asmb65

Oh Emilie, you sound truly exhausted. And you sound like an amazing
mom. I often felt as you described in the first months with my second
boy but I only had two kids (although both nursing, co-sleeping) and we
had no traffic to deal with.

Lack of sleep is such a huge issue and it is so impossible to get any
more night time sleep when they are all so little with night times as
there are. So that leaves the day time. Does your three year old nap
still? Is there anyway you could have a quiet time during the
youngest's nap where you could at least rest if not actually sleep? I
know a friend who set up one room to be completely safe for her toddler
so she could have a nap during the day. This may not work with your
older kids but perhaps something along these lines could.

I know getting out the door must be almost impossible but I know for me
my kids are always calmer away from home if there are things to watch
etc. Would getting out for a walk make for a calmer time (and more
restful)? Or would it would too much keeping them together?

It would be amazing if you could somehow tie into some support groups
or community programs so you'd have more of a "pool" of other parents
to help you out. It sounds like you are almost single parenting at the
busiest time (physically for mama) in your children's lives. Are there
community centers with free programs for parents and kids available
locally for you? Is there a local La Leche League group? Some LLL
groups have someone to watch the kids in an adjacent room while the
moms talk. This is what our group does - the kids come and go checking
in with mom or staying completely with mom if that is their preference.
I think you said you were in Canada - I don't know how it is in other
provinces but in BC there is a public health unit which knows of all
local parent programs. Check the blue pages if you have public health
offices in your province.

I hope you can somehow get some more rest. Your goals and hopes will be
so much easier when you are not so tired. Time will also make a huge
difference - I used to continually repeat "this too shall pass" in my
head over and over. Especially when it was 11 a.m., I was still in my
pajamas with ds2 in the sling, hadn't yet had breakfast let alone a cup
of tea and ds1 was talking a mile a minute and intensely asking for
help with project number 47 of the morning.

Wishing calm and energy for you.
Susan

<snip>
> How do others with loads of tiny children manage RU? I want to make
> my life more difficult in order to gain a better relationship with my
> kids, but I start losing it at some undetermined point of difficulty.
> How do I give them this? I have given them the gift of each other,
> which they love and cherish. How do I give them RU too? I know there
> is a way. I just need a little more direction.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Emilie