I don't know how people do this without help! (vent)

Starfish113 · June 2010

DH's work schedule is usually 7am-4pm (he works in environmental chemistry). But then the oil spill happened right before LO was born... and ruined everything!! He now gets up at 4:30 in the morning to go to work, and gets home around 6pm. Which isn't too bad, because then I have help for 3 hours before he goes to bed at 9:00. The bad part is, he also has to go in on Saturdays and Sundays now The overtime $$ is nice, but I am losing my sanity.

He left at 4:30 this morning. DD has been awake since then (how is that possible?? It's 12:30 here now!) with a few 15 minute cat naps while I was driving around the neighborhood with her. And she is CRANKY (of course). I've tried everything in my bag of tricks, but they're not working because she's overtired at this point. I just called him crying asking when he is coming home. I can handle it during the week, but I want help on the weekends!! I now have sooooooo much respect for single mothers (and mothers whose husbands are away). I did before, but now I have even more.

lil_rhody · June 2010

Do you have any family or friends that can take her for a bit? Can you get out of the house?

When they get over tired, it's the worst. That's when I have to hand DS over to DH because I'm usually fried at that point. I too have wondered what single parents do. Really, I think you just have to lean on other people.

kate1011 · June 2010

It is a hard adjustment. I feel ya! My DH is military, and I was spoiled becaus he had 30 days of leave when DS when born. Now he's home 2 days a week, I also work full time. The lack of sleep, figuring out child care, never seeing DH, etc, etc.

I also have a great and growing every day respect for single parents. I even consider my LO to be a "good" or "easy" baby.

Hopefully it won't be too much longer until the oil spill is stopped. (Yeah, right - but a girl can dream. Right?)

Brewtowngrl · June 2010

Give yourself a breather. Put her in a safe place and walk away for a min to catch your breath. Can you wear her? DS always falls asleep in the moby. Take her on a short walk. It will give you a bit to chill and she might relax and fall asleep. Babies are very in tune with mom being stressed and that might be why she got wound up too much to sleep. I had that issue with DS. I was way to high strung.

robinsokj · June 2010

MY DH works the same schedule. Its tough, but we make it work

djandkellen · June 2010

Can you wear here in a wrap like a Moby? That's the only way I get hands free time while DD's napping, and the only way I can get her to nap for longer than 20 minutes.

Good luck!

Pocky873 · June 2010

Hang in there, mama!! Def. wear her around the house if you can - it helps my DD when she's super cranky. If you have family and/or friends around, enlist their help and have them take her for a couple of hours!!

khartner · June 2010

I'm so sorry

I hope she has fallen asleep for you but if not one more trick that might work is turning the vacuum on right next to where she sleeps and then remove yourself for 10 minutes (or vacuum your house for 10 minutes) I used to do this ALL the time with DS#1 who had terrible colic and I felt like ripping my hair out of my head some days.

Starfish113 · June 2010

Thanks ladies! I did get her to sleep (vacuum trick worked -- thanks!!)

K&K ~070809~ · June 2010

My DH works crazy hours too so I understand your frustration...no overtime pay though Glad to hear you finally got her to sleep, I struggle with naps during the day too, he fights them and doesn't even STTN yet. Remember to take time for yourself, a quick steamy shower always makes me feel better. I hope your DH gets a day off soon!

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I don't know how people do this without help! (vent)

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