Julie - I'm sorry that I missed your "venting" post on Wednesday - with no home computer available I get way behind so I just read it this morning. I'm glad to hear that you're feeling better though. Thank goodness you got an opportunity to go biking and work off some energy. It obviously did you a world of good.
I feel for you with the rough time you're having with the kids and the house. Going from 1 child to 2 is a big adjustment for all of you. Please try to take care of yourself and not worry so much about the house. Do the things in the house that please YOU and make you feel better - don't worry about what other people think. Your feelings and needs are important. I agree with what Pam said - you probably appear to be very competent and to have things under control. People think that of me all the time, even when I'm falling apart. I have to get hysterical to make anyone understand that I'm having a rough time - even my mom or my sister. When you handle everything yourself people just assume that you're fine and you don't need anything. You have to ask for help and tell people what you need. Say "I need your help" - this is a very effective phrase because it makes it personal. Then say "could you ....(take Mary to the park for 2 hours/pick up some groceries/sit with the kids while I go for a ride) ...for me" . You have to be specific and ask for help. If you ask the right people it will work. When someone offers help, suggest something specific they could do. Try this and see if it works for you - it has helped me. You might even try it with Chad - ask him to take Preston outside for a walk when he starts crying - this will frequently quiet them down. I wish I could do something more for you than just offer advice. I think you need a break from the kids and a little tlc. I hope the time Mary spends with your parents will help a little. I've gotta run because my brother's coming to pick me up from work and give me a ride home - still no van. I hope you have a good weekend - just don't overdo it! Diane *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Journey from clutter List Website http://journeyfromclutter.com Members Only Page http://journeyfromclutter.com/MembersOnly/MembersArea.htm Unsubscribe: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word 'unsubscribe' in the 'Subject:' field to be removed from the main list. To Unsubscribe from the Digest version of the list send the unsubscribe message to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
