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Not holding it together right now (very long)

73 replies

foundintranslation · 01/04/2006 02:23

Feeing Depressed is the wrong topic, I'm not depressed, I don't feel depressed, I'm usually fine, buoyant and sorted. I'm just such a mess tonight. Won't bother changing my name.
ds is 10 months old. He's never slept through, not that I'm aiming for it, he wakes between 2 and 6 times a night and cries immediately, and I feed (bf) him, and I don't mind, I work and I don't want to give up the feeding, the closeness, something that is exclusively mine and not dh's. And we had a real struggle stablishing bf, and I love it. He is such a light sleeper and wakes at the slightest thing. There is no way to keep him away from noise as we live in a one-bed flat, bedroom right next to living room. We don't get him off to bed/sleep until between 9.30 and 10. Again, usually I can live with this (it seems to be just the way he is, he needs relatively little sleep, he's perfectly fit and healthy, developing like a dream). He was asleep, I went to bed, he woke, I fed him, laid him in his cot (next to our bed), I was just drifting off and dh, who has an obsession with airing the rooms, banged the balcony door shut, waking ds. We had a row, I cried buckets, am now feeding ds back to sleep, he does this awful thing where he arches his back and cries and he's been doing it again tonight and it's just so upsetting. I'm so scared the neighbous will have heard ds crying, me crying and saying 'stop it, ds, please' and think I'm hurting him :( I already find it very difficult at nights as I'm always haunted by an irrational fear that someone has told lies about me/us and ds will be taken away, or we will be arrested. In the daytime I don't have this as I'm too busy, but at night it always haunts me and means, however tired I am, I sometimes have to really pluck up my courage to go to bed.
I work ft and dh is a sahd and is supposed to be doing his doctorate. Because I'm a lecturer and we live very close to uni I can do a lot of my work at home and am very flexible in the timing of it. My contact runs out in a year (it won't be renewed, my boss had to fight tooth and nail to et me a year's extension, it's an admin decision) and after that I don't know what we'll do. I'm just trying to be both, a SAHM to ds (after all, I am around most of the time) and a WOHM, and be as good as I can, becuase I need to be good so I can get another job. last semester I would rush to classes then rush home to bf ds. dh is supposed to be applying for funding - if he got some I could probably go part-time for a while, assuming my next job is on a similar level -, but needs permanent kicks up the ar*e. I give him plenty of time for his work, but a lot of it he tbh fritters away - and it's NOT always my job to sort out his work time, he should be coming to me and saying 'II need this and this time then and then'. We are thinking of ttc again soon and I'm saving like mad to support a period in which I could stay at home, but again all of the initiative to comes from me. Because of the way his studies are and the job situation over here is he couldn't earn nearly as much as me atm and also the doctorate fits in best with what he's done so far (it's in a very specialised area he got passionate about and did loads on during his degree). He is really great in so many ways, wonderful with ds, great with housework etc, supportive, adores me, but there are some things he's just so ostrich-like on and he has a habit, which I find really hard to handle, of interpreting me wrongly, or over-interpreting, if I ever criticise him or something even a bit, which I almost see as an attempt to head the criticism off - for example, if I say he really needs to be getting down to his work, we've only a year before my job runs out etc he'll immediately say 'oh, I'll get a job' - meaning any old job, both in the way he means it and in practice due to the job market here, and he knows I don't want or even mean that - it's almost like he says these things so he doesn't have to engage with my point. I'm often unfair to him too, I know it. But I really do feel like I'm holding it all together, mapping out our future, and he just doesn't take this or indeed me seriously (he knows how scared I am that the doorbell will ring in the night, and yet he finds it funny - suggested that as an April fool's joke he'd go downstairs at night and ring the bell Angry). FWIW, I love him very much, and I could and would not contemplate leaving him. But how to get through to someone who can do such a good impression of a brick wall. I'm not like that; I'm very communicative and (over-?) engage with everything he or others say. Bu he never, ever, or very seldom, lets me know how he receives anything I tell him that I feel is not right between us.
And I do my best to support friends and other people and know I can't do enough, and there are a couple of MNers I've promised to do things for and I just haven't got round to it (if you're reading this - so sorry!). I wish I could be there more for other people, be wiser than I am, be of more use to them.
I am happy, I'm certain I don't have PND or similar, know how very very lucky I am and it's almost like I feel it's not my right, it's been too much luck, it's all going to go wrong. That's where the fear of being unjustly accused comes from, I think. I never seem to stop trying to hold it together, be good and better, be all things to all people. I've dealt with OCD and keep a firm lid on it usually, but occasionally it starts (as it were) crawling out of the bin. I always have a lot of energy and can usually deal with these things, but there are times I just can't, and I fail, and I don't have to, tonight I just let go far too easily.
This is hideously long, thanks for staying with it if you have :)

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foundintranslation · 01/04/2006 21:45

argh sc, you're one of the mners I haven't got round to doing sthg for! Blush
how are things? thanks for your post.
dh is really great in many ways, really does a lot of the domestic stuff (me walking out for a weekend probably wouldn't faze him - in fact he'd probably wave goodbye then clean the flat! lol), and to be fair part of it really is of my own making - my own wanting to be with ds as much as possible, chalk up a great job record (so I don't have trouble getting another job!) etc. - but otoh he does have a definite lazy streak, really does need to get in gear about the work/the funding application, and I do find it wearying (and tbh not actually my role) chivvying him. And his 'sense of humour' can be very tiring. Any reverse attempts from me are water off a duck's back.

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spacecadet · 01/04/2006 21:49

ok the walk out idea probably no good then!
im not too bad thank you for asking.
it sounds like you need to accept that you are only human and cut things down a bit if possible.

ladyoracle · 01/04/2006 21:56

This might sound like I'm ignoring the other problems, but from my experience with dd1 everything else gets easier to deal with if you can sort your sleep out, not just catching up here and there, but actually getting your ds to sleep longer, I know it feels like you're managing on so little sleep, but whether or not you realise it, sleep deprivation just niggles away at you over time, I'm sure your ds would benefit too from an earlier night and longer sleep. I didn't want to give up the cuddles either, but I stopped the night feeds, and initially kept the cuddles, but the waking soon calmed down to once a night. You have too much to deal with to cope with such broken nights. Good luck xx

lionhearted · 01/04/2006 22:29

Have to second that, the effects of sleep deprivation/disruption can really creep up on you. Glad you are feeling better this evening, FIT.

foundintranslation · 01/04/2006 22:59

thanks ladyoracle (Atwood fan??) and lionhearted. I do wish we could get him off to sleep earlier, but I'm hoping it'll gradually improve, as he went through a phase of not going off until 10.30 on average Shock and this has slowly come forward. He usually has 2 periods of sleep in the day, about half an hour to an hour each, so that's something too.
Am off for some sleep myself now. Until the next waking...

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foundintranslation · 02/04/2006 22:06

mini-bump and bit of a moan.

Today: 1.5 hour (each way) trip in bus, train and on foot, with ds, to attend a church service and drop a pressie to a friend in hospital, came back, had an hour at home and had to go to a meeting/social of a project I'm involved in at work, which took 4 hours in total. Now have to write something for a parish magazine by tomorrow afternoon.
And ds woke up as I typed.
[why, oh why does mn not have a tired/frazzled emoticon]

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ItalianJob · 02/04/2006 22:11

a mini-reply to the mini-moan then!

when i mentioned about cutting your hours, I meant at the end of this academic year.

i think the parish magazine thing sums it up (as surely it's not career related, but is purely voluntary work)- you're trying to be superwoman, and something has to give. it's okay to say no. it's okay not to be perfect. it's okay for you to have time to relax.

emkana · 02/04/2006 22:17

I agree with ItalianJob.

It sounds like you're doing waaaaaaaaaay too much!
I have far far less obligations in my life and still feel exhausted most of the time (even apart from this whole pregnancy thing.)

Just say no! Grin

foundintranslation · 02/04/2006 22:20

thanks IJ. suppose so. The editor is ds's godmother though, and I don't want to let her down.
I just feel like whatever I do, either others (ds, friends...) or our future (work, saving...) depends on it.

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foundintranslation · 02/04/2006 22:22

em, wish I could sometimes!
(the theme of the magazine is 'time'... ha!)
bit miserable right now.

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ItalianJob · 02/04/2006 22:26

but you can't help others at the expense of yourself. DS I'll sort of allow as an exception - but it's the oxygen mask principle - you have to look after yourself to be able to look after others. i think you do judge yourself overly harshly as to your role in relation to others - I am sure I have seen you a few times saying that you feel inadequate about feeling you can't help others enough on here - but all we can do on here is offer comradely chit chat, virtual tea, biscuits and hugs, the dubious wisdom of our personal experience, plus the odd pointer towards seeking professional help.

a bit of psychobabble here - I think it all comes back to your parents - that you think - if only I was good enough, then my parents would have been more loving towards me - hence the constant drive for perfection. In some ways it's quite an understandable rationalisation - that instead of having to accept that life and families can be unfair, if you go down the route of thinking - oh if people treat me badly, it must be my fault, so as long as I try harder, at least you feel can have some control over the way people treat me.

foundintranslation · 02/04/2006 22:31

(possibly) bingo IJ. (Will need to think about it).
Been under the illusion I'm finally so cool and sorted, 'over' my parents, unbelievably rational about it all, then dh bangs a balcony door and sets off a massive wobble.

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ItalianJob · 02/04/2006 22:34

IMHO, with any sort of grief/loss it's not a linear thing - it comes in wave, and bites you on the bum at unexpected moments.

possibly bingo or possibly bollocks? maybe it would help if you had some counselling?

foundintranslation · 02/04/2006 22:38

Right, found something in my assorted poetreeeee and musings I can use for the mag, will write half a page to go with it, then bed.
Not really OK, so may not be around on this thread for a bit as I feel a bit pathetic.

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foundintranslation · 02/04/2006 22:38

x posts IJ. Counselling - had some, not sure whether it helped.

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emkana · 02/04/2006 22:40

Please please don't feel pathetic. Sad
There's no need!!!!

FastasleepInABunnySuit · 02/04/2006 22:40

FIT I have what IJ explained in the psychobabble bit too, it's our curse! I have no idea how to get past it, but if you find a way to stop me being hyper and ott like you then do remember to tell me!

FastasleepInABunnySuit · 02/04/2006 22:40

You're not pathetic in the slightest

foundintranslation · 02/04/2006 22:42

thanks all, you're sweet :) do feel pathetic though Blush
really going to get this written and then off to bed now - night night

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ItalianJob · 02/04/2006 22:43

1)on the one hand you're not pathetic, so I don't want you feeling you can't post under this thread

2)but on the other hand, if you think you would feel better for a break from this thread/heavy duty stuff, then fair dos.

ItalianJob · 02/04/2006 22:43

tut - just realised you're an hour ahead - definitely time for you to be getting to bed!
sweet dreams!

Ellbell · 03/04/2006 00:37

FIT... Hope you're in bed by now. I am going right now, honest. But I just wanted to say that even when you feel that you have to keep all those balls in the air because everything - your own self-esteem, your kids, your partner, your friends, your colleagues... whatever - depends on it, strangely if something happens that forces you to say 'no', somehow it's OK... people do cope. I still find it hard to (as I see it) let people down, but when I have forced myself to say 'no' to things, I have realised that actually people don't mind, and that things do get done without me. I have been like this all my life - even before kids. When I was pg with dd1, I was hospitalised at 27 weeks. I was totally unprepared for that to happen (had been planning to work till 37 weeks... ha ha!) and found the thought of what was happening at work and at home at least as worrying as the problems I was having with my pregnancy. But guess what? Work coped. Things got done, essays got marked, exams got set... the world didn't crumble just because I wasn't there to hold it all together. And at home the baby's room got painted, car seats and buggies got bought, etc. You can say no... you just have to have the nerve to do so.

This is a terrible case of pots and kettles, btw, as I am still very very bad at this. But thought I'd share my pov anyway.

Loads of love and hope you are getting some sleep as I write.

Ellbell · 03/04/2006 00:39

PS You are anything but pathetic.

PPS Where are you in Germany? We'll be near Augsburg by this time next week (briefly - en route for Italy).

foundintranslation · 03/04/2006 08:59

Thanks Ellbell :)
We're near Stuttgart, so not really near Augsburg.

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roosmum · 03/04/2006 10:05

fit....just wanted to check this thread, to see if you're feeling any better?
loads of good things on this thread imo, love that analogy about juggling glass/rubber balls, i think i could use that to get some perspective sometimes! thanks for congrats for dh - you did your dphil in 2y8m?? Shock what a star! you're obv. v. v. capable (don't want to sound patronising, but you really must be hot stuff!) & therefore able to do most whatever you want - just maybe not with extreme stress going on, as life sounds to be atm. also agree tho with the poster that said academia plays to all anxieties going - i self-doubt from day to day, & it's horrible, but i guess it's par for the course, unless you happen to be a super-confident (arrogant?) type. anyway, just wanted to say that you CAN do it - work & be a fab mum - but agree that maybe your dh working would help him see how tough the juggling act is, & also take some off some of the pressure to provide income? sorry if that's no help at all, but i'm happy to listen if you just fancy ranting! & Sad for your situation with parents, i haven't seen my dad in nearly 4 years (also due to my marriage), he's never seen 14m old ds. i just get on with it, figuring my life is simpler without him in it, than with him.
xxx