Lets Talk about stress BA-BY

Ya'll where the HECK is the balance?!!


I don't know. I do not have it right now but.... hold onto your britches cuz I'm going to find it!


I'll tell you what, I feel like life went from manageable and good to I think I'm drowning? but I'm not sure? in 2.2. If you've been reading my blog the last little bit, you're probably not surprised to hear this. In fact you were probably aware of it before even I was!


What happened?!!


We live the "fast-paced" LA life. Yosh works 13ish-hour days and they only seem to be getting longer instead of shorter. I have 4 kids who are all busy in their own unique ways- whether it's activities, school, or naps that demand a pretty rigid schedule. We're busy. {But who's not? I'm not for a second playing the we're so much more busier than you card. That topic is a whole different post for a different day...#thosepeoplebug}


I've been running the same schedule for the past 8 months and have been doing just fine. I've actually liked the schedule. Now...NOW....I'm walking around like an edgy mess. One minute I'm all good playing little miss housewife baking cookies and helping a child with their homework and the next I have that same child's eyes on lock down, daring them to make a wrong move which will give me an excuse to lose ALL SELF-CONTROL and feel dang right justified in doing so. I WANT AN EXCUSE TO LOSE IT. Once it's flushed out of the system, I'm back to playing handball and cooking dinner. But I feel the venom making it's way back into my blood. I'm nervous of my own self, wondering what in the heck is gonna set me off.


I fully admit- things are not well. Things are not terrible. But...things are not well- like I said!


And I keep trying to retrace those few days where the pendulum got to swinging and went on ahead and just stopped......and stayed....way too high. This is the stress pendulum we're talking about. And there's not much I can pinpoint that put all the gusto in it. And that's what's kinda been tripping me up.


But there is one thing that's got to be a contributor.


Just like periods and girls, Yosh and I finally synced up.{Which, by the way, is one of the most fascinating topics of convo for our beloved Yosh train}


No, Yosh is not menstruating.


We're both simultaneously stressed to the max. Together. At the same time. You get it? This time around, we've completely been eluded by the balancing act that we've magically managed to obtain the last few years, always taking turns and liberally passing off the baton. But now now. We're both double-fisting it, white knuckles and all, clutching the stress.


And it sucks. And it's taking a toll on our fam.


But the good news is this...I'VE MATURED! I'm not waiting this thing out any longer. I'm already pro-actively making some changes to get our family back on track. Life is too short to not be happy.


Here's my grand plan:


~find a baby-sitter. like asap. and give her a regular schedule. with LOTS of hours! (live-in anyone?!!)
I started last week and it's been fabulous. I've been able to take the babies on walks while she helps the big boys or vise versa. I've been able to make dinner while she plays with the kids. I want someone to help share the responsibility a little. And I've been enjoying the little tasks again.


~give caffeine a break.
JIGGA WHAT?...I KNOW. I can't believe I'm writing this bc that means i have to actually do it. But my sis mentioned that might be causing some of the irritability. And her thought just echoed some of the feelings i've been having- that I don't know the effects it has on my body but it can't be all that good. So i'm gonna try it. Golly I must be desperate..... {5 days under my belt thus far}


~write down some specific rules for disciplining porter so that i don't have to think in the moment. and then i can discipline instead of punish. and leave the heavy emotion out of it.


Ok. So that's my list! Yes it's short. So what else do you got? What are some de-stressing tips? What is it that's stressing you out these days?