I am scared. Every day I have a period of time where I am just so scared. It's like living in a horror movie. It is not a panic attack - there are no real physical symptoms. I am not depressed or unhappy - I feel pretty content with life in general. Yet I am still scared. I don't allow myself to be scared for a long period of time - I talk it out of my head until it returns the next day
I learned to stop worrying - I used to worry about things at night preventing myself from having a good nights sleep. Once I had kids - I didn't want them to seem me worrying so I have tried to step back when something troubles me and decide if worrying will help or benefit me in any way. The answer is usually NO. I have discovered though that by not worrying, I almost live in a state of denial. My style of "thinking about it tomorrow" works but puts some things so far out of my mind that I don't effectively deal with them.
I am scared that our finances will never improve. My husband has a good job and he works so very hard to take care of us. The rising costs of everything and the addition of a 3rd child have made things so tight that it seems like every other week I am trying to book massages or sell something - anything to make sure we are ok. I will skip lunch during the week with the irrationally assumption that I am making the food last longer even though I always make sure we have food.
Part of me wants to find a job to take pressure off my husband and improve things while the other part knows that just about any job I could find around here would barely pay for daycare for a toddler and an infant. The last thing I want to is to ever make my husband feel like he isn't an awesome provider. This leads me to a irrational fear that one day he will wake up and realize that if he wasn't taking care of a wife and 3 kids - he would be doing pretty good. he would be able to buy things that he wants. I know this is irrational because he loves us all so much but it is still a fear in the back of my head.
It seems to happen a lot in the middle of the day - when I have no adult around to talk to and I am playing with the two little kids. A thought will go through my mind and I get scared. I will usually chase it away by having a mommy time out on the front porch. I know that I need to quit smoking, I want to quit smoking. It's not a good example for my kids, it's a waste of money, it's unhealthy but it's also the one thing that helps during the scary time. A smoke break and then a cuddle with my 3 year old (she is so sparkly that she is good at chasing any bad mood away).
I am scared for my 6 year old daughter. I am scared that I have messed her up and I don't know how. She used to be very carefree. She would talk to anyone and was so outgoing. Over the last two years she has become very anxious, scared to try things, and very prone to crying at the drop of the hat. Today we took her to try a martial arts class - you could tell she wanted to do it so so bad. For the most part she hid behind me, cried, got angry, talked non-stop, didn't like that she didn't know how to do it, was worried it would be hard and was just too nervous to try. She did do a little stretching and then came right back to us. We did not now what to do. It made me want to cry. After this - we ran an errand and she was fine, then came a meltdown about dinner, then fine again, then a meltdown about her loose tooth. It needs to come out NOW but she is too scared it will hurt. She also wants it out because she is afraid she will swallow it. How do you solve a problem where both solutions cause worry??? Pulling - worry, leave it alone - worry.
I can tell some times this is done for attention ( the tooth incident just happened to occur right at bedtime) and I am trying not to buy in to the times where it is not "real" fear but a desire for attention. It is so hard sometimes to differentiate between attention-wanting and severe fear. I cannot allow her to control everything and act however she wants because I am scared it will produce more anxiety but I swear I don't know how to handle it! She has many of the symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder except the main one - she is great in school. Now she will not speak up in class much but she enjoys school and does well in it. She has friends, all the staff think she is so well-spoken and sweet. They don't see the anxious child that talks obsessively about tornadoes and house fires; wanting to make sure I have a plan if either happen. She wants to know everything - we have to hid to discuss things because she will lurk just around the corner to find out what my husband and I are talking about.
I just want her to enjoy being a kid again instead of always worrying.
People tell me that I am so laid back, that I am good at handling things, that I give good advice. In most areas of my life - I would agree. When it comes to money and my daughter's issues - I am none of that. I am just scared.... and I am tired of being scared.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Married.....With Children???? How did that happen?
Some days I wake up and wonder how I got here. I always knew I would have kids. I told people when I was 6 that I was going to be a mom when I grew up. When adults would ask me about getting married - I would say "why?"
I really never thought I would be married. My parents divorced when I was 9 and while I was sad, I was also old enough to recognize that it was probably the best decision. Granted it wasn't fun. I was one of the only kids in my class with divorced parents at the time. After the initial shock wore off - both parents were happier in the long run but one probably wouldn't admit it. I saw my mother doing everything and figured why should I bother ever getting married - I can do it all by myself.
I realized as I got older that it is nicer to have a partner to share the happy times and the bad but I still didn't think I would end up married. Now here I am - almost 7 years of marriage and 3 kids later. I love my husband dearly - I wouldn't trade him for the world. At the same time, I suck at marriage. The political, feminist part of my brain cannot believe sometimes that not only am I married but I am a housewife! I am not good at communicating when I want to do or plan things. I either don't do them or schedule them and then pass on the information when I should have an open discussion on plans. I think subconsciously I feel like I am asking permission.
I suck at asking for help. I try to do it all even to the point of interrupting my husband when he is doing something by trying to do it for him. My brain must be thoroughly confused because when I don't ask for help or have run him off from completing whatever task he was trying to do - I find later that I am ill that I have no help! I have always had a bad habit of trying to do it myself. When I was in AmeriCorps and was a team leader in charge of 14 others - instead of dictating various tasks that needed to be done, I would try to do it all. I think it came from a combination of:
1. If I do it then I know it will be done.
2. If I do it then I won't inconvenience anyone.
3. If I do it things will be more peaceful, everyone will love me and we will all be happy.
I knew as soon as that year ended that I should have done things differently and I would love to redo that year in a completely different way. While I recognize this for that period in my life, I find myself doing the exact same thing in my marriage. "He works hard all day, I shouldn't ask for any help." "The kids picked up a few toys so I will just do the rest so it is done faster."
I lack skills in getting things off my chest. I used to like to do it by writing letters. You can say a lot more in a letter - without worry of being interrupted/chastised/seeing eyes roll. When I found out that my husband hated when I wrote the soul bearing letters - I didn't stop but I cut back tremendously. Now I just don't get it off my chest. If it builds up too much, I find that I take it out on my kids. Talk about feeling like a tool! When I snap at my kids because I am mad at myself - I want to cry. I am capable enough to be alone with my children all day and make decisions for them. When the evening comes though and I am no longer a solo parent - I lose all my abilities. When my husband and I disagree on something to do with the kids, I do not try to make my point, or explain my rationale. I pout. Like a 9 year old kid. I.Must.Learn.Communication!
I have come a long way in some regards. I can't even describe how weird/scary/uncomfortable it was to be a stay at home mom at first. I totally felt that he had an income and I was completely broke. I got over that and worked through it - it took a couple of years and a couple of kids to realize that I was working too, I just didn't contribute a paycheck! I have not gotten better at keeping the house but I am trying. I want to learn to cook more because I enjoy it a lot of times. I want to learn communication skills and stress relieving techniques to calm my inner voices on the days where I feel like I am tending to 4 people and not tending to myself.
I see that my 9 year old brain that watched my parents divorce was affected more than I realized. The pouty, stubborn, easily hurt, emotional 9 year old part of my brain needs to be suppressed a bit so the 36 year old adult part of my brain can thrive in marriage and with kids!
I really never thought I would be married. My parents divorced when I was 9 and while I was sad, I was also old enough to recognize that it was probably the best decision. Granted it wasn't fun. I was one of the only kids in my class with divorced parents at the time. After the initial shock wore off - both parents were happier in the long run but one probably wouldn't admit it. I saw my mother doing everything and figured why should I bother ever getting married - I can do it all by myself.
I realized as I got older that it is nicer to have a partner to share the happy times and the bad but I still didn't think I would end up married. Now here I am - almost 7 years of marriage and 3 kids later. I love my husband dearly - I wouldn't trade him for the world. At the same time, I suck at marriage. The political, feminist part of my brain cannot believe sometimes that not only am I married but I am a housewife! I am not good at communicating when I want to do or plan things. I either don't do them or schedule them and then pass on the information when I should have an open discussion on plans. I think subconsciously I feel like I am asking permission.
I suck at asking for help. I try to do it all even to the point of interrupting my husband when he is doing something by trying to do it for him. My brain must be thoroughly confused because when I don't ask for help or have run him off from completing whatever task he was trying to do - I find later that I am ill that I have no help! I have always had a bad habit of trying to do it myself. When I was in AmeriCorps and was a team leader in charge of 14 others - instead of dictating various tasks that needed to be done, I would try to do it all. I think it came from a combination of:
1. If I do it then I know it will be done.
2. If I do it then I won't inconvenience anyone.
3. If I do it things will be more peaceful, everyone will love me and we will all be happy.
I knew as soon as that year ended that I should have done things differently and I would love to redo that year in a completely different way. While I recognize this for that period in my life, I find myself doing the exact same thing in my marriage. "He works hard all day, I shouldn't ask for any help." "The kids picked up a few toys so I will just do the rest so it is done faster."
I lack skills in getting things off my chest. I used to like to do it by writing letters. You can say a lot more in a letter - without worry of being interrupted/chastised/seeing eyes roll. When I found out that my husband hated when I wrote the soul bearing letters - I didn't stop but I cut back tremendously. Now I just don't get it off my chest. If it builds up too much, I find that I take it out on my kids. Talk about feeling like a tool! When I snap at my kids because I am mad at myself - I want to cry. I am capable enough to be alone with my children all day and make decisions for them. When the evening comes though and I am no longer a solo parent - I lose all my abilities. When my husband and I disagree on something to do with the kids, I do not try to make my point, or explain my rationale. I pout. Like a 9 year old kid. I.Must.Learn.Communication!
I have come a long way in some regards. I can't even describe how weird/scary/uncomfortable it was to be a stay at home mom at first. I totally felt that he had an income and I was completely broke. I got over that and worked through it - it took a couple of years and a couple of kids to realize that I was working too, I just didn't contribute a paycheck! I have not gotten better at keeping the house but I am trying. I want to learn to cook more because I enjoy it a lot of times. I want to learn communication skills and stress relieving techniques to calm my inner voices on the days where I feel like I am tending to 4 people and not tending to myself.
I see that my 9 year old brain that watched my parents divorce was affected more than I realized. The pouty, stubborn, easily hurt, emotional 9 year old part of my brain needs to be suppressed a bit so the 36 year old adult part of my brain can thrive in marriage and with kids!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
A whole year? Really?
I was thinking today how I don't write anymore. I used to write all the time - stories, poems, scenes from plays. It's been a year since I even wrote something on here. I can't believe it. Granted this year has been super hectic but I owe it to myself to find that creative outlet at least occasionally! My goal is to do this at least once a week whether anyone actually reads it or not!
A summary of the past year:
My anxious 5 year old (Schmoo) is now an anxious 6 year old. Still obsessed with tornados but improving in other areas. She had a good kindergarten year and will be starting first grade day after tomorrow. In some ways she is better mostly because I have learned how to handle her worries. In some ways we have regressed but I guess each day is a step. She is so smart, so empathetic, so caring - I just want her to be a kid and leave the worry to me! When we find things that "make" her a 6 year old - we try to do them over and over. This past weekend the whole family went camping. At the park was a carousel. When G. rode it - her face was relaxed yet excited. My husband was so touched by how happy it made her that we all had to ride it the second time!
My 2 year old is now a very spirited 3 year old. She used to be the baby - now she has been given the title of The Middle Child. When she was an infant, her older sister showed her jealousy in ways we expected. Whenever anyone would play with Sugarbug - Schmoo would start saying "look at me" and find something to get the attention on her. Sugarbug has a different approach to this. When her baby brother is getting any attention, she doesn't try to get our attention - she tries to get his! She is literally and figuratively trying to smother him with love. She is always on him, touching him, singing (screaming) in his face, kissing and sometimes even hiding him under pillows! She has lost her fearlessness that she had last year. Now dogs and large boys scare her (the boy part from an evil neighbor who scared her). I hope this passes and some of her fearlessness returns - it was such an awesome light shining from her!
We have now added BooBoo bear to our family - an adorable, happy 7 month old boy who fills me up and drains me at the same time! We all love him so and I can't imagine life without him. He will be so protected by his big sisters that I feel sorry for future friends who are ever mean to him! He definitely has daddy's heart and my late night breastfeeding/covering his head with kisses sessions are something I look forward to no matter how sleepy I am.
This year has been tough learning to juggle a school aged child, a preschooler and a newborn but we have done it! We are thoroughly exhausted, surrounded by a house full of clutter (no time to fix any of that right now) and poorer than I have ever been in my life. At the same time - my heart is full. I am almost 37 years old but to me August/September is the start of the new year for me. I am eternally on a "school" schedule. I know this year is going to be great. The energy will return, the clutter will either slowly trickle out or take over, the money will improve, I will find time to express myself in some way and our lives will continue of this crazy, hectic journey.
A summary of the past year:
My anxious 5 year old (Schmoo) is now an anxious 6 year old. Still obsessed with tornados but improving in other areas. She had a good kindergarten year and will be starting first grade day after tomorrow. In some ways she is better mostly because I have learned how to handle her worries. In some ways we have regressed but I guess each day is a step. She is so smart, so empathetic, so caring - I just want her to be a kid and leave the worry to me! When we find things that "make" her a 6 year old - we try to do them over and over. This past weekend the whole family went camping. At the park was a carousel. When G. rode it - her face was relaxed yet excited. My husband was so touched by how happy it made her that we all had to ride it the second time!
My 2 year old is now a very spirited 3 year old. She used to be the baby - now she has been given the title of The Middle Child. When she was an infant, her older sister showed her jealousy in ways we expected. Whenever anyone would play with Sugarbug - Schmoo would start saying "look at me" and find something to get the attention on her. Sugarbug has a different approach to this. When her baby brother is getting any attention, she doesn't try to get our attention - she tries to get his! She is literally and figuratively trying to smother him with love. She is always on him, touching him, singing (screaming) in his face, kissing and sometimes even hiding him under pillows! She has lost her fearlessness that she had last year. Now dogs and large boys scare her (the boy part from an evil neighbor who scared her). I hope this passes and some of her fearlessness returns - it was such an awesome light shining from her!
We have now added BooBoo bear to our family - an adorable, happy 7 month old boy who fills me up and drains me at the same time! We all love him so and I can't imagine life without him. He will be so protected by his big sisters that I feel sorry for future friends who are ever mean to him! He definitely has daddy's heart and my late night breastfeeding/covering his head with kisses sessions are something I look forward to no matter how sleepy I am.
This year has been tough learning to juggle a school aged child, a preschooler and a newborn but we have done it! We are thoroughly exhausted, surrounded by a house full of clutter (no time to fix any of that right now) and poorer than I have ever been in my life. At the same time - my heart is full. I am almost 37 years old but to me August/September is the start of the new year for me. I am eternally on a "school" schedule. I know this year is going to be great. The energy will return, the clutter will either slowly trickle out or take over, the money will improve, I will find time to express myself in some way and our lives will continue of this crazy, hectic journey.
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