Hello, I was looking for some pointers, advice on stress.
I am 43 and have two small children. My husband is the same age. We both work part time in fairly stress journalism jobs, but his are overnights, mine are very early starts mostly. This is so we both can look after the children, one of whom is 3 and in nursery. Odd weekend here and there.
We have just moved house (fairly locally and same school) lots needs doing to it. I am very optimistic about this and happy where we are, as are the children
But it has tipped me from being a fairly high octane, energetic (I run 5ks etc, always on the move, busy bee type person) into a Very Stressed person. By the end of the day I am tired and stressed and snappy and see the world more negatively. I feel memories of my father more in this house (similar to the house I grew up in) – he killed himself.
I was really horrid in front of the children last night. Feel narked and disconnected from my husband at the end of the day.
There is Iyengar yoga (used to do it pre children) one night we are both home. Should I do it? It would mean DH would have to do bedtime. I feel a bit selfish seeing as I am loading him with the more heavy lifting stuff in the day and as I am have two days off work and could do yoga on my own (but I don’t, I end up doing shopping or housework for two hours before picking up youngest)
But I feel I need to take responsibility and do something positive for myself. I would offer that another night he could go for a run. I don’t want to impinge on weekends as I like to spontaneously do things as a family.
I dunno, I just feel because I get to work in the day and have a lunch break (I run in those breaks usually) I don’t have the right to demand time to myself unless its more convenient.
FWIW, I don’t think he’d object, but he may silently feel put out. Kids can be a handle to get to bed!
Aside from that, any other stress advice? I feel ok in the day, it buildsup as the day progresses. I really clench my jaw and feel constantly tense.