Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm really overwhelmed and exhausted. My older DS was always an "easy" baby but DD has food allergies and gastro issues so she hasn't slept through the night yet. DH and I also have professional commitments and while I've scaled back my work I can't afford to leave my job entirely. I felt like I was handling this all pretty well but this last month I've reached a level of exhaustion I've never known. While we keep our house clean and relatively organized on the inside, I feel like the cracks are literally starting to form. our yard looks terrible, we need to do some home repairs and can't find a contractor, I'm 40 pounds overweight. I don't know where to begin, but I'd like to get a little more control of things, is like to sleep.

3.5 mos is early to expect sleeping through the night. Can you afford to hire a night nurse (let mommy sleep is great) a couple times a week? This would help tremendously.

Uh, her oldest is 3.5 YEARS. He youngest is 16 months, and has not slept.

OP, that's rough. I have the same spacing, but my kids are 3 yo and 9 months right now. The baby has slept through the night for the last 8 weeks or so, and let me tell you, it took a good few weeks of solid night time sleep before I felt better. Now I feel like a completely new person. I'm happier, more patient and able to have FUN with my kids, instead of just surviving. I contribute this 100% to getting solid sleep. I thought I was doing well with just one wake up, but now I see I was not. I was grumpy and short tempered and really hard on my toddler because I was SO DAMN TIRED.

All of this is to say, find a way to get some solid sleep. Trade night duty with your DH. Ask relatives for help. Hire someone to help at night. Whatever you need to do. Solid sleep is a game changer and makes every other things so so so so much easier.

I'm sorry this is hard.

When my second kid was born to age 18 months was the hardest for me. what I wished I had done differently--asked for more help. I wish I had gotten someone to clean the house, I wish I had gotten babysitters more often. I wish I had told someone I was drowning. Reach out, please.

Anonymous wrote:Waiting for the SAHMs to chime in and say how much easier you have it...

Anonymous wrote:I'm really overwhelmed and exhausted. My older DS was always an "easy" baby but DD has food allergies and gastro issues so she hasn't slept through the night yet. DH and I also have professional commitments and while I've scaled back my work I can't afford to leave my job entirely. I felt like I was handling this all pretty well but this last month I've reached a level of exhaustion I've never known. While we keep our house clean and relatively organized on the inside, I feel like the cracks are literally starting to form. our yard looks terrible, we need to do some home repairs and can't find a contractor, I'm 40 pounds overweight. I don't know where to begin, but I'd like to get a little more control of things, is like to sleep.

3.5 mos is early to expect sleeping through the night. Can you afford to hire a night nurse (let mommy sleep is great) a couple times a week? This would help tremendously.

Waiting for the SAHMs to chime in and say how much easier you have it...

You need sleep--and that tiredness could be PPD. Can you get away for a hotel for a night--or two? Get the sleep, and then see where you are.

The yard, the weight, all that can wait until you are out of crisis mode.

You are me last year. It is easier when the second hits 2 years old. My second did not sleep through the night until a month ago. She will be three years old in Aug., she also had a dairy allergy and acid reflux. In a year from now, it will be better.

It gets easier at 2 and 4. You're more than halfway there.

Sleep deprivation can make you crazy. The previous poster had the same advice that I was going to give. Bring in a relative to give you a few nights of sleep, or hire a night nurse for 3/4 nights. It's worth it.

I'm so sorry OP! Can you afford to hire more help? Weekend childcare? A babysitter or relative overnight so you can get one complete night of sleep?

Someone once sold me on getting a night nurse for a few weeks (I was hesitant to bc of expense) by comparing it to the money I'd spend on vacation. Would you pay 2k for a week of vacation? Then take that 2k and use it for help to make your lives easier for 2 weeks at home. You'll feel so much better after.

Hugs. It gets easier. You are in the worst of it. Hang in there and f* the yard!

Early morning! Sorry for the spelling error.

Start with taking some time in the early moor Inge to exercise. You will feel like you accomplished a little something before the rush of the day. I have started doing this even though my 12 month old still doesn't sleep through the night and I feel a lot better. I also have 40lbs+ to lose and now it is slowly starting to come off. Once you have control of yourself, then make time for house stuff. Make yourself the #1 priority.

I'm sorry OP.

There is nothing really any of us can say except:

1) We know
2) These years with kids this age are The Worst
3) It gets easier, I promise - like when your youngest turns 4
4) Lesser people than you do this all the time, and everyone eventually survives

I'm really overwhelmed and exhausted. My older DS was always an "easy" baby but DD has food allergies and gastro issues so she hasn't slept through the night yet. DH and I also have professional commitments and while I've scaled back my work I can't afford to leave my job entirely. I felt like I was handling this all pretty well but this last month I've reached a level of exhaustion I've never known. While we keep our house clean and relatively organized on the inside, I feel like the cracks are literally starting to form. our yard looks terrible, we need to do some home repairs and can't find a contractor, I'm 40 pounds overweight. I don't know where to begin, but I'd like to get a little more control of things, is like to sleep.