Some days, like today, I’m just bone weary. It comes from all the doing, I know. It’s days like this when we are told to ‘just take a break’ or ‘be kind to yourself’ or ‘ignore the to do list’, but that would start a domino effect that I’m just not ready for. As much as I’d like to take a day to myself to rest and get my emotional equilibrium back, it’s just not possible right now.
I’ve got three kids winding up their activities for the year, which basically means… even more activities. There are dance concerts and Christmas parties and extra school activities. Plus Max is finishing primary school so there are high school orientation days and parties and ceremonies and, god help him, a dinner dance to manage. Plus, I’ve got a job that ramps up with Christmas content and holiday content and back to school content (because it’s November so while I’m living end of school, I’m working through back to school). Then there’s the whole Christmas thing going on (although fortunately I feel on top of that thanks to my new Christmas Countdown calendar approach – see below).
Anyway, you don’t need to hear me rattle on about where my exhaustion comes from. It comes from absolutely everywhere. We’re all trudging through it. Kelly Exeter nailed it when she talked about the emotional exhaustion of mothering. It seems to me that that kind of exhaustion is unavoidable at the end of the year. Thank goodness we have slow January to help us recover from it all.
In the meantime, I cope. It’s what mums do. We hold our chin up and we get on with the business of living, working, parenting, managing and solving. Here are the things that help me cope best on exhausted days:
1. I tell Bart exactly what I need. Lots of husbands want to help, but they don’t really know how. And there is nothing worse than being knee-deep in shit and the husbie saying, “is there anything I can do to help?” Because Omifreakinggod would you just look around already there are a million things you can do to help!!!!!! It doesn’t work that way. I don’t know why it doesn’t work that way either, but it doesn’t. All I know is that succinct instructions on how to shovel shit is what men need. So I say, “Grab that red-handled spade over there, the one leaning against the wall 20 cm to the left of the back door, and bring it back here and scoop up the furthermost shit first and take it to the shit heap located 2 metres from the left-hand-side garage door and leave it there. Then come back for further instructions…” Yep, that’s the level of instruction that I think men need when we want them to help. If that’s womansplaining, so be it. It gets the help done.
2. I time out of the school lunch Olympics. I unfollowed the Look at My Kids’ Superior Lunch Box groups on Facey a long time ago (my heart was starting to hurt even more than my eyeballs), but that doesn’t mean I started throwing chip packets into the lunch bags. I take pride in a healthy, homemade, litter-free lunch for the kids each day. Or I usually do. This time of year, when I’m crawling along the home stretch self-flagellating myself as I go, I throw the chip packet in along with a couple of pieces of fruit, a Vegemite wrap and a prayer. I don’t even bother with a lunch box – straight into the insulated bag it all goes.
3. I embrace the ‘meat and three vege’ retro movement. The ‘meat and three vege’ standard of our youth was actually a pretty good basis for a healthy meal. It takes approximately 47 seconds to prepare some steak and salad for dinner. Even quicker if you make it a saus and roast vege combo or an eggs, beans, avocado and tomatoes meal. Dinner does not need to be a ‘recipe’ every night. Most nights, getting good food on the table is all we need to do.
4. I take a daily holiday. This is more the ‘you’ve won a half-hour holiday’ moment. I put my headphones on, switch the podcast to play and out the door I go. No matter how busy work is during the day, I owe myself that mini-holiday sometime during the day.
5. I look forward to stuff. For a long time I got myself caught in a really bad habit of not looking forward to things because there was such a lot to do to make them happen in the first place. Take Christmas, for example. There is a such a lot of work involved in making Christmas wonderful. It can be easy to will Christmas away because you’re just not ready. Well, I make myself be ready. I make my lists and plot my calendars and basically do everything I have to do to be organised enough to enjoy the occasion – to even enjoy the process. Otherwise, what’s it all for, really? Start everything earlier than you think you need to because that’s how long things actually take.
How are you coping right now?
Kelly Exeter says
“All I know is that succinct instructions on how to shovel shit is what men need.”
Cannot. Stop. Laughing. Because it’s so bloody true!
Maxabella says
I need to do a post on womansplaining. Works for kids too, especially sons!
Jodi Gibson says
Yep, I think everyone is exhausted at the moment. Why do we do it to ourselves? Well, mostly we can’t really help it can we?
Things are very stressful around these parts due to some complicated family issues, but I’m just trying to take it day by day and make sure one thing each day gets ticked off my ‘do-list’. Even if it’s just make the bed and get kids to school!
I have done all my Christmas shopping though (in one day thank-you-very-much), and that is a massive load off my shoulders.
We will get there. We always do. Even if it’s with a few bumps and scratches.
Maxabella says
Having added ‘real’ stress is the last thing you need. I hope it works out soonest. x
Kez @ Awesomely Unprepared says
I absolutely love this post! And number 1 really resonates haha. It’s so true!
I am definitely feeling the exhaustion but last week I decided to do little things – much like the stuff you’re describing – to survive and I feel a little better this week!
It’s my first year as a school mum and I totally understand what everyone was going about all that time, when they said term 4 exhaustion is a real thing – for both kid and adult! The Little Mister is so over it that he’s getting clingy at drop off and his facial expression when I say he has kindy the next day is priceless (he normally loves school)!
Maxabella says
Term 4 is just tired. It’s a cranky, sad term that crawls toward the finish line. That said, I can’t believe this year is already over!
Cat@lifethroughthehaze says
I am struggling! It is a tough time of year for me add in I have a fairly healthy dose of iron related anaemia so I am hard pressed to move off the lounge at the moment in all honesty!
These are some great tips!
xoxo
Maxabella says
Ugh, I’m feeling you, Cat. You must feel like one of those sloths right now. Life in slow motion.
Mel Roworth says
1: Yes! Why doesn’t it work that way?! But they are super helpful when given those explicit instructions.
Glad you’re managing to take a tiny bit of time out for yourself.
Maxabella says
I honestly don’t know why more women don’t womansplain. Unlike mansplaining, men actually like it! It means they can rest their mind reading skills…
Robyna | the Mummy and the Minx says
Yes! What is that about husbands? Although mine is better than most and I’m so grateful for that. End of term is nearly here for us and I’m looking forward to some time with the boys at the beach.
Maxabella says
Ah, beach! Makes it all worthwhile.
lisa says
Great points Bron.
Time to get rid of the middle (wo)man in no 2. The kids make their own lunch (my boys are 8, 6 & 4 and have done most of this year) Mr 6 is the lunch supervisor makes sure they pass Mum’s inspection. I buy/make the supplies & they fill the lunchboxes. it doesn’t look pretty but I figure if they can work an IPad, they can make a sandwich.
But this time of year is crazy….we are exhausted yet try to squeeze in all our parties, friendships, concerts etc…your tips are a big help.
Maxabella says
I know, I know. I need to let go of my control freak tendencies. Growing up we made our own lunches.
Erin says
I think no 5 is really big! Little hamsters do not stop and smell the roses, it’s all a chore. If we can get our mindset healthier, huge difference.
I think husband and I are wired to take on lots of major projects at Christmas time, crazy. I was actually organising putting in an inground pool this month, as it was ‘second hand’ I was project manager. Just pulled the plug and feel so much better for it now.
So no major projects going this year, so nice. Just usual living that’s plenty. 🙂
Maxabella says
You’re right – usual living is plenty! And yah to the in-ground pool. Your place must be feeling rather like a resort these days!