Oh dear, I really feel for you, I went through a stage like this myself recently I was run down, personal problems and too much work to do.

I did something that went completely against the grain.  I put myself first!

I never do this but I what I realised was that often by the time I'd fed everyone I was so ratty and iriitible or by the time I had seen to everyone elses needs I was so tired and fed up I was moany and resentful and that was helping no one.

It sounds like you do need a break when I feel like this and my partner isn't around I go to a soft play area and take a book, my two are 4 and 8 (8 today!) so they can be left to their own devices a little, or i have sent them upstairs to play for 1/2 hr and sat and watched tv with a bar of chocolate and a cup of tea

No these things arent a spa day or a holiday but they stop me going nuts!

It might be an idea to speak to your dr, I am prone to anaemia and I usually dont realise I am anaemic again till i'm crying over burnt toast or something, there are lots of things that can make you run down etc so might be worth going to see someone?

Are they both at school, do you work, what time are you currently getting to yourself?

Hope this all helps and when I do snap/shout at my children I am just honest with them and apologise and say I am very tired/whatever - we all make mistakes just try not to beat yourself up about it and focus on fixing things

Hi

i read you message and felt I had to reply just to give you hugs.

i think we all feel like this from one time to another, its just that not everyone admits to it. just today I have seen a friend who is normally really soppy and huggy/cuddly/almost over protective with her little boy totally loose it with him. she was in tears just becasue he wouldnt walk holding her hand, even though all his friends were running ahead and having fun. she had a good cry, then felt much better!

i think it helps just to stop for a moment and take a breath. there are lots of little things you can do to make your life easier which will in turn make the kids lives easier.

i imagine all your friends will have their little tips to make things go more smoothly, maybe we can all share some tips on here.

As far as the house goes, just having a clean sink at the end of the day lifts my spirits - knowing I am not getting up to a mess. i put the cereal in the bowl and the tea bag in the cup the night before so I am good to go.

i get her uniform ready and hanging in her room and put it on her when she wakes up - that saves a lot of shouting in the morning! she is usually still tired and doesnt even realise she is dressed!

As for feeling like you are always shouting, my only tip - and i am not saying it always works - is to just say 'I am getting angry so i am leaving the room'. It works with my DD. it gives me a minute to breath and makes her realise that her behaviour is unacceptable. I then go back and explain what I expect from her -brush your teeth in 2 minutes or whatever. Often, when i look back on arguements with her, i realise that i had not made myslef clear in the first place. she will go upstairs to do something and get sidetracked and not even realise that she is misbehaving until i start shouting.

I hope i have helped a bit and remember, it happens to everyone!

Very good idea and funny enough I did a similar thing tonight I said it's all getting out of hand and stopped everything because I was too tired to carry on and I felt they were too tired and for some reason they stopped. Thanks for all your support and advice guys!

x