Vulnerable thoughts

 I shared this in the Light and Learning: a positive space for parenting kids with extra challenges group I created and facilitate on Facebook. I wanted to share it here as well.

Vulnerable post.

I usually post uplifting and positive things here. I usually feel positive about parenting high needs kids for the most part. I am able to keep an eternal perspective and know our children are ours intentionally. I am able to see the good each day, even if it's just a little bit, and express gratitude for it. But I'm also human and have human emotions of anger, frustration and sadness sometimes. Last night it hit me hard. It felt like a culmination of years of stress, heartache, emotion coaching, naming feelings, managing sibling conflicts 20 times a day, de-escalating high emotions in numerous children numerous times a day, researching, praying, being patient, exhaustion, frustration, jumping through mental health hoops, judgement, misunderstandings, apologizing for my children, heartache for my children, feelings of isolation (to some degree), trying to keep my own mental health in check, 504 meetings, trials and errors with meds and the awful side effects that resulted, embarrassment for their impulsiveness, therapy appointments, doctor appointments, evaluations, persuading children to take supplements, hurtful comments (although I have come a long way with letting that stuff go), pushback from my inflexible child (every day, almost constantly), anxious children, talking through fears, regressions, waking up in the night with them, working through their anger, more appointments with specialists, the never-ending to-do lists, feelings of guilt for things I want to do but haven't implemented and for not being able to keep up with things, trying to help each child feel loved but being stretched so thin, trying to juggle so many balls and so much more and then more on top of that and it felt like more than I could really handle well. The amygdala part of my brain took over and I just really needed to get it all out. I am a big fan of journaling and exercise but last night I took a drive by myself after the kids were in bed (and my husband was home with them) and screamed out loud, several times, and cried (and prayed) for a long time. My throat hurt after. Part of me hesitates to share this because I feel like I wasn't strong or that I should be able to keep going with a positive attitude and trust that it will all be okay. I'm sharing such a personal experience because I want you to know you're not alone if you feel this way. We carry a lot on our shoulders as moms of high needs kids. There are many demands and it's a lot. If you feel overwhelmed, you're not alone. It's okay to let it out sometimes.

Today I still feel a little sad and overwhelmed but I also can see the sun coming up again a little bit. I found several things to be grateful for and really appreciate them. My inflexible child was actually compliant more than once today, another child is showing a lot of responsibility and maturity, another child is thriving at school, two children gave me big hugs and told me they love me.

A quote that resonates with me tonight:

"If for a while the harder you try, the harder it gets, take heart. So it has been with the best people who ever lived." - Jeffrey R. Holland

If you can relate at all, hang in there friends. It's okay to have hard days. Tomorrow is a fresh start.

15Emily Yeckley Hamblin, Nicole Haley and 13 others

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Embarrassing Dr visit and my scattered brain

 Today was exhausting. I took Josh and Eleanor to the dr office for a well check. They were running around in the waiting room, kicking each other, pushing, playing tag, complaining and would not sit in a chair while I was dealing with an insurance issue at the front desk and on the phone. Eleanor at one point was walking on the chairs. Josh did say, "Yes Mom" a few times but would get sucked in by her teasing and they would tease each other and run around the waiting room, being loud and disruptive. I talked with them several times, tried to get to the root of what was going on with Eleanor and then moved on to the threat of consequences (loss of privileges), which came to fruition. Even one of the office staff came over to talk with them and they still continued after she left, though not as intensely. I will admit I was embarrassed that they wouldn't listen to me and were so disruptive. 

In the dr office room, Eleanor actually did pretty well (other than crawling on the floor under the chairs at one point) but Josh came unglued. He pulled open the drawers and pulled supplies out, tossing them on the ground. He poked a hole in one bag-type thing and then dropped it. I tried holding him on my lap but it didn't work for long. He tried pushing Eleanor off of the exam table because the doctor started asking Josh questions about his portion (but wasn't ready to exam him yet) and he thought he needed to be on the exam table if she was asking him questions. He was contrary to almost everything. He picked up the blood pressure tool on the wall and I had to take it from his hands. He turned on the sink water numerous times, after the I told him not to, as well as the doctor. I was wondering what on earth was going on because this behavior was not his every day behavior - not this intense. I then remembered he hadn't eaten lunch, only snacks at summer camp. I forgot to grab his lunch. In the rush of piano camp and getting the kids to their appointment I forgot to grab his lunch. I have seen this behavior to this extreme when he is really hungry and knew that was the trigger. I still felt embarrassed and exhausted but also so stupid that I forgot the one thing that could help him. I didn't even have a snack in my purse.

I have also been so incredibly forgetful lately. Even worse than before. My mom texted me the other day and asked what year we got married. I honestly couldn't remember. I thought about it for at least a minute and it was like my mind was just blank. I had nothing. I had to do the math to find out it was 2004. That scared me quite a bit. I also misplace my phone several times a day, I have numerous alarms set on my phone, today I showed up at the Whitney's house at the wrong time to pick up Melanie for piano camp and I feel like there is this fog around my brain. I brought it up to my doctor a while back but didn't get any good direction. I worry it is early onset Alzheimer's Disease. My Grandpa Herzog had it so I am at risk. It could also be stress. It's a lot with the kids. I love them and don't want them to ever feel like they are a burden. The daily work is a lot and there isn't much time for recharging. I am probably just stretched too thin. Still a concern in the back of my mind though...

Shame

 I went to Halley's house this morning so we could hang out with Mikaela, whom we minister to. I love them both but always feel a little stressed when I bring my kids to play dates like this. Mostly the twins. I prepped them in advance that saying bad words would earn them sitting in the car with me. At one point Nathan threw a bin of legos in frustration. When I asked him to clean it up he yelled, "No! Shut up!" Halley audibly gasped. Both of them looked at me as I picked him up and took him out to the car. We sat there for about ten minutes. We eventually talked about why he was in time out and he said sorry. He apologized to Halley and she forgave him. Later Zach was talking very loudly and Halley commented, "Wow, you must really want to be heard." I feel like so often our kids don't meet her / others' expectations and then I feel shame. But then I remember that they don't understand that some of our kids struggle with impulse control and how the ADHD brain works (there isn't that "pause" that other kids are fortunate to have that allows them to evaluate if something is a good idea or not). Halley is my friend and I love her but even those who fall in this category often don't get it and I feel a bit judged. Trying not to let it affect me. Trying to have hope that the boys won't be like this in preschool and get kicked out...and hope that they will make it to preschool with potty training. I've got two months to wrap that up. Wish me luck.

Some thoughts

 I feel stuck and I don't like it. The overwhelm, the paralyzing perfectionism, the anxiety. I can't ever seem to get on top of my house and I feel shame about it. I feel embarrassed to invite people to our home, even kids for playdates, so I often don't. I had some kids over for a playdate last month, after their mom had invited our kids to her house the week prior. I was a little nervous but the kids' home is pretty cluttered and not very tidy so I thought they wouldn't be too judgmental. The oldest kid said these things while at our house: "I'm pretty sure this house was cleaner last time." "This house is a wreck!" Kids. They are so dang honest. Several months ago, the boys' friend, Jimmy Hoeh, was supposed to come over to our house after school with his sister while his parents had other obligations. They didn't come home with the boys so I texted his mom and she said they went with their grandma instead. When I asked Oliver about it, he said he and Jimmy had some contention and Jimmy yelled at him, "I don't want to come over! Your house is too trashy!" (He hasn't been to our house since, though we have invited him, but the boys go to his house often. His family is moving to CO soon.) We met Oliver's new friend, Kaden, at the park the other day with his mom and sister. His mom suggested we could meet at one of our houses next time, as it might be easier with the twins. I told her to be honest, it's difficult for me to have people over because it's difficult to keep up with our house. She said she hopes we can be the kind of friends who don't have to clean for each other. She said she doesn't like clutter in her house either but everyone's house gets a little messy. This is not a little messy. It's a whole other thing that I don't think a lot of people I know can relate to. I was talking to my SIL, Meagan, the other day about it. She said she was having the YW over to swim and had been gardening that day. She said she didn't have time to put away the gardening tools and mulch, etc and had to shove it behind something in her backyard. She said she was a little embarrassed but moved on because that's just how it is. Again, I feel like it's a whole other level that people just don't get. We have so many weeds and things in our backyard...I know comparison is the their of joy. It's more a matter of how it affects my and my family's mental health and the social aspect as well.

How do I get out of this overwhelm? The perfectionism tells me I have to have all of the kids out of the house so I can tackle it. It tells me to wait until the twins are in Kindergarten because what's the point right now anyway? It tells me it's all or nothing and I definitely can't do it all so it ends up being nothing. That kind of thinking is paralyzing. I try to power through, to give myself pep talks and make lists, hold myself accountable with an accountability partner. I get a few minutes in and kids need me. There are many demands and it's all very overwhelming. Sarah Chaston comes over on Mondays to help me but she has her kids and I have mine. We get some stuff done and it's helpful but also not a huge improvement overall. I still feel the overwhelm so strongly.

I feel like it's all on me. I have to figure out how to get out of this. Oliver is helping more lately and I appreciate it. I think he's realizing that he just feels better in a clean environment. 

Some of my ideas:

• Have kids set out backpacks, water bottles and snack the night before.
• Me: set out clothes the night before.
• Set timer for 1 hour every day to clean. Prioritize! 
• Daily cleaning focus.
• Watch Unburdened (purchased class about minimizing) an follow lessons
• Put my phone in the same place every time (I misplace it all the time)
• Clean It Challenge with Kendra Hennessey. I don't think this was a coincidence at all. I had a meeting at the church this evening and pulled up a podcast to listen to on the way. Usually I listen to spiritual podcasts on Sundays and I rarely ever listen to Kendra's podcast but for some reason the title caught my eye. She talked about this challenge she's starting tomorrow. It looks like something I could use. I consider it a tender mercy. 

Here's to hoping some of these things will help. 

A brief update

We're nine months into this pandemic. It has been a difficult year. The vaccination is now available for health care providers and teachers. My mom is a teacher's aid and is going to get it in the next couple of weeks. Since we have been able to go back to church in person (it has been several months now), we have divided the ward by last name - the first half on one Sunday and the second half the next. The group that didn't go in person would do in-home church and more recently, watch it broadcasted. The chapel was pretty sparse with people. Everyone was grouped with families only and then one bench blocked off for social distancing and then another family on the bench after that. Today was the first Sunday we have had our entire ward meet together since the pandemic started. I saw some families I haven't seen since March. As I looked around, tears came to my eyes. I have missed our ward family. I have missed the unity and feeling that comes with all of us filling the chapel and cultural hall. Listening to the songs about our Savior and singing hymns of praise, I felt peace and joy. I don't want to ever take for granted being able to worship in our chapel together. To sing (for a while we couldn't sing - only listen to the organ during the hymns), listen to musical numbers and members bearing their testimonies. As I walked across the cultural hall after church, I still felt a pang of sadness because that is where my exercise class was and I miss it so much. But things will not always be this way. Looking forward to brighter days ahead.

Thought download - overwhelm

 I feel overwhelmed about our house. I walk into it and feel anxiety. There is clutter on every shelf, every surface, toys, shoes, clothes and trash on the floor. The kitchen floor is dirty and there is a laundry basket with overflowing clothes in the kitchen, outside of the laundry room because the boys broke the washing machine recently while playing hide and seek in it and the laundry is piling up. I feel like I am wading through sand or water, up to my waste, as I tell myself I can do this and begin on a task. I begin to load the dishwasher and get pulled away numerous times. The twins are fighting, Eleanor wants to get the paints out or wants me to read with her, Josh is upset and raging, Oliver wants to tell me something. All of these things are important and I want to give my attention to them. Then I go back to the dishwasher, only to be interrupted again. It's time to encourage the twins to go potty and they want me to be in the bathroom with them. Or it's their nap time and I need to change them and put the in the Excursion and give them their sippy cups. While they nap, I need to patch Eleanor. That is our special time before we pick up Josh and Oliver gets home from school. I may have started the dishwasher by this time but sometimes not. And that is one task of many. When I look around our house, it looks like nothing has been done. There are still dishes in the sink because with a family this big, there always are. The high counter has stuff piled on it. I clear it and it's back to looking like this within a few days. The play kitchen has so many clothes on it, they are falling off. The glass on the TV stand has dirty steaks on it and has for years but that can't be a priority right now. Not when we can't even walk to the couch without tripping on something. Last night after we read scriptures as a family, Wendel walked across the room to go upstairs and tripped over some train tracks and fell. He hurt his ankle and was pretty grumpy. Then there is bedtime, which takes until about 10-10:30 every night and last night Wendel was with Josh until about 11:30. I think I will get stuff done at night but by the time I do one small task and sit down to relax, it's almost midnight. The responsibilities are many with children who have so many needs, especially the mental and emotional ones, and things have been very difficult lately in that regard. I feel like I can't keep up, like I'm sinking in quicksand, trying to keep my head up to breathe and so much depends on me. My perfectionism tendencies also don't help. I get into an "all or nothing" mentality and then feel like I'm failing if I can't do it all (which I never can anymore). I feel frustrated, overwhelmed, I have had suicidal thoughts (not specific - only general), anxiety and possible depression. I know I need to minimize but that takes time. Even sorting through toys and books takes time I don't feel like I have. I will do a little but it doesn't seem like enough to make a difference.

Unintentional Model

Circumstance: I have many demands on me, including five children, three of whom have special needs of some kind and twin toddlers. 

Thoughts: I can't keep up. I'm drowning. I feel shame about our house. I don't want to have anyone over. I don't want to be here. I'm embaressed when our kids' friends come over or when people come to the door. I feel like I should be able to handle this but I can't. Having company over requires about a week of prep time. If anyone drops by unexpectedly, I start feeling anxious. 

Facts: There is clutter in our home and toys and clothes on the floor. Perfectionism is holding me back. 

Actions: Give myself a pep talk and do what I can. 

Results: A little bit gets done but I still feel very overwhelmed. 

Intentional Model

Circumstance: I have many demands on me, including five children, three of whom have special needs of some kind and twin toddlers. 

Thoughts: What if this is exactly how it is supposed to be right now? What if the experiences I'm having with difficulty keeping up and feeling overwhelmed will help me learn and grow and help others? What if this is the exact thing I need to help me understand that progress will serve me better than perfection? 

Facts: There is clutter in our home and toys and clothes on the floor. Perfectionism is holding me back. 

Actions: Make three house goals each day and check them off. Reward myself for completing them. 

Results: Making progress is satisfying and will help me remain calm and centered.

Drawing strength from my ancestors

Lately I have been very interested in my family history. I have been interested in my family history in general for a long time - definitely at least since I went to Ricks College when I was 19 years old and took a family history class there. I don't remember a lot about it and I don't remember stories or ancestors making an impression on me. I mostly remember entering dates and stuff like that. I recently logged into Family Tree app because I am creating a TIMF card, which has a picture of an ancestor on the front and my family pedigree chart on the back. The purpose is to share the card with non-members to explain about family history work and why it's important, which is a great missionary tool. I realized there is a "memories" tab under each person and some of them have life sketches or life histories and there are pictures and sometimes funeral programs, pictures of the grave sites, etc. As I have been reading these histories, I have often stopped and appreciated the strength of these women who came before me. They did hard things and many of them had faith that I admire. I want to write down the things that are inspiring me about these women so I can draw on their experiences when I need strength and encouragement and so I can share them with Eleanor at some point.

Sidonie Eliza Constance Bunot Roberts

• Her parents locked in her in room often out of necessity when she was a little girl because they were planning to leave France to go to the United States and her grandfather's family wanted to take her to keep her there with them. I can only imagine what this was like for her. She was an only child, very young and must have felt lonely and bored.
• In 1861, they traveled from France to London, England and then sailed to America, arriving in New York in June of 1861. Over the next month, they traveled by steam boat and railway until they reached Florence, Nebraska. They then traveled across the plains with other Saints (about 500, led by John R. Murdock) and arrived in SCL, Utah on September 12, 1861. Sidonie was born in 1856, which means she was only five years old when they arrived in Utah after that long journey! That is quite an extensive traveling experience for such a young child, especially under difficult conditions (she mentioned being sea sick on the boat and being scared of coyotes and "indians" while crossing the plains). 
• Her parents spoke French in their home. She learned English from other children and would interpret for her mom wherever they went, as her mother never learned to speak English well. I can imagine it would be difficult to translate all the time as a young child. 
• In February 1862, her father, Joseph, took a plural wife. Sidonie would've been six years old at this time. I am trying to imagine how she must have felt to have basically a stepmother living with her and her parents. I think the dynamics of that arrangement would be difficult for a young child to understand (and I wonder how her mother and father felt about it as well). 
• Sidonie's mother got very sick and passed away on December 3, 1866. Sidonie would have been ten years old when her mother died and turned 11 one month after. It was just before Christmas and that must have been even more difficult for her, not only that first year but every year after. 
• Sidonie's father left shortly after with a surveying crew for the railroad and was gone for about a year. Sidonie was left with her stepmother, Louise (Richard), who was kind to her and tried to be a good mother. She had two kids of her own at this point. Sidonie often watched the children while her stepmother worked. Sidonie said this was a very difficult time while her father was gone and that he was gone such a long time, they thought "he was killed by indians." They were all joyful and relieved when he returned.
• When he was only 6 years old, Sidonie's half-brother, Joseph, died. The history doesn't specify how but I can only imagine this would be so sad for Sidonie, who spent time with Joseph and cared for him while his mother was at work. He was also probably her playmate, as he was older than his other sibling. 
• When Sidonie was 14, her father married another wife, who lived with them, Ann Hunt Price. She was only 18 and Sidonie's father was 42. I can imagine this may have been a difficult adjustment, especially after losing her mother four years prior. Ann was also only four years older than Sidonie at the time of their marriage, which may have felt uncomfortable for Sidonie. 
• When Sidonie was 17 years old, she married Tom Roberts, who was 21 in 1873. They had twin boys but one of them, Joseph, only lived for 35 days. They had 11 more children after the twins. Losing a child must have been heart wrenching. This child had the same name as her half brother, who also passed away young. 
• This part I will quote from the history: "Thomas had been invited to join his brother, Arthur, in a partnership in the mercantile business in Star Valley, Wyoming. He talked it over with Sidonie and they decided to accept the offer. Sidonie realized it meant giving up her nice home in the city for a crude log cabin in undeveloped territory, but she was no stranger to pioneering. She had five sons growing up and they would all soon need to be employed profitably. She was willing to make the sacrifice and was not afraid of this new adventure." I love that Sidonie looked at the big picture and was willing to sacrifice for her family, especially her children and what would be best for them.