My kids drive me crazy

by Cassie
(Fresno, CA)

I have two kids, a 2 year old and an 8 month old. I love them both dearly, but they constantly drive me up a wall.

I'm a single mom, so taking care of both of them all of them is a major daily stress creator. To deal with the stress I try to get some time to myself as often as I can while somebody else watches them, just to relax and not have to worry about whether they're beating each other up or getting into things they shouldn't be getting into. I remind myself that each phase they're going through will eventually pass, and when they're upset I try to remember that they'll cheer up eventually.

I try to find time to do things that I enjoy, such as cooking, drawing, sewing, and writing. I sit in a quiet room and drink a hot cup of tea. I get together with a group of other moms who have kids around the same age as mine, and we all talk about the different stresses in our life and how we deal with them.

It helps a lot to know you're not alone in your stressful situation. There are a lot of people, not just parents, who are going through stressful times. Everybody carries burdens on their shoulders, and it's always good to try to take a break, calm yourself, and reflect on what your situation is and what you can do to make it better. It's something I try to do every day.