[BlueMoon6]

I would like to rant. This is my first rant thread and Im going to do it!

I have just had it with this Christmas vacation. I have done nothing but go go go and I thought maybe Id rest friday, but then I had 1000 people and kids in my house. OK- it was fun, it really was, but when it is your house, you are serving, feeding people, cleaning up, making sure everyone is happy and making sure small kids get hurt. There was everyone from teenagers to toddlers here. OK- I didnt mind. Then fri night I spent cleaning up the mess. It was OK, but not restful at all. I thought Sat Id rest- no such luck, 2 families unexpectedly with kids showed up for lunch. Now, I adore these friends, I cant say I didnt want them here. It isnt that. And so it makes me feel guilty to say this. And we had great conversation and some wine and it was a lovely afternoon, BUT I didnt sit down for even a second between serving lunch, dessert and coffee and snacks etc and then cleaning up.

I have never wanted to sit in ftt's room as badly as I did after everyone left. THEN, I get phone call, can X Yand Z please come and sleep over tonight (3 children under the age of 7). This is a good friend asking for a favor. So, they came over and everyone is WILD. We baked, then they played, but I was needed every second and now I just threw the whole gang (including my toddler and 2 yo) into the bath and the water leaked below into my living room! I need to sit down. I need to meditate and breathe! I need to put two coherent thoughts together. I came upstairs to my bedroom to use the computer...for 30 seconds before they followed me to jump on my bed!

All week Ive been runnning around, hosting sleepovers, and driving kids here and there. I usually have little trouble saying no, but it has not been a week of "no." Its always yes. I have to go out now to pick up my daughter in 8 degree weather from ice skating.

Ive had it! I called the mom and told her I had no energy left for the sleepover, Im too tired. They can play until they passout and then go home. We are expecting 10 to 12 inches of snow and OMG if these kids get stranded here! So...they are in pajamas now and going home soon.

I feel like I need to settle myself into a nursing home...a nursing home with daycare...do you think they have that kind of thing?

OK- rant over....I hope tomorrows basketball practice and game gets snowed out

[ECHOES]

and making sure small kids get hurt.

Ummmm.. Freudian slip? Sorry, I just chuckled because Mother Theresa herself would have been at her wits end with such non-stop kids and commotion!!

What a hectic time doing for everyone else! I understand loving to do that and still wanting time for you. xo.

I'm glad you called the mom and said you were feeling too tired, taking caring of you and putting you first, at last.

Mommy respite--I love that! OMG, what an interesting venture that would be! Instead of blankies and sippy cups, it would be back rubs and wine

[jexa]

Blue WOW this is so overwhelming!! You have your session on Monday, right? Sounds like you need blue time NOW. That hour with ftt will be very nice after this craziness. Can you sneak out to take a nice bath or something?

[googley]

(((((Blue)))))

Good for you for ranting!!!!! We all need a rant once in a while. And you had so much going on. Three extra kids plus your own. All those other friends you had over before that. No wonder you are exhausted. I hope there is a lot of snow, (and no other problems) so you don't have to go out tomorrow and that your kids do a good job of entertaining themselves so that you can get some rest. I'm also glad you called the kids parent's and said that you could not keep them for the night. There will be other times for them to stay over (and for your kids to go over there for you to get a break) in the future. At least at that age they would actually go to sleep at night. I hope you figure out what is wrong with your bathroom so it doesn't get worse. Good luck. And I hope it isn't too cold where you are along with the snow.

[BlueMoon6]

Thanks Echoes, Jexa and Googley I so needed your replies to me!

THEY LEFT! And its 11:46...almost sunday! And I see ftt on monday phew!
That, uh, Freudian slip cracked me up! LOL! Yes...canonize me now....I feel ready for sainthood.....
Can saints get backrubs and wine? Thats what I want....to be a saint who gets a backrub and a glass of wine....

Finally Ive got my husband downnstairs doing the last of the cleaning up. Then we can figure out where in the tub the dern leaking is coming from....UGH!

Im taking a looooong hot shower....and praying for lots of snow.....

[rainbow8]

(((((Blue))))))

I wrote a reply but I lost it. Here goes again. I got exhausted just READING everything you've been doing with your kids and everyone else's kids! You do need a break, I agree. I'm glad you stood up for yourself and canceled the sleepover. It will great to get the snow, but then the kids may be stuck in the house again instead of going to school on Monday.

I know many people with big families. Hang in, there. When the oldest gets a drivers license then he/she can chauffeur the others around! Of course then you worry about them driving!

I'm glad your H is helping clean up.

[Melbadaze]

sounds like you need tp practise the word no..good friends or not...check in with yourself first, if its feels to much then say so..otherwise resentments build and peoplw pick up on atmosphere...you earn much more respect For showing your able to say no at times...plus it teaches your kids that its ok to say no and take care of themselves.

[sunrise]

Blue, all you wrote sounds completely overwhelming. I am so glad you called the mom and told her to come get her kids. I am so glad your H is helping clean up the living room mess.

It is so hard to say no. Why don't they teach that in school--how to say no? Why don't they teach us to set boundaries? Saying no is setting a boundary, right? How about when you go in the bedroom for a sec to catch your breath, you lock the door behind you so the hordes can't follow? Just for 5 minutes. Can they go bug dad while you take a few minutes to recoup?

I hope you don't get all that snow so the kids can go back to school as scheduled. Can your H take the kids to basketball practice tomorrow?

Hang in there, Blue. Holidays are a challenge. Hopefully, things will calm down very soon.

(((((((((((((Blue))))))))))))!!!!

Ack, I'm sorry things are so overwhelming right now. I know that go, go, go, go feeling, with kids everywhere that aren't even your own....at first it's like "oh wow, look at all this chaos! how fun!"...but after a few hours...or a few DAYS () it can get SO overwhelming. I am so glad you drew the line last night and sent the extra kids home...that is good self-care.

I hope you can find some quiet time today. Things WILL get done in the house. They don't have to happen today. Can you take the day off other than feeding people and maybe getting them to basketball?? If you have another tub, this tub can wait. Cleaning can wait. You need a chance to breathe and regroup.

Yay for seeing ftt tomorrow - a quiet hour just for YOU

[Kiya]

((((((((((((((Bluey!!!))))))))))))))) OMG that is a LOT to take on. I hope you get some badly needed rest!!!

[BlueMoon6]

(((((Rainbow, Melba, Sunny, Tree, Kiya)))))) Thank you Its funny, I am usually pretty good with saying no. Usually. I have times like these, where, just like Tree said, I am comfortable with the chaos, everyone is happy, Im enjoying myself. Its been this way all week. And so I keep saying yes not realizing Im reaching my limit. The I reach that limit and BAM! Ive hit the wall.

I took a breather last night. And this morning nothing was cancelled, basketball was fine.

Sunny- I like what you said about setting boundries. I think there are times like these that I am not aware of my boundries. It isnt as if I want to say no but dont, Im enjoying it all, but then, I realize Im overwhelmed and need a break. I should have said no to the late night playdate. And thank God I changed my mind. I could not have done it all this morning for breakfast and getting everyone dressed and out the door.

Today is slower. H took the boys to a movie, big girls texting themselves into oblivion and little girls watching tv and Im here at the laptop SITTING DOWN!

[moonrise]

Wow - I got tired simply reading that! I'm glad today has been slower. The one thing I hate about holidays is how crazy busy it gets. Smart of you to get the kids out of the house. I'm not a fan of having extra kids over during the day - sleepovers are likely to drive me to insanity, if I'm not already there.

[Sannah]

Yes, it's Monday morning and hubby is at work and the kids are at school, Yyyyaaaaaahhhhhh! Two weeks off is nice and too much sometimes. I have been running since November 21st. 1) My parents first came for a 2 week visit, then 2) we went on a one week trip, 3) back home rush around clean, laundry, put up the tree, Christmas shop, decorate, 4) SIL comes for one week, 5) in the middle of this I have to fast for 3 days for special allergy shot and I get a bad cold at the same time, 6) more family over for dinner yesterday. It's OVER! Everything is back to normal! (But it was fun too........)

[BlueMoon6]

OMG! It sound like you have had it, too, Sannah! Lets spin together! Then we can lie down and sleep for a week.

Kids are back in school here, too. And had a good session with ftt. Sigh...