October 06, 2008
Disgruntled
Disgruntled
Nobody threw up on me today. Nobody wet the bed. Nobody went to the ER. Nothing horrible happened and yet I'm having one of those days any way.
I suppose it all began with my first grader flunking her language test. We've been working on these spelling words for a week and she seemed to understand and know what she was doing. But a little phonics and spelling test undermined that notion. She just doesn't get it at all today.
And the eight year old makes a lot of careless errors in his math and he constantly writes "w" instead of "u" when doing cursive.
It was all getting me down; so I gave them some free time to play and read.
Then whilst making lunch, I let the water boil out of the pot I was using and came near to ruining it. It's my favorite and I use it for everything, of course.
When I was reading to the older kids, the three year old wrote on the tablecloth in crayon and told me her brother did it -- he was taking a nap at the time. Then I caught her scratching the finish off the end tables with a fork.
Sigh.
Am I the only one who has days like this? My husband informs me that this wasn't a bad day, but it sure feels like one. Everything seems not to be quite right. Annoyances are more annoying today and I'm tired of doing all the usual things. Laundry piles engulf me, dishes are never ending and there is always another meal to cook. I know these things need doing and it isn't all about me, but I am tired and having a hard time adjusting today.
I call them "growly days", and you'd think with only me to keep track of, they would be an infrequent thing. Ha.
A couple things seem to help. One is to break the routine - do something different or backwards (on purpose) to shake things up. Although, it seems that the kids are doing a good job of that for you! The other is to lock myself in a room, or go to a coffeeshop and pray/write out my frustrations, try to find the source of the growliness.
I'm a little far away to come babysit while you go out, but I'll certainly be praying for you.
Posted by: Diane at October 6, 2008 07:57 PMUgh! I have them, too. They come at me when I need them least! Something in the air, maybe? That's my excuse. :)
P.S. I got the rosary today!!!!! THANK YOU! See my blog post for more gushing.
Posted by: Kim at October 6, 2008 08:16 PMMe too. Ugh.
Posted by: Bridge at October 6, 2008 08:22 PMCount me in. My older daughter (10) is extremely careless, fought me tooth and nail about her math homework today. And, just so you know it does end, eventually, she also spent much of the first 7 years of her life scratching or ruining just about everything in the house. The younger daughter (almost 9!) had a fit about some other type of homework today as well. It rained all day, I have a very congested head, and I got none of MY homework that I wanted to get done, done. Is it a full moon or something? Anyway, we do all have these days, for certain. Not that that makes them any better. But know that you aren't alone!
Posted by: Bronwyn at October 6, 2008 08:35 PMThat sounds like my every day. Sigh...
Posted by: Musings of a Housewife at October 6, 2008 10:51 PMYep. I have those days with only three small fry to [boss around] care for (can't get strikethrough to take! Harumph). And I'm not even trying any formal schooling, or even actual cooking ;)
I bet prayer would help. Why, oh why do I never make time for it during the day?
Posted by: Lenise at October 7, 2008 11:11 AMSounds like my life. I laughed when you wrote about the crayon on the table cloth and scratching furniture with a fork.
It may not happen daily but my kids love to destroy nice things.
I tell myself it can only get better. And in all honesty it has.
I have to think back when my cousin and I scratched our initials in several of my Nana's antique wood tables with a ravioli cutter. I do not recall her getting mad at us, but I'm sure she was. I only wish I could remain that calm when I discover one of my kids adding a bit of their own graffiti on a wall or piece of furniture.
Jordana Adams, Chief Pontificator