Thread: I'm exhausted!

There is a reason that young people have children. Much as I love my good friend's 2 1/2 boy, I have thought carefully before having them come in the house the past few weeks. This has been an killer month, and I feel perpetually tired. He wears me out as explores every nook and cranny of the first floor. Zacchaeus isn't quite as patient with children as he was as a younger dog, either. The last visit, he slunk upstairs when Mr. Bananas went up to play boom boom on the computer and relax.

Yes, your sister gets lots of kudos for all that she pulls off. You do too for giving her a much needed break!

Thanks for the reply Bananas. You always make me feel welcome and wanted on a chatboard.
Here's the kicker-- myyounger sister is no spring chicken. She's 48!

There's a reason that I don't have children . . . more than just medical ones.

If anyone so much as gags in my presence, I throw up. If it smells gross, looks gross, or sounds gross, I also gag . . . and sometimes throw up. Kids do lots of gross things. People used to tell me, "Oh, it's different when they're your kids." Nope, don't think so. I finally did find someone who backed up my feelings. She told me that she threw up every time one of her children threw up . . . every time. Particularly gross diapers also did her in.

I don't babysit.

Last weekend we were around DH's family . . . and three of the kids, all between the ages of 11 months and 32 months. I was tired watching them.

being a mom of young children is tiring at times, but its so very rewarding. And so is teaching at their school.

Some people are just born with a ton of energy. I am not one of them. My grandson spent five days with us (almost 3 at the time) and I was absolutely exhausted when he left.

But Barbara, it was SO good of you to give your sister this time off. I have no doubt that you have always appreciated her special gifts, but now you have a better understanding. I feel sorry for those that are caregivers, but do not have a supportive family. She is blessed by having you.

So true, wag. What a special time for you spend with your grandson! I am sure he brought back a lot of precious memories of when your kids were little. Now you make new memories.

Being a caregiver is not an easy task. When there is no support, I would not even want to begin to imagine.

Hah! Hah!

I had to laugh at the initial post.

I once offered to child sit for a couple of new hires who had just arrived in Saudi Arabia. Some other teachers wanted to take them out "on the town" in the neghboring city of Al-Khobar. The parents had a couple of elementary age children and they needed a sitter.

I thought, "How hard could it be?"

I was EXHAUSTED.

I approached baby sitting like a teacher. I planned activities and games and the kids shot through them in a couple of hours.

I came to dread the, "What'll we do next?" question from two children who were bouncing off the walls.

Unwilling to watch a video or listen to a story, we made brownies and glued macaroni until the children began throwing the pasta at each other. For a while we played a board game until the children got bored in the middle of the game.

This was the first and last time I ever volunteered to watch children.

I absolutely hated it. Never again.

I truly know how parents manage and thank my lucky stars that I'm a confirmed bachelor with no domestic responsibilites to anyone but my cats.

And to think that I once thought about having foster children.

HAH!

Well I don't pretend to have energy that isn't there, but I do know that I want children of my own some day. I love having my nephew around but after a few days it is nice to give him back. As for the gagging bit, its the nose for me. Anything coming from anyone elses nose makes me gag. After working at my job for a year I can finally wipe my students noses. I use about ten tissues and look the other way then ask other staff members if I got it, but that is a HUGE improvement from where I was a year ago.

Actually when I saw the topic I thought you had a rough Monday like my school did. Numerous behaviors and then the smell 8O . So I offer to toilet one of the boys. BIG HUGE mistake. I had all I could do to not loose my lunch on the bathroom floor :mrgreen: ops: . So I too am exhausted but it is for a much different reason.

Kudos to you for helping your sister. I know what it is like to care for an ailing family member. It puts a strain on the whole female and takes a lot out of those that do it. Kudos again!

As you have children you will realize that your gag reflexes go on hold. I am very sensitive to smells, and the wrong smell can send me running for fresh air. We have two boys, 1 and 4, and I have not had a single problem. You also find energy where you never knew you had it.

I think you baby sitting folks had the wrong idea. You don't have to entertain thm constantly. Go outside and let them play. Go for a walk, toss a boall around. You don't need fancy games, or activities. SImple works best.

I cannot imagine not have children now. They have only been here for a short time but all I can imagine about life before the boys seems trivial.