De-Stress! on BabyNetwork

De-Stress Pages !
Part of our new Downtime section for personal escape, humor and relief for parents and parents-to-be

Downtime Meltdown!!
This past week, I had almost a "downtime" meltdown - meaning, I had the parenting part down for my children, although there was definitely an impatient edge to my voice; however, personally, I was becoming a wreck! Appearance (badly in need of a hair- nails- facial appointment), emotions (badly in need of escape to some island...or at least an Italian restaurant like Carmela's for lunch), tolerance (if I had to change one more "doo-doo" diaper while monitoring dinner in the middle of a preschoolers' fight while the phone rang, I would revolt!!) -- all of these aspects were in drastically short supply!

My almost-meltdown was dramatic -- including Cheerios and Chex for dinner, tears galore (although pregnancy hormones played a part), Walmart at 5 am alone, the works -- but it was cathartic.

Tell us how YOU de-stress. Long or brief, advice and/or cries for help, contribute your thoughts on places to go and things to do on the Peninsula or anywhere in the area (even at home !), to get exaggerated stress off your shoulders! Either e-mail us at [email protected] or use the online forms we've arranged for you.

The BABYNETWORK message boards will be perfect for us to talk more about this! Coming as soon as I can set them up!

It lasted several days, including debates over its nature with the husband, several purchases of magazines, aromatic teas and scents, and snippets of sleep in the early pm with children gated into the bedroom with me, loads of crayons and videos laying around to keep them occupied.

I've come out of it, but it was one of those stressed-out molehill-mountains to be climbed that could have gone better had I had someone with whom to share the climb. HUMOR was greatly needed...as well as perspective (and possibly a matinee without the kids!)...

I look forward to hearing what others in Hampton, Newport News, Gloucester, wherever you are, are doing to alleviate stress! Whatever it takes!! (Keep it clean, though!)

-- Editor