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The Chaos of Small Children part of parenting

When does this part end? And how? Seriously, I am dying here.

 

Also, how did you survive it / are you surviving it?

Tags: chaos, early childhood, parenting

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Permalink Reply by Mamawho on March 26, 2011 at 3:42pm
Before I wrangled a kid, I wrangled old folks. Everything had out of the floor, because a trip-and-fall could be fatal. Anything important, especially documents, must be hidden away really well, because in especially demented moments, my great-grandma would throw stuff away or hide it. Anything that could possibly be mistaken for food must be locked away - wax potpourri chips look like candy.

I'm done with wrangling for a while. Thank your deity of choice.
Permalink Reply by TommysMommy on March 26, 2011 at 4:01pm
I just never feel like anything is *done.* There is always something else to do! And Herself is currently in a wonderful stage when if she doesn't get what she wants, she lies down in the middle of the floor and yells. I've been walking around her. Which makes her more unhappy.

There are always toys on the floor, clothes to do, dishes to do, errands to run. I can't wait until they can do more on their own and without my supervision. Cause right now, even if they "help," I might as well do it myself.
Permalink Reply by SweetJudyB on March 27, 2011 at 8:23am

I only have one, he's going to be 3 this summer.  I'm slowly realizing the chaos just morphs into a different type of chaos. 

Not sure what version of chaos you have on your hands, but it is a phase, it will get better, it will be replaced by something different.

 

The only thing that gets me through it to focus on those little moments- an unexpected hug, a snuggle first thing in the morning, an "I love you".  I know when we hit tween years, all those things will be in the past so I enjoy them now. 

Permalink Reply by jenra on March 27, 2011 at 9:24am

Take care of yourself! Do something good for yourself at least once a week and make sure you have time alone. I make sure I get exercise every day and don't let crap food into the house. I used to keep a secret stash of chocolates and sneak one every time I got stressed and figured out that it actually made me feel worse and less able to cope.

 

Some days I really look forward to a glass of wine after dinner, and just thinking about it, how I can go take a bath and have a glass of wine later and it's going to be quiet and I can read my book or just lie there and the only sound I'll hear is the fan and the heat lamp... helps build up my store of calm.

 

It does get better. We recently turned a corner and the utter chaos that ruled our home when The Miniature was little has faded. When he was little I was terrified of what he'd be like as a bigger kid. Autistic kids can throw some real wobblers! I'd worry about how we would deal with him when he wasn't so small, he's nearly as big as me now. While I'm still stronger than him, that's not going to be the case for much longer. Luckily he's settled down quite a bit. He's probably never going to be as compliant or well mannered as my brother and I were as kids, we're not quite as worried.

Permalink Reply by Boring User Name on March 28, 2011 at 7:48pm
I also just want a bit of neatness. He's still a slob when eating. Whatever imaginary play he is involved in, always involves all of his toys! And we are into scissors, so there are little pieces of paper everywhere.

On the upside, I am feeling like the end is in sight. Sunday morning, he asked us if we were still tired (yes, we were [hungover]) and proceeded to get cheese out of the fridge, crackers out of the drawer and make himself a little breakfast. Admittedly, I didn't actually fall back asleep because I don't quit trust him yet, but it was nice.
Permalink Reply by MamatothaMax on March 28, 2011 at 7:59pm
Yes Mojo and Max are at the point where they get up and get themselves breakfast on the weekends. Finn usually sleeps an hour later than weekdays so I look forward to that extra time in bed.

I count down til nap time most days and pretty much take a nap when Finn does every time. Even if it's just stretching in bed with a book or actually sleeping it's at least an hour when I can unwind physically. These days (34 weeks pregnant today) I need the extra sleep.
Permalink Reply by LeastLikely2Breed on March 29, 2011 at 1:58pm

I only have one so... I'm sure it's not as bad but P is a prolific schinvey maker - paper confetti art everywhere. And paint. And trying on every piece of clothing.

 

It wouldn't be so bad if it didn't happen everyday - like groundhog day or Sisyphus or something. Mind numbing chaos.

Permalink Reply by DLBK on March 30, 2011 at 10:46am

I've often thought that Zeus should have had Sisyphus pick up after children instead of push that silly rock. The rock is quiet and doesn't pull at your clothes while you're trying to pick up :-)



LeastLikely2Breed said:

I only have one so... I'm sure it's not as bad but P is a prolific schinvey maker - paper confetti art everywhere. And paint. And trying on every piece of clothing.

 

It wouldn't be so bad if it didn't happen everyday - like groundhog day or Sisyphus or something. Mind numbing chaos.

Permalink Reply by wookie on March 30, 2011 at 6:03pm

I would like rationality to kick in.  Although I think I have a 2.5 year old who will gain some capacity for rational thought right around the time his 8.5 year old sister loses hers completely.

 

This afternoon, when doing the daycare pickup, because I am not his father, my son screamed (and held the note) for a solid 6-7 minutes, while kicking and punching me while I tried to take him to his cubby and get his boots on.  His majesty liked Daddy having the march break off and picking him up.  I am no longer acceptable.  Which sucks because my spouse will now be working 12 hour days, 5 days a week and wont be doing drop offs, pick ups or dinner hour with us. 

Permalink Reply by mightyninjamom on March 30, 2011 at 6:51pm
I think the way to survive it, is not to think of there being an end. Just sit back and settle in for the long haul. Because it will be. You'll be much more zen about things.
Permalink Reply by The Oracle on March 30, 2011 at 11:27pm

I think I'm just realizing how very, very much my pain levels affect my perception of the chaos. On my better days (like today) I can hold it together just fine, and our days are actually mostly just lovely. Or at least manageable.

 

Days like ... well ... most of March? I feel like my whole body's in a giant vice grip and just picking up the baby -- much less changing his diaper, lifting him in and out of his crib/car seat/high chair, etc. -- is pretty much constant torture. Those days I end up yelling, forgetting what I was doing, neglecting housekeeping, neglecting meals, just pretty much making myself and everyone else as miserable as my body feels. Mostly I think I'm just waiting until Ducky can get himself around, up, down, in and out without my help and without major risk of falling. I feel like I could do anything if my body would just cooperate.

 

This is when I really need the commune. Seriously, someone tell me who to be pissed off at for this weird social practice of living in tiny nuclear families where parents are isolated from each other and expected to do everything on their own.

Permalink Reply by mightyninjamom on April 1, 2011 at 7:24am
wow Oracle...yeah. You need to get the pain under control. Seriously...think about coming down for that weaning vacation. It's not quite the commune, but you can sleep in, not do any heavy lifting and just laze about, in general.

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