"If You're Cranky and You Know It..."

Clapping my hands... :)

Embrace you inner Hyde...we all have a right to be cranky once in awhile...whether or not it is merited!

I am one more interruptive phone call from my hubby and it is "go time." He better have the weaponry and booze hidden by the time I get home, or... :)

Added after "What Happened:" Hey...I was singing it right there along with you...You can recognize me by the slightly off pitch singer with the bad hair and wrinkled disgruntled look...:) :) :)

I get cranky when I am too tired. No, I'm not pregnant, but I run my legs off all day long and as a single mom, there is never enough time for everything.
I just try to be honest about it. I'll admit to being cranky before anyone needs to call me on it. I still love my kids, still love my friends and family and sometimes they think something is wrong or I'm mad at them, when I'm really not. I just cop to it. My kids are really good about picking up after themselves or whatever when I've already come out and admitted my patience is shot. That way, they don't take it personally.
People get crabby sometimes. It's not the end of the world.
Let your family know you need their help getting ready for company and try having a sense of humor about things. I usually try to laugh my way out of a grouchy mood. It really helps me.

Hang in there!

This website should be mandatory reading before one decides to have a baby since no one told me about half of the stuff we have to deal with as moms. I have had days like yours, and my kids know the cranky mom phase. They have made it to 10 and 13 and are fun and outgoing kids, so I guess I wasn't as looney as I thought.
I think it is possible to explain to a 4 year old that mommy needs a few minutes to relax, and plop him in front of a video or with some books and safe toys in his bedroom so you can just take a breather on your bed.
To think that with the first one I used to roll her exersaucer into the bathroom with me since I did not think I could leave her alone long enough to pee! Hang in there. Life does get easier in a way when they get older and more self sufficient but at times I wish I could have those little ones back since their problems were so much easier to fix with a hug and a cuddle. Wait till they turn into hormonal teenagers, the 13 year old just started her period and I swear the 10 year old is going through hormonal fluctuations already too even though I hope her period is at least another 2 years away. You are not alone.

Today I was listening to a message by Kenneth Copeland. He said when we are tired, acting out, saying things we shouldn't, God wants us to rest. He created rest to relax us and to handle the Ms Hyde syndrome :)

My Hyde is pointing a finger and laughing maliciously. She is evil like that bwahahahaha! She usually comes out for no reason 1 day before my period. The other times she comes out for valid reasons.

My four year old leaves a destruction in her wake like an F5 tornado. One of this days, I will deliver true to my threat and build a velcro wall, sew her a velcro suit and stick her to that wall while I dance my happy dance. For now, I will have to content with the mantra, "one day this too shall pass" and celebrate with gusto the little things. Today, she picked and put away the books she littered. I try to block that she dumped her legos all over the place and once again has "Hansel & Greteled" our home.

My sister in law puts herself in timeouts. "mommy needs to go in time out because she's not being nice" and the kids will generally give her 10 minutes to regroup. I thought it was a cute little tip!

Generally though, just breathe. It's okay to get cranky sometimes, I'd say give yourself some breathing room and identify what's really bothering you.. And ask for help when you need it. Sometimes just telling my husband "I'm overwhelmed, can you please just unload the dishwasher and take out the trash" helps me tackle the other things that are sending me over the edge.

I ask my dd is she wants to play hide and seek, then I get a pillow and hide in the closet while she "finds" me. Lol, seriously it works sometimes! If I am that crabby, I just tell my little one straight out--"Mommy is crabby and has zero patience right now, so do not push me" She usually gets it. Also you are 30 weeks preggo, sometimes you gotta just forget the housework! Put a movie on for the kids, lay on the couch, and let them play while you relax and feel better. You won't be tired and pregnant forever--days like this, just do what you absolutely have to and forget the rest. The laundry will be there tomorrow, or next week, or next month =) Or better yet, when daddy gets home and he can do it!

M., I have days like that and I currently am blaming pregnancy too (20 weeks). I try to tell myself the little things do not matter and my son will only be young once. It doesn't always work. My son just decided that he doesn't want to nap anymore for me, but he still needs it. When he won't nap I take it really personal and I know he is not doing it intentionally but I still get mad.

I know this might sound kind of weird, but...I had a friend who had lost her son to cancer when he was 7 after a long battle. She posts a lot of stories of other kids that are battling cancer. All I have to do is read one of the stories and it gives me a new perspective for the day.

Hang in there.

I had some early childhood education classes a long time ago. Things go in one ear and out the other. But one of the things that stuck in my head was before loosing my cool and yelling to "HALT" stop and think am I hungry, angry, lonely or tired. if I am any of those things I need to address those things before taking it out on the child/spouse.

so sit in the pile of books and read them. and if your cranky and you know it clap your hands (clap, clap) smile it could be worse. take your kids to the park get some sun and play like your a kid again. have fun life is too short.

You need a break away. You could learn some stress management tips. Take a relaxation yoga course. If they don't take a nap, insist on quiet time in their rooms for 1-2 hours. If they don't sleep, they can read or turn the pages of a book or listen to classical music or an auditory book. Perhaps this is a really bad cranky period that won't last that much longer so you could cut back on chores or teach your kids to do them well enough to get by.

Don't forget to use the gold star system. If they go an entire week of doing something right, they get $$ in thier bank to save up for a toy they want. Use charts, words on what they can do to earn (from attitude with one reminder, to chores to picking up after themselves in public areas).

Don't insist on perfect kids but be consistent in regards and they will see what other rewards they reap from a happy mommy.