Sunday.
I’m ?% overwhelmed most of the time.
Waking up to a toddler loudly whinging because it’s not dark anymore and her hot cocoa is too hot and she wants to get dressed but not that one while simultaneously needing to pee and pour my first cuppa and take the dog out. Overwhelm.
Trying to read your Bible with people climbing in or near you and teasing the dog and each other and even knowing that God is close to those with young it feels like failing. Overwhelm
Going through a huge gift of clothes with the boys to decide what we will keep and what we will bless to others while the little girls are simultaneously touching everything and fighting about the fact F wants the same kind of cereal as E. Overwhelm.
Keeping this person on track of loading the dishwasher while simultaneously administering directions to five other people who keep popping into the frame like whack-a-mole. Overwhelm.
Giving Father’s Day presents while simultaneously trying to keep someone from opening the other one and noticing the spilled coffee and the random bits scattered around. Overwhelm.
Cleaning up breakfast while simultaneously assigning this person to make sure that person is clean and that person has shoes and answering questions. Overwhelm.
Thrift shopping for summer dresses for the teen while keeping the toddler from unloading shelves and making a towering stack of chairs to climb up and touch the huge inflatable hanging from the ceiling and repeatedly saying no to the millions and millions of requests from the kindergartener. Overwhelm.
Trying to make potato packets for the grill while trying to remember to find or buy more aluminum foil and delegating sunscreen and help tying shoes and thousands more “needs”. Overwhelm.
Attempting to explain your sense of scarcity and inadequacy to your partner and he responds with more and louder negativity basically berating the kids for “never doing anything!” which isn’t at all what you’re saying and now you feel like you need to rise to their defense and you want to point out all the responsibilities and things you keep track of that he doesn’t help with at all but you don’t and it’s just pointless. Overwhelm.
Wanting to have a Super Soaker fight with your kids and as you change into your swimsuit one kid is crying about something that is huge to him and two other kids follow you into your closet dripping wet and impatiently hurrying you along and the water fight isn’t fun at all because one kid keeps squirting people in the face and they cry and there are clothes and towels and toys all over the yard and it just is one more thing you’ll have to clean up or make them clean up. Overwhelm.
Feeling guilty because you had an overnight trip to Galena with your bestie and were gone all day three days ago and you had an overnight birthday party with your daughter and her three besties and your three besties and were gone all day yesterday, and even with these much needed respites, you still can’t manage this life you really want to love. Overwhelm.
I don’t know how to make it easier-but there are a few things I try.
Bible.
Knowing God is for me and equipping me.
Exercise.
Positive affirmations.
Laughter every day.
Reading.
Outdoor time.
Lots of kisses and rough housing, especially when I don’t feel like it.
Vodka. (Sometimes.)
Hand-lettering.
Looking at breathtaking photos on Pinterest or Instagram.
Connecting with friends.
Hiding in my room.
Motivational YouTubers.
What helps you when you’re overwhelmed?
Knowing you’re not alone!
Overwhelmed, indeed. I have never forgotten this verse from when I was a young mom. “He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young. “ You are that lamb. He carries you close to His heart. You are not walking alone. He gently leads you. He is nowhere near he’d on you, but lavishes you with love and grace.
I have a lot of different strategies when I’m overwhelmed. Sometimes I cry. Sometimes I have a bath. Sometimes it’s the gym or food. It’s rarely alcohol. Mostly it’s distracting my brain, by like cleaning or colouring or anything that involves thinking about anything else!
Those are great ways to calm yourself. I love coloring too