Do you ever have one of those weekends when the volume dial is just jammed on high?
The dog barked continuously, the mini maelstrome that is Ruby moaned all day, the middle monkey over-tired cried at everything, and the older sulked and sighed (very loudly) and my own screeching reached embarrassing levels as I tried to untangle three sets of christmas lights, stabalise a tree while the dog pulled it the other way, detangle said dog from the tinsel tornado he had become, and I generally let loose my furious festive fuming.
Do you ever have one of those weeks when your head jars with the constant jangle of 'I'm a crap parent today' melodied with 'you must be a better parent today', till your head feels like splitting in two with the bickering voices?
I've learned a lot about minding my own mental wealth after my bout of post-natal depression last year. And I've written here and been published in newspapers and magazines on various issues surronding mental health, and the pressure on young people in particular. I have three daughters and so have a keen interest in what might lie ahead for them. And like most parents, I am constantly wondering about how my parenting will affect them.
In an average secondary school class size of 30 students, 12 will feel depressed, 7 will not feel they can talk to anyone about how they feel, 6 will think about self-harming, and 3 will.
I dropped my duldrums and hugged her hard. She's right of course. Love is the answer. I just hope its enough…..
Oh WOW. You would not realise how timely this post is for me Alana. I am the tail end of one 'those' WEEKS. Yep, the entire week I have felt down, not appreciated, ineffective in my role as a Mama and only 'just' being able to cope with the daily grind. I hear you on the volume levels and have sounded like a broken record most days "shooshing and shushing" the boys AND myself for that matter. Too much yelling and berating etc etc… It's tiring and incredibly boring. I think this time of year only enhances the pressures we already feel… therefore, I am giving myself another chance this coming week, to put on a happy face.
I worry so much about my boys and being able to arm them with the necessary confidence and strength they'll need to get through life, even just relatively unscathed. School for my eldest next year… and I know that is when the fun really begins.