Sunday, June 10, 2007

Ms. Cranky Pants

Each afternoon it's the same. The kids start to get hungry again, and I get cranky.

I feel like I am moving in slow motion - everything is so hard to do - like swimming in molasses. Regular easy things seem hard: Like opening the door for John when he gets locked out again; Like listening to the jabber of the kids; Like starting dinner.

What does it mean?

Help!

What do you do when you get the grouchies?

Here's a little more information

- I'm not getting the nap that I have held near and dear to my heart for the last, oh, 10 years or so. It's just not happening. Even when I do have time to lie (lay?) down, I'm not able to go to sleep.

- My grouchy mood seems to last through dinner and clean up, but round about the kids' bedtime I get the bounce back in my step.

- It gets very warm in the afternoons, and the kitchen, where I spend the better part of the afternoon, gets the most direct sunlight. I'm not happy when I start sweating.

- I like a tidy house. As the afternoon wears on, the little ones start to get more and more creative...and messy...

- Today's afternoon cranky-pants episode was minimal - I'm not sure if that was because I got to talk to a couple of my sisters, or because I fixed an easy dinner, or because I gathered the kids and we all went outside for a little Sunday afternoon walk.

- Yesterday's episode, on the other hand, was never ending. So I went to bed early. I felt great when I got up this morning.

I say, Doctor, ain't there nothin' I can take,
I say, Doctor, to relieve this belly ache?"
"Now let me get this straight ",
Put the lime in the coconut, you drank them both up
Put the lime in the coconut, you drank them both up


What say you? Do I need an afternoon chocolate fix? A Protein Shake? Hire a housekeeper? Get my nails done? Go relax on the beach?


You say yah yah, ain't there nothin' I can take, I say
Waah waah, to relieve this belly ache,
I say doctor!, ain't there nothin' I can take,
Put the lime in the coconut, drink them both together,
Put the lime in the coconut, then you feel better,
Put the lime in the coconut, drink them both up,
Put the lime in the coconut, and call me in the moooooorning

14 comments:

Butterfly Wife said...

When you lie down in the afternoon, don't "try" to sleep. Just relax and meditate or do some spiritual reading. That may help. Sounds like you need to have that "time out". Take care.

TJ said...

i get like that for a couple of days sometimes. maybe do something small for yourself in the afternoon? sit down and have a few pieces of something yummy and watch a show? read a book? i do know how you feel and i wish i could snap my fingers and get myself out of that mood. i think the camp is stressing me a bit and so that is a contributor to my crankypants personality. seriously cannot wait until next week is done!!

Amanda said...

I was feeling that way the other day (about the 3rd day of summer vacation!) and was thinking to myself that this is going to be a LONG summer for me and the kids if I can't snap out of it. I think part of my problem is staying up later and sleeping in later. During school I had to be up by a certain time or else. I'm trying to get myself onto a better schedule ASAP. Are you still exercising? I think that is part of my problem too. I'm not getting to the gym like I was before and I really miss that time alone to exercise. I need to find more creative ways of working out at home or wake up at 5:30 am to go to the gym before Scott goes to work. Ugh!

I hope that today is better!

Elizabeth-W said...

Are you in the family way?? :) when I'm sweating I'm not happy either. Maybe plan your day for the hottest time to be siesta time?

nikko said...

I've been a bit cranky, too, but thought it was just the combination preggo hormones and a clingy 15 month old.

Naps (or laying down and reading a magazine -- I rarely fall asleep) work for me. Or, fixing an easy dinner, or more exercise... All those things would probably help. Hope you feel less cranky soon.

Mary said...

Just keep talking to me in the late afternoons (my late evenings). That was fun! Maybe a crockpot dinner here and there would help, or making some casseroles and freezing them so you don't have to spend much time in the kitchen during that hot, cranky time.

This evening, I'm not cranky but feeling lazy after being so productive all day. A girl can only finish so many jobs in one day. I think I'll go read some Harry Potter as a reward (I keep toying with the idea of reading them from #1 all the way to #7, so the older ones are read again before the last one comes out. Perhaps I should start. One more project!)

wendy said...

Thanks for the tips! I'm feeling better today. Maybe it's just a little PMS - I hate to blame it on that, but oh well.... no, elizabeth, I'm not in the family way!

Mary - I'm thinking about taking HP with me on the airplane!

Unknown said...

I am going through the exact same thing. Mind you, mine is definitely PMS but factor in a husband who is out of town, a teething kid, another one who is naughty and the fact that I am sleeping terribly. And the same as you: I can't nap, either. Such frustration!

orchard_girl said...

I too have been grouchy, especially when I get home from work and have tons to do and needy kids. My advice, order a pizza, or have something easy to eat. BLT's sound good and easy. Get a fan for your kitchen to help cool it. Can you put some of that dark film on your windows to help with the cooling? If all else fails, tell Hannah she's babysitting and go to bed early!

Unknown said...

So many good ideas. I didn't read them all. You know I have undiagnosed ADD. Did anyone say eat an orange?

Unknown said...

I have a hitch in my get-along too.

wendy said...

a hitch in my get-along! I love it!

Super Happy Girl said...

What are cranky pants anyway? Why would "pants" be cranky? I never understood that.

The never ending battle of the Tidy Vs. Messy house/house people never ends. No way to avoid it I guess. Music in the kitchen is what I do.

"The family way" :)

Anna Maria Junus said...

I always get tired at around 3-4 just when the kids are coming home from school and dinner needs to be made. I get a second wind at about 8 and can keep going all night.