On those days when you're not really feeling it...

On those days when you're not really feeling it, what is it that helps you to get through the day?

I am having a really, really flat day today. I haven't had more than a 4 hour block of sleep at night for at least 2 months, and while I'm coping most of the time - every now and then I have a day where it really hits me. Being tired is fine, I'm used to it - but today I'm finding even the smallest things to be a huge struggle. I feel awful, I'm so flat that I don't feel like I'm being a very good mummy today :(. While I'd usually commentate my day to DS, today I find myself just staring off into space and going ages without talking to DS. I can't seem to muster up much enthusiasm when playing with DS either. Thank goodness DS is such a good baby and has remained relatively happy all day despite my flatness.

Days like this are bound to pop up again, so I guess I'm just after some tips for coping on days like this. (sorry if none of this makes sense - but like I said, I'm tired)

These are the days i lay on the lounge and DD plays on the floor with her toys and we watch lots of wiggles. I figure days like this every now and then don't hurt :)

Having an afternoon sleep together? Some days I'm so tired by the afternoon I lay DD down with me on our bed and we have a sleep. Sleeping like that she will nod off for at least a couple of hours and I feel a bit more refreshed when I wake up. other than that a nice cup of tea and some chocolate helps!

I am having one of those days today too.. just woke up really flat, and have been crabby all day.

Hasnt helped that bub has also been really unsettled today, he has had three blocks of really good screaming today.. and he has been fighting going to sleep all day. He only probably slept all up about an hour for the whole day.

I burst into tears when DP told me he has to work all weekend now as well..I feel like I have hardly seen him all week : (

Thankfully bub is now asleep, and I can chill out with DP for a few hours.

Its ok darl :hug:
I have days where DS just does his own thing mostly, playing in his toy room, watching his dvds and Im just close by but not really actively engaging with him IYKWIM. Sometimes we just need these days

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Its ok darl :hug:
I have days where DS just does his own thing mostly, playing in his toy room, watching his dvds and Im just close by but not really actively engaging with him IYKWIM. Sometimes we just need these days

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:yeahthat:

Don't beat yourself up about it at all hun, and don't feel bad. We all have days like that and it definately won't do your ds any harm.

Call me so I can come over and you can go for a nap and I can watch that gorgeous boy of yours? ;)

Seriously though - I think we all have days like that - tomorrow is another day thankfully :hug:

As much as I have to force myself to do it - I take the kids for a long walk in the pusher, they love it and it energises me for the rest of the day..

My DD's a lot older so the problems I have are a bit different because it's not tiredness, it's more boredom and every day feeling the same or DD wanting to wash her hands for the millionth time or climb on something she's not meant to climb on etc. etc..

So what I do as a bit of a circuit breaker is have a bath with her. That means I'm not concentrating on anything other than her. I'm not looking at the dishes or the piles of crap all over the floor or thinking about the washing that needs doing or the tax return. I'm just having a bath with DD and having fun. It really seems to work for me. I come out of the bath feeling so much better - I've had fun, she's had fun.

I generally lie on the floor while she plays, or buy a magazine and go to the park. DD loves to sit and watch people and crunch on some fruit or rusks, and then I lie in the sun and read some crap. If you're feeling really flat, buy some chocolate or an icecream too.

Thanks for the replies girls :grouphug:. It's so hard to not feel guilty about having these 'off' days every now and then.

Mel: Thanks - you're so sweet to offer :hug:, but you've got quite a bit on yourself ;).

oooooooooooh if i had my time over i'd just relax on the off days and cuddle my bundle and do whatever makes me feel better..... once they are a bit older you really can barely get away with having an off day, so just kind of try to enjoy them (i know thats an odd thing to say) while you can.... once they can talk you don't get much time to think about how off you are feeling! toddlers don't allow much self indulgence ;-) in fact they don't allow much of anything unless it is about them them them! play school and kids dvd's on off days are an absolute godsend.

i also second going for a walk and getting fresh air... i went through an OFF WEEK, seriously i was so down and we had the television on almost non stop with me on the couch being a misery guts... then i happened to buy a new pram and got out walking a bit more and it totally snapped me out of my funk.

Accept that everyone doesn't do happy smiley all day every day. That's all there is to do.

If it's constant, I would say try to fake it a bit around your child. But the odd day is fine. I've been ill on the sofa, unable to move, and DS is happy with TV and bringing me packets of biscuits/hula hoops to open for him to eat, milk/juice to pour into a cup and fruit within reach. He NEVER lets me just lie in bed when I'm healthy! But seems to know when I'm really sick. And is fine with it, it hasn't hurt us at all. In fact, DS loves snuggling up with me and telling me what the TV is doing when I can't be bothered to talk to him about it!

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Mel: Thanks - you're so sweet to offer :hug:, but you've got quite a bit on yourself ;).

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Never too busy to help out!!! :D