Comments on: new year’s revelation: we’re burned out

By: best year yet

best year yet — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 19:34:55 +0000

[...] On the first day of summer vacation we woke up late. (Yes, 6:30 is late.) I made pancakes (not from the box!), omelets (from our backyard flock!) and plenty of coffee (for me, not the kids.) The rest of the day we puttered around, played games, cooked, read, went to the gym and had a leisurely bedtime routine that did not include homework, packing a lunch, or a organizing a backpack. I am actually enjoying summer vacation. That says a lot. A year and a half ago I wouldn’t have felt this way. In fact, I was at a very low point. [...]

By: Katie

Katie — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 08:56:34 +0000

I’m a big believer in unstructured time for recovery. Sitting in a coffeeshop isn’t bad. Neither is saying that you are going to lay on the couch for that time with the lights dim and do nothing but listen to music. The truth is that we live in our heads more than we do our houses.

I say take those mornings and really aggressively do nothing. Think of it as a kind of meditation. S. wasn’t an easy kid at all. He is now, but I anticipate that is just another phase and we’ll face the monsterkid again.

By: Cheris

Cheris — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:01:58 +0000

Quiet time? HAHAHAAHAHAAAAA….

By: Kristen

Kristen — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:17:21 +0000

I have gone on a few mini-mom-retreats here (involving yoga, visualization, journal writing & reflecting, and sharing circle = LOVE IT!) which have recharged me and helped me rediscover what “centers” me. I find hiking outside with the kids, lighting candles inside, reading instead of watching tv, getting a wee bit of alone time, a hot cup of tea….all help me regroup. I insist on “quiet time” for the lost nap time and I also allow for 1 hour of tv for the little people. That makes for a bit of self time in the day. I also learned that unwinding by watching tv does NOT relax me as I always think it will. I think we need to have things/activities to center us which involve being alone AND being with the kids — because we are always with them. Hiking or going to the beach are my favorite kid activities (without partner help). I am dying for Spring! Oh, and baking with them is really fun too! Good luck keeping yourself from burning out…you need to take care of YOU, Mama!

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:20:22 +0000

Oooh, I love your new look.
And this post.
I fear the end of naps.
This is the most taxing job there is, and it’s valued so little in our culture. It’s hard not to internalize that.
And hard to function on so little down time, while watching that to-do list grow. It feels like things are out of control, and I say that only a few months into the two-kid thing.
I wish we could hang out more (or ever).

By: Amber Walter

Amber Walter — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:58:52 +0000

You are a great mom and you are doing a really good job. This job sucks a lot of the time. Add to the list, let friends take kids away for a while. And thumbs up to the hanging out with friends, especially with ones whose kids are the same age as ours. I need it too. And yes, more wine. Though moderation is always key since they never let you have recovery time the next morning. (just had to relearn that Sunday) Big love.

By: Shannou

Shannou — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:00:07 +0000

You can do eet!

I always admire the frankness and honesty you have in talking about being a parent.

Let me know if I can help with the “Spend more time with friends” part!

By: Cheris

Cheris — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:44:56 +0000

Oh that still goes on, trust me. And since the next generation grew up hearing it, we’re beating ourselves up because we can’t do it all.

By: Mom

Mom — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:02:02 +0000

I remember being looked at as “less than” because I didn’t hold down a paying job while you guys were little. It was the beginning of the women’s movement and there was a lot of pressure on us young mothers to have a career outside the home. Imagine feeling overwhelmed like you do and then being criticized for not doing enough. You are doing a superb job my dear and I encourage you to do all those recharge activities, and then some more!