Ugh just need to vent

mamatotwins0812 · February 2014

I really just feel like I need to vent so thanks in advance for letting me. I'm feeling so discouraged and like we might as well stay house bound for the rest of our lives. My guys nap around 11:30/12 to 1:30/2 depending on the day. That leaves a small window in the morning and even smaller in the afternoon to get out to do things (by the time everyone is fed, dressed, in the car, to destination and leaving time to get home from destination etc). I've always tried to get out and do fun and different stuff, ESP now that they're getting bigger but it just seems impossible. It never fails that on our way home one of the two falls asleep, literally for 2 minutes, and just that small shut eye completely ruins the nap for the day. I have one beautifully sleeping baby right now and one who's been fighting sleep since we walked in the door at 1145. I just finally gave up and let him play. We went to a really fun event at 10 and by the time it was over, i fed them lunch, got them bundled and in the car, our whole time was up. This was even with me singing and talking to them the whole car ride home. I know in theory this sounds like such a minimal issue but it just completely ruins the day. It leaves one desperately whiny and cranky baby and one happy and energized. And it leaves me feeling exhausted from not having a second of a break and just defeated from doing anything outside the house. It also makes me feel like a failure for having them on such a "ridged" schedule that they can't cope outside of it. Does this ever get easier?!

Ylvelill · February 2014

How old are the babies?

Yes it will get easier, some kids do better with changes to their schedule and others fall apart.

I would suggest if the kids are over 2 to insist on at least quiet time for the normal length of a nap after being out. You can also try to extend the outings so they will be tired out more by the time you get home.

mamatotwins0812 · February 2014

They are 19 months. I love the idea of quiet time in theory and do enforce it to a point, but it's hard to do when "quiet" time consists of bouncing around and chatting while the other one is trying to sleep

.

Ylvelill · February 2014

Are they in the same room? I can see that being an issue

mamatotwins0812 · February 2014

@socialmediamommy if they're out they're fine (tired but can cope) but the longer we stay out past nap time the quicker they fall asleep in the car. They are usually more than ready for naps at 1130/12 but maybe I should start pushing it up slowly....

MommyWannaB10 · February 2014

My DS sounds exactly like that, he's 2. He is good if we're out past nap, unless lunch is late, but the second we get in the car he falls asleep. Sometimes I can get him in the house he'll stay asleep, other times not so much. I've learned to deal if I want to be out during nap. It's super hard though when he's crabby then at home. If I try to push nap back, eh ends up WAY overtired and refuses to sleep. It'll be interesting once the twins arrive and see what happens. I've been wishing I wouldn't have gotten him on such a strict schedule, but it's nice too to have that routine. My nephew is 3, he naps whenever, goes to bed as late as 10 or 11 and I don't know if that's good either.

Rachiemoo · February 2014

Try to do something from like 9 am until 10/10:30 if you can. Also blast the music in the car / talk to them. I used to watch my older daughter in the rear view mirror and when I saw her starting to nod off, I would start to talk to her to keep her awake. You could also go out for an hour or so in the afternoon. You have to get everything read in advance, get your diaper bag packed and in the car, their outfits and coats laid out, etc. I know it is HARD, but you can do it!

mamatotwins0812 · February 2014

@singformysavior you're totally right and it ended up being a great day with one on one time. It's just SO hard in the "heat of the moment". For some reason, I have patience for almost everything else, but the no nap thing just gets me so bad. I just know what the rest of the day will look like and without a moment to breathe in between, I just panic.
The biggest challenge for me is that I'm not "choosing" events during naps. I'm very cautious to do things during their up times. I always have everything preplanned and ready to go to maximize time but the travel time kills me. They hit that car seat on the way home and just zonk out. Today I sang loudly, talked, engaged and he just couldn't keep the eyes open. We run into this issue every single week with church too. We get home right around the time they should be going down so that downtime in the car is just enough to put them out. Ironically, I was the same way (and still am to a degree). Once I'm in a car or anything with motion, I fall asleep. Guess this is pay back lol.

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