittedly, yesterday was a rough day for me. It started off strong, and I was had envisioned how everything would go. I was ready! However, my littles were not on board with the plan I created in my head. Who would have thought!
The youngest of my four was not feeling well; therefore, he needed some extra snuggles for the first part of the day. Followed by the chaos that had ensued as soon as the older kids began to get home from school. It was approximately 3 hours of either kids fighting or needing me, because they were struggling. Thank goodness I had started a crockpot meal early in the day.
Still, I became overwhelmed very quickly by the kids simply all needing me at once. Now, not every day is like this. There are many where everything just falls into place. However, yesterday was not that day. Even bedtime was rough, and after trying for an hour to get my youngest asleep, I was thankful my husband came home from work to take over.
How I Managed
By the end of the day, I was exhausted, emotionally and physically. My kids had stretched my patience thin, and in many ways, I didn’t manage. Here are the things that I did wrong:
- I raised my voice at times
- I doubted myself
What I did right:
- After assuring the kids were safe, I stepped away for a few minutes to calm myself – I did this a few times.
- I listened to what my kids needed, and we fixed the problem together.
- I acknowledged that it was a rough day.
- I still put on that movie for quiet time, that we all needed by then.
- I apologized to them for losing my cool. We work through it together.
My kids weren’t being inherently bad yesterday. They were just being kids, and honestly, they were struggling too. There were many times yesterday that I doubted my capabilities as a mother. I think most women do. Parenting is difficult, and not every day will go well. I had to remind myself that I needed to go with the chaos instead of fighting against it.
What I would have changed
Even though I corrected my behavior and made yesterday work, looking back, I know how I would have made the night go more smoothly. First off, I would have started a mini dance party. My kids love music and dancing, and for them, it is like a reset button. So I encourage you, when your kids are having a rough day, throw a dance party. Dance with them, and see the fun you all have. I like to dance with them for just 5 minutes to get them started, and that is just enough time for them to be completely absorbed in the music. That is the only thing I would have changed.
Navigating the chaos isn’t about having everything go as planned; it’s about finding ways to have the chaos work for you.
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