That sound you just heard was my head exploding
My kid has been up since 5am, and she is currently refusing to nap.
She was cranky and whiny ALL MORNING. I know she's tired, but still, she won't nap. Which means this afternoon is going to be TONS of fun.
Willa normally wakes up around 7am, but for the past 9 or 10 days the latest she has woken up is 6:30.
I'm REALLY hoping it's because she is teething, and then when her teeth break through she will go back to her old schedule.
Most of the things you can do with kids- museums, libraries, the mall- don't open until 10am, so I've been struggling to keep her occupied in the morning.
This could not be happening at a worse time. I've got a billionty things going on.
Today I have to make and drop of dinner for a family of 5. (One of the moms in my playgroup just had a baby.)
Tomorrow, my mom is coming to stay, and I have to attend a dinner.
Thursday, the husband is working over night. (Which means he'll leave for work at 6am on Thursday and not be home until about 10am on Friday.)
Friday is Willa's birthday- we're taking her to the Bronx Zoo.
Saturday, we're taking Willa to a carnival during the day, and going to a party at night.
And Sunday is Willa's birthday party. We are expecting 35-40 people.
I have to get the decorations and the favors, and clean the house, and make the cake, and cook all the food, and, and , and- EXCUSE ME WHILE I GO BREATHE INTO A PAPER BAG.
I have no idea how I'm going to get everything done- especially with a cranky, clingy kid who won't nap.
I'm exhausted.
Comments
Take a deep breath. I'm sorry Willa is being cranky. Forgive me, but you don't *have* to do all these things; you've volunteered for or created some of them. You don't *have* to take Willa to the zoo or to the carnival. You probably don't *have* to attend the dinner. It's likely that you volunteered to make the dinner for 5 (which really is a sweet thing to do, but you've got your plate full already). You don't *have* to throw a birthday party, and you certainly don't *have* to have that many attendees. You don't *have* to have decorations or bake a cake.
Now that I've probably made you angry, please just hear me out -- people, women in particular, get caught up in these ideas that they have to do EVERYthing, or that they have to do things simply because it's "how things are done." It's your life; do what you want to do, and do what you need to do for you and your family. Good luck!
Posted by: Tasha | May 12, 2009 03:29 PM
Oh man I have so been there. Kids always pick a GREAT time to be cranky and non sleepy and clingy (as if there is really ever a good time).
Teething SUCKS.
Sorry, I don't have anything to offer except my sincerest empathy!
Posted by: Farrell | May 12, 2009 07:10 PM
"billionty" is not a word.
love you miss you.
Posted by: Jonathan | May 12, 2009 09:44 PM
At the risk of enraging you, I am gonna have to go with Tasha on this one.
After 7 years of mommyhood, I finally have reached the point where I have said to myself "Martyring myself to please everyone else will ultimately destroy me, and then what good will I be to anyone?"
I've begun to take stock of what is necessary and what is unnecessary and half the crap I do besides work and taking care of my family is based on some effed up notion that I am supposed to do this or that. It's crazy what we women do to ourselves.
You've been through some tremendous $hit the past few years..look at everything you listed above and compare it to some of your greatest strifes and triumphs...
When I do that, all that stupid Bull$hit I stress myself out about looks pretty inconsequential.
Sorry- I have been reading for a while, love your blog, haven't commented much, but really wanted to weigh in on a subject that I learned the hard way...
Take care of you and yours first and everything else is secondary.
Posted by: suzanne | May 13, 2009 05:16 PM
You guys aren't making me angry. I'm fine with constructive criticism.
I know that I need to learn how to say "no".
You guys would be proud of me- I canceled my dinner plans for tonight.
And Goldner, if my husband can make up words, so can I.
Posted by: Torrie | May 13, 2009 07:08 PM
Yay! Good for you. And "billionty" is so a word. Obviously.
Posted by: Tasha | May 14, 2009 11:52 AM
Good Job Torrie...
Just say NO!!!!
Posted by: suzanne | May 14, 2009 01:24 PM
Hi Torrie
I agree with Tasha, too. Cut yourself some slack. The only person who expects you to do all this is...you. I've just had another baby, and I congratulate myself on getting one thing a day done. It's refreshing to be this slack :)
Happy birthday to your gorgeous girl, too. Those photos are amazing.
Posted by: JEN | May 22, 2009 01:20 AM