1. Not being around people. Thanks to the weather for a while I've been trapped inside fearing the next thunderstorm. Plans to hang out with various people got cancelled and we all sat on the couch and watched the rain pound down outside. I don't do well with house arrest or social isolation. Solution: Get my butt out of the house more and force people I like to hang out with me.
2. Messy house. I try to not let small things like disorganization and dirty showers get me down. But, they do. When my house is a mess, my head is a mess. I got up and took to my house. I cleaned it up and I feel a million times better. Solution: Clean more as I go.
3. Unplanned days. Getting up in the morning with no idea that we're going to do; making stuff up just to get out of the house and being unprepared when we finally get there; waiting around the house for dad to hurry up and get home...these are all ways to drive me absolutely bonkers. By having an idea (tomorrow we're going to go get lunch here and eat it at this park there, then naptime, then we'll go grocery shopping, then I'll cook dinner) I feel like I'm not just existing here in this house with my kids. Instead, I've got a plan and I have a role (not just lead babysitter). Solution: The day before, plan out what's going down tomorrow!
4. Lack of discipline. Kids are smart and know how to get away with trouble. It's their job. When I start slacking on the discipline my kids will take my inch and run for a mile. All hell starts breaking loose. Tantrum city, hits and kicks. Solution: Throw down the rules and enforce the law.
My triggers are fairly simple but it's so easy to let them slide in the day to day activities. I'm making more of an effort this week and can already feel the changes taking place. I don't like feeling like I'm trapped.
Wow. Did I write this? Same here. Especially with the house cleaning and the discipline. I think that means we are control freaks, and if we are not in control, we tend to freak. :) I used to let other people talk me into thinking that my obsession with a clean house would naturally fade or something was wrong with me. No. It's just the way I am. When things are neat, my brain functions better! Same with the discipline thing. Sometimes I feel like I have to regroup - like for some reason I forgot what I started and have to figure it all out again! I think part of that is also because our kids are always growing and changing and our rules have to adjust to that sometimes.
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