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Sunday again today and I can confirm that mum stress is a real thing! We all know its real but today I have been moody and grumpy.  I even marched upstairs with the bin liners to tidy away my 5 year old’s bedroom inside them, She cried and screamed but unfortunately for me she has still not tidied her room.  Have you been at the point where the children push you so far that your body physically hurts?  After a very stressful morning on Wednesday I arrived at work and soon after my hand and arm went numb.  Later in the day I had to go to bed early as I had a pounding headache.  Stress is real and is not something to be taken lightly!

So what can we do to ease the mum stress and pressure? Most things seem to fall on us.  In this house daddy tries but it is me stood here laying down the law. All my threats get wiped out by daddy giving in.  I want to take away the Ipad and Ipod long term but daddy could not take the tears and stress of the kids not having them.  They keep them quiet. My daughter does enjoy the Amazon Kindle for Kids, note trial for America Kids Freetime and Amazon Kids unlimited,  I would recommend this over an Ipad with Minecraft and Roblox.

So how did today evolve? well daddy had a really bad night.  He woke me a few times with his coughing and spluttering.  It was then 5.30am when our son wanted daddy to get up.  Exhausted he obliged, error here, daddy has always got up with him, so now our son expects it.   Once I got up I found homework still not started and rooms not tidied.   Yesterday was spent on the gadgets with the agreement of homework tomorrow. My argument yesterday was to just get it done then there is no need to worry about it.  I got ignored the gadgets over rule.

This afternoon I managed to get the kids to help tidy the front room.  Standing here screaming and getting upset.  The amount of toys that appear down stairs is incredible.  These are the kids that complain that they do not have anything.  I am forever tidying up  lego  and K’nex, the tiny pieces are forever ending up in the vacuum cleaner.  However, despite my mum stress and anger their rooms are still a mess, the front room is better then it was.

Both kids have now completed their home work and they have both read.  I learnt today through my 5 year olds homework that Blackbeard the pirates real name was Edward Teach, we gave up listing the ingredients that are in Grog.

Our kids will rarely do as they are told and answering back is frequent.  We have tried reward charts and  reward stickers,  these worked for a little while.  Then  daddy started to pay them to help.  Our 7 year old liked this idea, however he was being paid for jobs that he really should do anyway.  Paying him to keep his room tidy was getting too much.  He then lost the money because he kept playing with it.  Over time I have found it and the money is now safely in his bank account but he is no longer being paid to help.

So as a mum of two very demanding children what do I recommend to try and ease the mum stress.

1. Trying to get the children to behave, reward charts and stickers as above are worth a try.  Paying pocket money is also worth trying but remember you are in charge not them.  So do not let your children black mail you.  Our 7 year old tried and did not get very far with me.
2. Trying to find time for you and daddy or your partner, this is important.  Once the kids are asleep maybe make time for a date night, or cuddle up with a film.  You need time to unwind as yourselves rather then constantly being mummy and daddy.
3. Try to make time for you. Stress is very bad. Try and find time to read a book or enjoy your Kindle. Amazon also offer a trial of Kindle Unlimited – America and  Kindle unlimited – UK
4. If you enjoy listening to books then Amazon are also offering a trial of  Audible – America and Audible UK.  If you are in America and have a stressed friend who enjoys listening to books, then Amazon America offer Audible gift membership
5. Worth looking at if you are a stressed mum in America are Amazon home services, I do not think this is available in the UK.   In the UK there is Amazon Fresh which is for groceries but you need to be an Amazon Prime member, (Link for Amazon Prime America)
6. Other ideas are to relax and put your feet up with a nice mug of tea or coffee
7.  Walking  can help to relieve the mum stress.  To just get out of the house and walk, preferably alone.  Taking time for yourself.
8. I started writing my blog due to my mum stress. Sometimes it helps to write.
9. A long bath (if you can) with bubble bath,
10. Maybe listen to some relaxing music,  Trial – Amazon music unlimited America and Amazon music unlimited UK

So end of Sunday, its now 10pm and I have now calmed down.  I had a bacon sandwich for tea followed by ice cream, not the best diet but chocolate would have been on the menu too if we had some in the house.  The children make me mad and can have me hiding in the bathroom as it is the only room with a lock on it.  Daddy is now snoring in his chair.  Yes this is my life.  I need to find my kindle and stop typing, I have my book still to read beside my bed.

Despite the mum stress though I am sure all mums would agree that we do love our children very much, but wow why do they have to be so hard?

Back to work tomorrow and the usual routine of the school breakfast club and usual work day for me.  I am now going to go, try and get some rest, maybe even read some of my book if I get to bed early enough.  Try and get some rest and relax so I am ready for tomorrow and being mum.

For more see, 15 ideas to help keep the kids entertained