Having a bad day

Getting ready in the morning is so stressful. I try to do as much as I can at night, but just getting Steven and myself ready is really getting to me and it's only been since last week. It doesn't help that he wakes up at around 4:30 then is up for the day. So, at 6:30 when he is ready for a nap I have to rush to get ready.

Well, this morning he was getting stressed out and didn't know what he wanted. He didn't want the bottle so I gave him his cereal. Then he spit that all over me. I had to spot clean my slacks. I was about to cry. I only had about 15 minutes before we had to leave and he wasn't nearly done.

I sat him in his chair and told him in a stern voice "knock it off already" . Then I thought about it and I sounded like my mom. He started crying of course, because I never used a mean voice with him. Of course DH wakes up and says "what the heck is going on here" and Steven is smiling and laughing for him. It got me so mad and sad at the same time. Why was he being impossible for me and so happy for DH. Of course when I brought him to my mom's, I said "he is being cranky today" and as I say that he is laughing up a storm.

I can't stop thinking about his sad face when I was stern with him. I feel sooooo horrible now. I know he was just stressed out because I was rushing and he was playing with his bottle and his cereal, but I just didn't have time for that. He almost seemed as if he was happy to see my mom and get away from me .

How do you working moms do it? I already planned to get up at 6:00 to leave by 8 the LATEST. But I've been getting up around 4:30 with DS and it's STILL not enough time!

Re: Having a bad day

no advice but

Re: Having a bad day

Can your DH help out??
I know it is very hard. I have to be in at work at 7 am and get up early so I can get ready and make sure there are plenty of clean and filled bottles.
Matthew wakes up at 3:30 and Christopher will wake up at 5-6 am for a bottle, but luckily they go right back down.
I dont know how we are going to do it when DH goes back to work soon, hopefully they will sleep longer

Re: Having a bad day

aww don't feel guilty!

I have everything ready from the night before. I shower have his clothes and my clothes laid out. I also have his bottle ready and my bag by the door so my husband can put in the car.

Maybe you can just give him a bottle and leave the cereal for later on in the morning. there is no way I would have time to feed him in the morning,

Re: Having a bad day

I agree with getting your DH to help. It sounds like he's still there when you're struggling to get yourself and the baby ready.

Re: Having a bad day

Two things - first as the other poster said, I think it's time to enlist hubby's help. I wouldn't be able to do everything myself in the morning either. Usually, when I'm showering, DH changes Alex's diaper, gives her a bottle and gets her dressed for the day.

If that's an impossibility, you need to find ways to put DS down so you can get things done while you're getting ready in the AM. When Alex was younger, I would strap her into her bouncy seat or rocker seat, put her in front of her TV and let her watch one of her einstein videos while I showered and got ready. Or, worst case scenario, strap him into his bouncy and take him in the bathroom with you while you get ready.

Ideally, I'd say, if he gets up at 4:30am, I'd get up with him, give him his bottle, change his diaper and put him in his clothes. This should put you to about 5:15am-ish. At that time, strap him into his bouncy, rocker or swing, and go get yourself ready. Then, when he's ready for a nap, you should be ready to get out the door.

Re: Having a bad day

Thanks everyone!

Beth, thank you for the suggestions. I think I may try to sit him down with his videos. Last week was smooth sailing, but this week is getting much more rough.

DH does the night time duty, so I hate to wake him to help. Steven used to be such a great sleeper and now he is totally off. So, he will wake up between 1 and 2 and fuss, so DH helps him then. I can't really expect him to do it at 2 and again at 4. Although, he will help me by making the bottle and stuff but then he has to get some sleep in there.

This morning was really weird though. he got up at 4 and he was crying hysterically (which he hardly does) and his eyes were closed. I couldn't calm him down. DH got him a quick bottle and I fed and changed him then let him hang in his crib to take a "nap" until he got up at 6:30. He was fine with that and I was able to get some more sleep but then when he woke up it was a mad rush with his breakfast at 7.

I think he is sensing my rushing and anxiety and it is in turn stressing him out.

Re: Having a bad day

I give Ryan 4 oz around 7am and daycare gives him another 3-4 oz along w/his cereal at 8am. I dont' have time to wait for him to eat either, and it can be messy. Any way your mom can feed him breakfast?

Can Dh get up like 10 min earlier just to help you load the car? Other than that everyone has already made great suggestions, you'll get into a routine soon and it will get easier!!