Is it Spring yet?

For one of the first times since the year began, I'm back. Like a bear crawling from its cave after a long winter rest, I've emerged from my hibernation. And just like that bear I search for signs of spring.

Things are certainly warming up outside, but I don't think we'll be shedding all the winter gear quite yet.

See you again soon, when I'm back with a recap of what I've been doing for the last three months and start updating you about what's going on now from day-to-day!

A Final Blast for 2011

It's New Years Eve! Amazing, isn't it? Another year has flown by and here we are on the cusp of yet another new beginning. So much has happened this year. So much has changed, been worked through, finished, or abandoned. And while things will always continue to change, and life will always go on, there are somethings that will always remain the same and remain true.

Family will always be the most important thing in my life. Whether we're talking about my parents and sisters, my cousins, or my own husband and kids, they will always be the cornerstones of my life. As time goes on and we grow and change, we may grow apart but as long as we live each other the distance won't really matter.

Finding something to do that makes you happy and that you enjoy is far more important than doing something merely because it's expected of you. I won't go in to great detail about what I'm talking about, those closest to me will know without too much thought what it is, and for the rest of you... The original statement says enough. Find what makes YOU happy, and go from there. As I've learned these last couple years, and this year especially, your life may not be all that you'd once thought that it would be, but as long as your doing something that makes you happy, you may just be surprised by what you've got.

Have a Happy New Years everyone! Remember the important things in life and remember that every new year is another new beginning to be appreciated!

One of Those Days

So right now there are probably a dozen other things that I should be doing.  Not only that, but I had an entirely different post written that I intended to put up and then this morning I had a little snafu.  I don’t know what else to call it without making it seem way more important than it really is so snafu is what I settled on.

I mentioned a while ago that I was having problems getting Baby on the ice at skating but that I was using the “wisdom” that I’d learned from my experiences with Boy to get through them, or around them, and not completely stress myself out.  Well apparently I spoke WAY too soon.

The last couple of weeks I haven’t been able to get Baby to do anything.  And I do mean anything.  I can’t get her to skate, to do gymnastics, to listen at home, to keep her clothes on… nothing.  She’s started having temper tantrums more and more frequently, she’s always been the most strong-willed of the kids even if she’s usually more subtle about exerting her will, and she’s suddenly prone to massive meltdowns when she doesn’t get her way.  Then she’ll have long, drawn-out pouting sessions after the fact.

It’s driving me crazy because I can’t figure out what to do about it.

I’ve tried everything that usually works with the other kids.  I’ve tried doing research on parenting advice and techniques on websites, blogs, and in books.  I’ve talked to friends with kids and to family. 

And I’m tapped out. 

I don’t know what to do anymore and this morning it has finally just gotten to me.  In the last 7 years I don’t think that I’ve ever come to the point where I really just don’t know what to do next.  It’s hard enough to be raising three kids, essentially alone for 2/3 of the year, but today it just seems impossible.  I hate feeling like I’m doing something wrong, or that I’m failing with them, and that’s how it feels.  I hate that I get frustrated because of Baby’s behavior and then snap at all three when they’re just being kids.  It’s not fair to Princess and Boy that they’re taking some of the brunt because of Baby’s actions and it’s not fair to Baby that I can’t figure out what to do to reach her.

And it is selfish of me to think that it’s not fair to me that I’m dealing with this alone?  I can talk to the Husband about it but he’s not here so there really isn’t anything that he can do to help.  And he doesn’t seem to have any ideas of what to do either.

So remember how I’ve said that being a parent isn’t always easy, or fun and that sometimes, some days, it really just sucks?

Today is one of those days.