I am an emotional wreck.
Not the kind of emotional wreck that I was after B was born and I had PPD, though. I want to make that perfectly clear. My emotions are NOT hormone-driven.
They are just the emotions of a woman who sometimes feels like she's drowning.
So in this emotional state I may not express myself as well as I would like.
It has recently been brought to my attention that I may not be able to handle being a wife and mother to two and stepmother to two more.
I separate mother and stepmother because there are different considerations when you're a step-parent. I love my stepkids and I want to make that painfully clear. But... there are different considerations. Such as they have a mother and I in no way want to replace her. I'm not their mother and that is ok. I am ok with it and I think they are too. That doesn't mean that we don't all love each other.
I had been feeling like I was handling things pretty well. I wasn't drowning in self-doubt and worry constantly as I was when I first brought B, home. I am more experienced in newborn now. My husband also takes G every other night so I am getting decent sleep.
It's not the nights that have me worried, it's the days. Days where there is no opportunity to nap and I am constantly battling the toddler and the newborn, hoping that they stay happy all day and if they don't, at least they take turns crying. At the point in my day where I feel like I have a handle on things (B's naptime) the stepkids are getting home and we're starting the rounds of homework and chores. And when that is done it is time to cook dinner and get everyone to bed.
And that does not even take into consideration my duties as a wife.
To say that I am busy is an understatement.
There are days when I am not sure that I am going to make it. And I've already given up on being any sort of attractive at all.
But I had been feeling like we had been making it ok.
But now I'm not so sure. My confidence has been slowly crumbling. Tiny little comments here and there with a negative connotation have me questioning everything.
Maybe I can't handle being a wife and mother of four. It happened so fast. In 17 months I went from no kids to 4 and I worry constantly that I am not good enough.
And maybe I'm not.
I know I fail on a daily basis. I fail to keep my house clean, I fail to cook dinner every night (the husband has been cooking a lot), I fail to be patient and loving at all times.
I've been so worried about B lately. I 've been worrying that I don't teach him nearly enough. He doesn't do arts and crafts at home, he doesn't know his shapes or colors, yet. He can't count and I'm not sure when I'm going to find the time to teach him these things. I know pre-school would teach him all this and more, but I want to be the one to be there for those little moments. I, selfishly, want to teach him all that myself... But how?
I feel like I can either be a GREAT mother to one or a mediocre mother to more.
I already know I've failed as a wife.
So, I am here, an emotional wreck, thinking... They're all right....
I can't handle it.
You are being so hard on yourself right now. You have so very much on your plate! I am not going to invalidate your feelings by telling you not to feel this way; rather, i will say that there is a point in every mother/wife's life when she feels the exact same way. As a mother of a 4 year old, 3 year old, and 2 month old, i have definitely felt that way. You are not alone in feeling that you can't handle it. I hope you are able to have a conversation with your hubby to straighten things out. It is hard to find quality time. He may just miss you. I hope you feel better soon. It will get easier eventually...at least that's what they tell me!
ReplyDeleteOh dear...I feel this way all the time. And I don't have 4 kids!!! Those feelings of self doubt suck big time. I feel overtired and overstressed all the time to one infant and can only imagine the way you must be dealing. I feel like I fail every day when I can't seem to ever find time to cook anything for my husband or get chores done that need doing...it's way harder than anyone tells you it will be.
ReplyDeleteJust know that you are doing the best you can. Maybe you can find help somewhere? A family member or friend who would be willing to take the toddler for a day a week to give you a little time? I know it's not something one wants to ask, but you need a break sometimes.
Just do what you need to do to find some peace with yourself. I am working on that right now and it's tough, but important. You need to know you are doing okay.
you have a lot on your plate and it happened rapidly... please try to breathe and give yourself a break. and, not that i want to defend him (men are idiots), but your husband too, probably. both of you are stressed to the max and have far less time for your relationship than you used to have. i only have one child, and there is more anger and resentment going back and forth than there ever used to be (i'm sure that is about to increase with #2).
ReplyDeleteyou are doing an amazing job dealing with a very full difficult schedule. i am overwhelmed when i think about juggling two children and work after June... so i can only imagine. but, reading that you are handling (you are, even if at times you feel like you aren't) your four kids, husband, and house gives me faith that i can do it too. xoxo.
Oh friend, I hate reading this, and I am just so sorry you are feeling this way... You are enough, more than enough, but I wish it could all be easier. I'm thinking of you...
ReplyDeleteThanks friend. Things are still crazy, but I'm in a much better head space now.
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