I am married, have 2 boys (ages 6 & 4) and work full time. I love my children more than anything, but boy sometimes I don't feel up to the constant demands of motherhood. My boys are well behaved but still very demanding as children are. I often find myself being very impatient with them and I hate that!! I talk a lot with my friends who also have children and we all agree that this is the hardest job in the world. And its the only thing I've ever done in my life that I can't change my mind about and quit!! Sometimes I say to my mother "why didn't you tell me?" and she just smiles because I guess you can't really "tell" anyone, you just have to find our for yourself. I'm not even talking about taking care of the household stuff (that's another post). Just the "Mommy....mommy....mommy" stuff. It's so hard sometimes.
I agree its hard for everyone at one point and time but would you really change it? I wouldnt I love my daughter very much and wouldnt want to change it. When I feel like giving up I just walk away and take a breath of air and then go back to her. What would be best is if you found something that they like to do and that can give you a quick break during the day because everyone needs a break even a mom.
Learn to take a time out - just like the kids! "Mommy is feeling naughty and needs a time out. Please tell me when it is *time 10 minutes later* so I can get out of time out."
It does help. Not all the time but most of the time. It also shows them that adults aren't perfect either.
I understand completely. I'm married with a 4 yr old ds and 2 yr old dd. I do not work but am homeschooling our son. I do have an extreme amount of patience but they can push me over the brim very quickly. Ever feel like all you do is say no or ignore them too much? If I get too overwhelmed I just sit back and watch them, and remember why they are the light of my life.
Learn to take a time out - just like the kids! "Mommy is feeling naughty and needs a time out. Please tell me when it is *time 10 minutes later* so I can get out of time out."
It does help. Not all the time but most of the time. It also shows them that adults aren't perfect either.
Great idea!
I'll be in your support group! I have 4 demanding little ones (5 if you count my husband--he's the most demanding and impatient one of them all!) I take small little breaks and just walk away for a few minutes or I'll snap. I've come to realize that laughing should take the place of yelling any day of the week. Does it always happen? NO, but I'm trying. 
Oooh Oooh! Can I be in your support group too??!! I have 3 little ones. All girls. One's 7, one's 2 1/2 (she thinks she's 16!!), and my last one just turned 1. I don't work outside of the house. I count being a stay-at-home mom as a job. It's the hardest job you'll ever have. I had a pretty rough time after my last daughter was born. For the first 6 months of her life she cried a lot! My dr told me she had an extreme case of colic. He said that he had never seen a case so bad before. Lucky me. 
Needless to say I wouldn't have survived it if it hadn't been for my husband. There were times that the second he walked in the door I would tell him I had to get out of the house and I would see him later. Even if it was just to go to the grocery store. I just needed to get away. Once I can remember she cried for nearly 7 hours straight. I think there was about a 10 minute break in there somewhere. I didn't take her to the dr that day because I knew exactly what was wrong with her and they wouldn't have been able to do anything about it. Her usual crying pattern was about 4-5 hours straight, several times a day. I just had to ride it out. I am so glad that her colic issues have gone away. She is a very happy and healthy baby now and I am so glad I have her. I know it sounds terrible, but when we were going through her issues I kept saying to myself, "Why did I have another child?". Now I can't imagine my life without her in it. I know I was just very frustrated then and it was my lack of sleep talking. Right now you're in a rut. Obviously I've been there. Just be patient it will get better. I agree with the Mommy time out, it will help a lot. Plus you get some time just for yourself.
I understand just how you feel. I'm a stay at home mom with a little girl who isn't in school yet. Sometimes I feel like I'm loosing my mind. I have no friends and no family and my husband works a lot. Sometimes I can go for weeks without the phone ever ringing or leaving the house. Since she has been born, I've spent about 16 total hours away from her, 10 of them were in the E.R. She is a year old. We have no money, so hiring a sitter isn't an option.
She is an extremely demanding kid who is unhappy quite often and sometimes I just want to scream. I think to myself, if we can just get through today tomorrow will be better, but it seldom is. I guess you just have to keep going. 
I'm here for ya, sister!! 
I used to teach 2 6th grades and 2 7th grade classes everyday....totaling over 100 different students each day, but decided to stay home when we started having children. We now have 2 boys and a girl, my husband took a promotion recently and works 15-16 hours a day and travels a lot more. I sometimes laugh and say, "I use to manage over 100 different kids a day, 30 in a class at one time....and I can barely handle our own 3!!!!! 
Don't feel guilty. We have ALL been there! And eventhough it can be very difficult and stressful being a stay at home mom, I realize how blessed I am that I have this opportunity to do so. There are so many other moms who would love to stay home, but financially can't.
My husband and I both had moms who stayed home and it was such a great feeling to know our moms were at home waiting for us after school. So although it may be stressful now, I know your kids will appreciate later on the fact that you were home with them! 
Hang in there!
....and mkolmer.....you were right on with the husband comment! I tell people that he is my oldest child!!
I completely understand what your going through. I have 3 kids ages 8, 5, and almost 3 (Dec. 27). The 5 year old went to the doctor today and they said he has a very obvious case of adhd. I stay at home with them and my husband is in the army and deployed to Iraq right now. I have days when all I want to do is scream, but usually I put the kis to bed early and let them have a movie night and take a long bath. When I'm really getting stressed I try to remind myself that I have less than 100 days before my husband gets home.
Being a mum, a good mum, is the hardest job ever invented. I have two little girls, 4 and 2 and they are really good girls (for as long as they can stand to be). I also work full time at a very stressful job, I'm in HR so I deal with whinning and complaining all day and sometimes it's just too much to come home and have it all over again. I love my kids and not a minute do I ever regret having them but there are times when I just don't want to have the responsibility, I want to be somewhere else. What was so hard for me is that I thought I was the only one that felt that way. I felt miserable because I didn't want to be around my kids and then I felt even worse because I thought what kind of mother doesn't want to be around her kids! Thank goodness for outlets like this where we can see that either we are completely normal or at least there are other crazy folks out there!
I totally understand sometimes not wanting the responsibility of it all. Like this past weekend when I walked into my bathroom and discovered that my 5 year old had taken a tube of toothpaste and a tube of cream eye shadow and painted my contertops. Then decided to try and clean it up with clothes that wee folded in a basket waiting to be put up. 
I thought that I was going to lose it!
Jillian1585 I know just what you mean, I also am NEVER away from my daughter. Not that I want to be mind you, I love every minute - but I am aware of the fact that if I intend to remain sane, I truly do need to have adult conversation occasionally... Hang in there.
She is 13 months today and is also described as a "high need" child. Had colic episodes every night from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. for first 3 months, then got respiratory problems that could have developed into asthma so left the job to be home with her (which I wanted to do anyway).
She was 100% recovered after 4 months of treatment and being home, but now she is having round 2 - not sure what is wrong but have been back and forth for tests past 2 weeks. It is always somethng or other and when she doesn't feel well it's a real challenge - you want to comfort her but at the same time she gets so demanding - I carried her and held her a lot last week and ended up hurting my back so bad this weekend.
She is very hyperactive and a very curious kid, very determined too, which is maybe not so good for me now, but will be good for her later in life - will help her get ahead I hope! Try to look at it that way whenever your nerves get frayed and think how the "undesirable" traits of our kids can be positive, albeit not when we need them to be sweet, LOL.
ladyofcake, I hope your daughter recovers fast from whatever is alling her.
Thanks, me too
I think it was viral, but has had 2 urinalysis/cultures and both came back positive for blood/white cells and bacteria. Can't figure out but am a little worried. Diabetes runs in hubby's family and am hoping is not somehow related. Hopefully just a flook thing and now that she is better will be normal result this week. It's always something, isn't it?
I think the biggest step in coping with the stress of parenthood is being able to say "I really don't even LIKE my kids today and I just can't cope!" You have to have friends to share with, that won't judge. It's overwhelming to be in charge of human beings.....trying to keep them healthy and safe. Sometimes I'd put in a movie and just hide in the bathroom for 15 minutes....anything to keep all those little hands from pulling on me for just a little while.
I'm happy to report that my 3 kids are 23, 19 (today!) and 15. Yep, I let them live! 
I have one in Grad School, one in on a full scholarship at Millikin University and the youngest in High School. I not only love them...I like them! So, to all of you with those little ones, you will get through it! If you need to PM me and tell me you want to run screaming out the door, I'll pat on you all you need!
Thanks JodieF, not only was that inspiring but helps me to remember that they won't be little forever and one day I will miss them wanting me all the time. I heard someone say recently that once she realized that motherhood would never get easier just different she was able to relax a little. And its true, once they grow they come with different issues to deal with. All we can do is take one day at time, because when I look back I realize that this time really does fly by!
You know with all the daily stresses and struggles of raising kids, I got probably one of the best compliment ever tonight. We went to my FIL's to do our Christmas with him and his family and my children were the only little ones there. Anyways my DH's uncle comes over and says "Wow they are really well behaved! I wish my grandsons behaved as good as they do." So I must be doing something right. They can at least behave at other peoples houses. Even if they don't here at home. 
Wow...just looking around here on this topic out of curiosity. No kids for me yet - I am 34 and feeling my clock tick, but am ignoring it for the time being. I must admit I'm scared to have kids after I taught high school for 2 years! My husband is 29 and still teaches h.s. and loves it, and I think he'll be ready for kids sooner than I am, believe it or not. We just married a year ago. I guess I should enjoy my freedom for a while and not worry about how OVERWHELMED I felt when I shopped for a friend's baby shower the other day at Babies 'r Us. Shouldn't it have been an inspiring experience? Shouldn't I be feeling a strong desire to have kids right now?? I worry about that. But I am so far from wanting the responsibility. I hope I will "grow up" and feel ready for it before it's too late! (like in a couple of years max!)
sometimes I want to run away especially when I hear mommy mommy like a billions times in a day.
but let me tell you someting, in my whole life the most wonderful experiences are when those tiny hands hugs me and tell me that they love me just the way I am(because let me tell you I am not the perfect mom)I love my two little daugthers, and I am so thankful to God that they are healthy.
Wow...just looking around here on this topic out of curiosity. No kids for me yet - I am 34 and feeling my clock tick, but am ignoring it for the time being. I must admit I'm scared to have kids after I taught high school for 2 years! My husband is 29 and still teaches h.s. and loves it, and I think he'll be ready for kids sooner than I am, believe it or not. We just married a year ago. I guess I should enjoy my freedom for a while and not worry about how OVERWHELMED I felt when I shopped for a friend's baby shower the other day at Babies 'r Us. Shouldn't it have been an inspiring experience? Shouldn't I be feeling a strong desire to have kids right now?? I worry about that. But I am so far from wanting the responsibility. I hope I will "grow up" and feel ready for it before it's too late! (like in a couple of years max!)
That's so normal. My hubby and I were married for seven years before we had kids. We married young, right out of college, and while we both thought we wanted kids, we both hit a point a few years in where we wondered if we really did. That "urge" just wasn't there. It was a gradual thing - everyone talks about waiting until the time is right and everything just aligns perfectly but that never happens. You just find that gradually you're more and more open to the idea until one day you decide to go for it. At least in my experience.
I have two little boys, 4 and 2 1/2, and I definitely have my days. I find my patience wears out long before their energy does. And we're in that lovely stage of fighting (pinching, hitting, general tormenting) and whining and tattling . . . and I look back on my childhood and realize that this "stage" lasted straight through high school in my house so there's not much chance of this ending anytime soon. In fact, it will get worse as they get older and can actually start hurting each other or making holes in the walls. And my DH was one of those kids who was in the ER on a weekly basis when he was growing up . . . we haven't had to deal with that yet but my youngest shows some of that same spirit and spunk so I know we'll have our share of ER visits. It is so hard because I do have days where I can't get them to bed fast enough and plenty of nights where I've lost every last shred of patience and our normally calm and peaceful bedtime routine turns into, "Go to sleep RIGHT NOW. If I have to come in there again, Minnie Mouse is sleeping with ME tonight." And I just feel guilty that the evening ended on a sour note instead of wrapping up with a kiss and wishes for "sweet dreams".
If someone asked you to work 14 to 16 hours a day plus be on call at night with no days off or paycheck, and told you that your first day on the job you would experience the worst pain you have ever felt in your life...you would probably tell them where to go!!!!
But when the ob/gyn tells you "Congratulations, you're pregnant!", you are overjoyed. Then one stressful, sleepless night, months later, it dawns on you...you took the job!!!!!LOL
There are days that I just want to scream! I have three rambunctious boys. they are 2, 4 1/2 and almost 7 years...I love them but there are those days. I don't mind them having fun and such but when they start fighting, I lose my temper. They should always love each other, no fighting!
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