Twigs

I wish I were more like a trunk and less like a twig.

I hate the fact that under stress, I unravel so quickly. In my head, I'm wishing I could take a deep breathe, and slowly, methodically do all that needs to be done, without the "Oh-Crap-n-Snap" that happens.

So I took some 'quiet time' just now to ask myself "What...really...are you feeling...when you're stressed out". One word exploded out. ALONE! It feels like I'm on my own. If I have a house to get tidy, I'm on my own. Now...that's not entirely true in reality, since Jason is a very 'help-get-tidy' kinda guy. However, he's got his jobs, and I've got mine. And even MY jobs feel overwhelming. (stupid bathrooms!) I made a "things to clean" list today, only to look at it and feel tears pricking my eyes as I thought "I have to do that all by myself". Three bathrooms, the girls' room, their bedding, vacuuming the house, moping the hardwoods, dishes, lunches, more vacuuming after the girls tracked dried leaves inside, and re-doing the bathroom counter after Aila lost control of the toothpaste.

But it's really the little things that get me. The things that everyone could do, but I end up ALWAYS doing instead. Like putting wrappers in the garbage instead of leaving them in the toy room. Putting shoes in the closet. Putting used sippy-cups in the sink. Hanging a towel on the hook instead of on the floor.

Instead, I'm the grumpy Mom who's snapping at everyone because I just 'cleaned that' and innocent persons are now in my war-path.

So how do you not be the Mother-Monster? How do you help your family remember that when they DON'T take the time to put something away...that it's just one more thing that they are piling on my shoulders....and I'm losing my mind? How do you not let it all overwhelm you?

I know...hire a housekeeper!!!

Nah...I'm too cheap for that. There must be another way!