Thank Heavens for Betsy

Usually I try to only put positive posts on the blog, which isn't hard as overall, I have a very blessed life :) I have been struggling the past few weeks though and thought I would write a little bit about it so my kids can read it someday and know that their struggles as parents isn't something out of the ordinary.

I just can't seem to get my batteries recharged. Last quarter (combined with pregnancy and pneumonia) just wiped me out. I don't seem to have as much patience as usual and my kids seem to be a bit brattier than usual. They are usually super good kids and they still are really good, but lately Megan has been very whiny, Kylie keeps falling apart over the stupidest things, Beth keeps throwing fits when things don't go perfectly, Jack keeps yelling at me and being mean when I don't do exactly what he wants when he wants it, and Eva has been super needy. I know their behavior and my exhaustion are related and I've been trying to do more fun stuff with them to help, but it seems the more fun stuff I do, the worse their behavior gets. Sometimes I wonder what the heck I'm doing thinking I can handle another child when the five I already have are acting out.

Then I look across the room and see Beth and Eva curled up together on a chair as Beth reads a book to Eva. Or Eva climbs up on my lap and wraps her little arms around my neck and plants a wet kiss on my face. Or Jack climbs up and gives me a huge hug. Or Kylie jumps up to help out with something without being asked twice. Or Megan tells me I'm the best mom ever. And it puts things back into perspective.

Anyway, this morning I was particularly tired, Eva was particularly cranky and Jack was in a particularly bad mood. It was not a good combination. Jack wanted me to help him play Age of Empires, which I did for an hour and he won his game. Then he wanted to play another one and I told him we'd do that in a bit. He got very upset at me, which affected me more than normal. It was not a good morning. I posted some jokey comment on facebook asking if anyone wanted a 4 year old. Five minutes later, my friend Betsy texted me asking if Jack could go with her to run her errands. I told her she didn't need to take him, but she was happy to. She came and picked Jack up (he even got to ride in her jeep with the top down! - don't worry, I put sunscreen on him)

Jack got some one on one attention, Eva got time with me, and both Eva and I got a long nap. Betsy had a lot of fun with Jack, who talked non-stop for three hours and kept trying to blow the wind out of the jeep. He waved to construction workers, stuck his feet out the window, and wheedled a lollipop out of the lady at the bank :) And got all tired out :)

Thank heavens for friends like Betsy who loves my kids and who is loved by them! Eva tried to walk out the door with her both when she came to get Jack (Eva even turned and blew me a kiss that time) and when she left after she had brought him back.

I had several other responses to my facebook post. Some were moms who sympathized with having "that kind of day". Several were friends who offered to have me ship him to them (one even offered C.O.D.). I am so lucky to have people who love me and my kids. And I am so lucky to have my kids :) The bad days just make you appreciate the good ones :)