Stressed Much?
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 4:00PM 
{This is one my new print designs. I'm about to list it in my store! You can buy it here!}
"Oh, I never get stressed! I'm pretty easy-going!" were the exact words that came out of my mouth as I chatted casually about life with Chris's Nan; Betty.....11 years ago! Me; just a mere baby-faced 19year old. "Dear, you will feel real stress one day. Throw a marriage, a career & kids together and unfortunately stress comes into it too" she replied with a knowing, calm tone.
Looking back now....of course I wasnt' stressed! I was 2 years out of high school, working 2 pretty fun part-time jobs, whilst studying to be a primary school teacher at uni. I lived at home with my parents so didn't have any bills to pay & had absolutely no debt against my name. I functioned on minimal sleep each night, but caught up some days by not waking til late in the afternoon...because I could. I partied hard & usually came home when the sun was rising....ready to do it all again the next night. I hung with friends everyday. I danced and sunbaked and shopped. I ran on my own schedule & couild fit more play than work into my week. I had just met a handsome blue eyed man, who had swept me off my feet & made me feel like a million bucks. Stress?! Pfftt....."I don't stress!!" "What's everyone so worked up about? Just chill!!!" Haa!
But, do you know what? Nan was right! So right! {I should haven known to believe her at that moment.....coz who better than to take life-advice [or warning] from, than a vibrant, worldly woman who has lived through a lifetime of ups & downs!?}
Yesterday morning, I almost called it quits. I was several breaths away from turning the car around, heading back home, and sitting in the corner of our spotless* house rocking back & forth whilst sucking my thumb :) No, seriously I was!!
Sometimes, being a grown up, really bites!
For the most part, I'm still that 19yr old girl who doesn't stress too much! I always look for the positive in every situation, I try to use the 'bad times' as learning experiences and I try not to sweat the small stuff. But sometimes, there is so much small stuff, that it amounts to this big messy mountain of commotion.
And, that's what Saturday morning was filled with....lots of small things, that amounted to one big stressful monster.
It all started with the decision making process of selling our house & finding a new one. Even though that's an exciting time in a family's life....it's also a daunting, emotional process where a lot of 'unknowns' & risk-taking ideas are thrown around. Our decisions don't just affect us anymore....there are other people, other parties involved & that's stressful in it's self. I won't bore you with all the details of Saturday morning, but in a nutshell...it involved: a 5:30am start, 4.5 hours of extreme tidying, furniture moving, vacuuming, mopping, toy & clutter hiding, bleaching & sweeping in preparation for our open home later that day. While also multitasking with changing nappies, feeding babies, dressing kids, showering myself, packing ballet bags, putting away washing & re-tidying messes. I then had to drop the key off at the Real Estate Agent & get Ella to ballet by 10am. On the way there, in the car; Ryder was overtired & screaming. The ATM I went to for Ella's dancing uniform money {due date for this payment too} had run out of money so I had to drive out of my way to find another. Ella's water bottle burst open & soaked her leotard completely & 10mins from home, I realised I had forgotten my phone! A major Mummy-Meltdown almost occurred at that moment!!
Not sure what made me hold it together.....but I did....just! We got to dancing {late.....but still, we made it} and I finally got a chance to sit & breathe & relax :) We couldn't go home afterwards, as the open home was happening, so we had lunch with Kirsty & her boys and then headed to the toy shop to buy another special friend's birthday present, followed by a play at the park. Lunch with a good friend, a fun browse in the toys & some fresh air with my babies in the park was exactly what I needed......things went back into line, I gained perspective & I breathed out all the stress of the morning. Sink or Float?
We went out to dinner last night, just the 4 of us. And amongst our dinner conversations about the kind of people we'd love to buy our house, Ryder's bowel activity, Ella's busy social life & where the new washing machine will fit into the new house {important life rich topics haa}; I casually threw at Chris; "Oh I almost had a major meltdown / stress attack this morning, whilst you were at swimming training, but I'm ok now" and just like that.....we moved on :)
And as I sit here tonight, sipping my red wine & winding down after a very busy weekend; I realise we have to experience stress in life and take it as it comes, because there's a good chance that there's something more magical {and less stressful} just waiting around the corner. It's all part of the big picture I guess. Ebb & flow baby!
Cheers to happy times ahead!
Reader Comments (4)
You are so amazing! I love your thinking! Keep on keeping on Claire! You're AWESOME!
Oh Claire! You fit so much into your days it's little wonder every now and then you need to scream! It wasn't until last week we put our hand up and admitted we needed some help as we weren't able to deal with everything on our plate. Putting Miss I into afternoon Family Day Care has saved our sanity.I'm continuously inspired by how you raise your children, run your family/household, operate your business and share yourself with your friends and extended family (of course all with your lovely husband by your side). A melt down once in a while is certainly part of a grown up world. I know 19 year old me would never have expected that I would be living my life how it i now; and THAT is a GOOD THING! xx
Love your midset!! It's so easy to get sucked into the downwards spiral of feeling overwhelmed and stressed, especially with all that's happening in your busy little life at the moment what with selling your place, finding another and so on. SO easy to lose it and have a meltdown at times like yours on Saturday morning. Hope all settles down a bit soon for you all. P.S I was 19 when I met my husband too :)
SO many times I would like to join you in the corner. Sometimes we just have to dig so deep it hurts. x