One Time Offer = Week from He..!

[mrsplante]

This is just a vent. Feel free not to read, it's a safe place to post and I really need to just get it out!

So I was perusing kijiji at the beginning of the month and someone had an ad up in my postal code for 6 days of evening care, I figured "why not? I could use the extra cash and maybe she'll use me for after school care (regular hours)"...well we signed a contract and she's got to dcg's with me for 2 hours a day starting in November. The stretching part has been this week. I'm on day 4 of working 6:30am-8pm. I'm EXHAUSTED. My hubby helped me a lot on Monday, then got the stomach flu on Tuesday so I got to take care of him too. He was home all day Wed, in the basement recovering from the flu. Today he heads 2 hrs away to do a conference til tomorrow. I knew this was coming and today I thankfully only have kids til 7.

I had no idea how negatively this would affect my daughter. I had prepared for some backlash but it didn't really occur to me that she would be really upset not having just mommy and daddy time. Last night she was having severe separation anxiety and didn't go to sleep til 2 hours late. She is sleep trained (she did it herself) and is usually asleep within mins of being laid down at 7. It is breaking my heart. How could I be such a terrible Mommy :(

The girls I watch in the evenings are GREAT. They are a perfect fit for my house, they are well mannered, potty trained and have learned how to play with a baby (or babies) in the house. It's just the hours. I am never doing these hours again. I am open until 5pm and then your kids can sit on my front step! (just kidding but you get my drift)

I'd say this week has been hard on everyone as by yesterday I had a short fuse and today, even though I'm trying to push through, I'm still not in a good mood. amDCG purposely spilled her yogurt because she didn't want it...I almost flipped my lid. She's been having a rough week too - crying when her mom drops her off, and she's never done that before.

Okay I think I'm done venting. If you did read all of that, sorry. I'm a whiner. Pray for my sanity. Tomorrow I only have amDCG til 2:30 so I can get through this. Only 9 more hours. :no: Never again.

[Naftafia]

Don't be so hard on yourself! :) You are not a terrible mom because you are noticing the effects this has on your daughter and you will not make the same mistake twice. We all take on challenges sometimes thinking that we are superwomen (which we are :laugh:) but come to realize that it is a bit to much for us.... and that's ok!

[sunnydays]

Hang in there! At least you only agreed to do this for one week! Imagine how much worse it would be if it were a permanent arangement and you had to figure out how to get out of it!

[mrsplante]

Thanks ladies! I appreciate the kind comments. I feel like I've got my groove for the day (Only took 5 hours...) I can get through this.

And you're right, thank God it's not permanent or I would have quit last night :(

[apples and bananas]

Been there... done that! I took on twins until 9pm 4 days a month when I started. Wow, was I ever glad to see that end.

You'll get through it! Treat yourself to something wonderful this weekend. You deserve it. And the lesson you've learned is going to stick with you for along time to come. :)

[mom-in-alberta]

Aw, honey..... sorry to hear you had a rough start to the week.
Sometimes we don't know that we have bitten off more than we can chew- until we start choking!!
Definitely take some down time this weekend, and some special mommy/daughter time, too.
Hoping it all gets better REAL quick!! :glomp:

[Momof4]

I too am happy that you only signed on to do this for 1 week. But hey, it was a learning experience and isn't that what life's all about? That's why I wouldn't open early or late or work weekends, etc. for any amount of money. I know I need my quiet time and rest.

[mrsplante]

So glad to get support here. I'm so thankful for your kind words. I made it. The kids are all alive and I think they even learned something today haha. Tomorrow is going to feel like a breeze with one 3 yo til 2:30!! Have a great Friday everyone!

[Inspired by Reggio]

Wow kudos to you for helping someone out with service options like that ~ I am way too old to be working that hard ... I cannot manage more than a 10 hour work day and do not do evenings or weekends!

TGIF for you for sure!!!

[Crayola kiddies]

Happy Friday !!!

[angelina]

hang in there sister!
i took an afterschool kid, thinking it will add a little bit. and then, the pick up is late, and the kid thinks she runs my home, and she is only 5 years old. I am on week 3 nowand I accepted her, since she live few houses down, like a neighbor.
I would pick her up at 2:45 in the bus, and she stays until 5pm. That is my max -5pm because i have two toddlers of my own, who want me.

This 5 year old would come so loud and wake up the baby and just waking up toddlers.
I feel stress ...........and like you,sometimes i feel like a bad mom.

But maybe we are not a bad mom. we try to hard, to love our kids, to help our hubby financially....are we get burnt out. Actually, I want to find a way out of this after school arrangement......... ..just i don't know how. I signed a contract till end of school year.