fed up

[motherinferior]

Not sure where to put this - Relationships or Parenting. And I thought about changing my name but it would be perfectly obvious who was posting, if only because my sheer inferiority would show through

Background - we're all tired, tired, tired. Haven't had a holiday in two years (off in two weeks) and my productivity is hitting an all-time low. Small children. Usual, familiar, tedious tale, really. And I'm fed up.

I'm fed up with the fact that at the moment DP appears to blame me - really quite ingeniously - for pretty well everything that goes wrong in the Inferiority Complex. It's my fault that he didn't fill in dd2's passport form (yes, I did bottle out and ask him to do it. Four months ago). It's my fault I've got to go to the passport office at sevenbloodyfortyfive tomorrow morning (yes, I did ask for the earliest appointment they'd got. I do have a working day, as it happens, to attempt to get through). It's my fault if I end up feeling quite scared about asking him, yet again, about some tedious computer question because he'll snap at me(apparently I choose to react in this way). It's getting me down, and I know I should be assertive twentyfirst century woman who Takes No Crap but I don't seem to manage it.

I'm fed up with mincing around dd1 waiting for the screams to go off as she throws a hissyfit about something. I'm even more fed up with trying to get water into her when I know she's thirsty, and provoking more screams. I know I should be a firm, boundary setting mother but I don't seem to manage it.

And I'm fed up with the baby going off like an alarm clock at some ghastly five am time. I know I should do controlled crying, or sensory deprivation, or something, but I don't seem to manage it.

Oh, and while I'm wallowing in self-pity and self-recrimination (insert hippopotamus icon here) I'm fed up with reading about the glamorous careers of my former university contemporaries (especially the ones with kids) and the stubborn refusal of several spare tyres to respond to half-hearted attempts to shift them.

That's me, then. Anyone else want to join me in the mudbath, or advise me on how to struggle out?

Stop moaning MI - you are going on holiday in less than a fortnight and all will be sunshine and wine
Who cares about productivity anyway? You work far too much as it is. Put your feet up. Go shopping after the passport office. Have a coffee and in a cafe, and then lunch. Enjoy yourself. And don't worry about the water thing. As I recall, you've been worrying about your dd becoming dessicated since she was born - and she's still going! As for the baby - hideous but it will end. Believe me, I do know how ghastly it is, but she won't be like this forever.
Also, just a thought, there are zillion women out there who think you have an amazingly glamorous career and are blessed in that you can work part time from home. They say pick your battles, but you should also carefully pick who you compare yourself to. You have an enviable life and you know it. All you really need is a holiday - and you are having a lovely one.
Now, was that, um, 'motivating' enough?

How are you feeliing today MI? Did the wallow help? If nothin gelse, we all know how good mud is for the skin. I myself wallow so much that I should have been born a hippo and by the size of my thighs, you'd think I was!
Don't get too down and enjoy your holiday.

Well, my lovely mudspattered mateys, I?ve just come back from the passport office. Having been rejected. Tippex on form. Well, there wouldn?t BE any tippex on the effing blinding form if it wasn?t so effing blinding complicated that it defied the competence of the fully trained and experienced lawyer who filled it in wrong, dammit. Am going back later.

Could be worse, really, quite a lot. It?s a nice day. And I will get the form back OK. And it was quite nice bossing dp and the aforementioned lawyer around on my mobile ('get back NOW!'. And all that walking I've already had to do today can only have a good effect on the spare tyres. AND, above all, it's a chance to show off my new skirt.

All pain in neck, though, splash wallow...

Blimey, why is life never easy?
Did offer you Alan Rickman though but even that didn't cheer you up you wallower you. Didn't seem impressed by my supreme sacrifice. So I'm forcing my way back to no. 1 in the queue. .

NO! Tippex? At 7.effing 45 in the morning? Blimey, I'm surprised I didn't hear the fallout 5 miles away!

Read Nickola's post again - it's still making me laugh - and issymum.

Haven't even negotiated the photo yet. Have filled in form without any sodding tippex, have spare in case it's wrong, will get aforementioned lawyer to fill in both forms (although of course passport office won't accept that, I'm quite sure, if I vanish and return with properly filled in form) and found out dp doesn't have to return to sign it BUT insisted he does come back early to get kids etc.

And now I'm going to think about doing some WORK.

MI, just to say I sympathise. DH (also fully trained lawyer) managed to fill ours all in, get the photos signed etc and then signed the bloody things with BLUE ink so had to do the whole lot again. We did get to France eventually though .

On another note, have awful cold, have only just realised that it's the last week of pre-school so will maybe be joining you for a swim in the mudbath later .

dd refusing to sit on her own this morning,just wants to sit on my lap the whole time and use me as a dummy (must be getting blisters from "overuse". got out a whole cake,didn't bother about slicing it, eating it with a spoon.. then read the title of this this thread and thouht yes...

Well, I'm happy to report that dd2 is now approved as a passport holder (not that I'd place one in her destructive little paws). I was literally shaking at the end - absolutely convinced I'd be sent back for the Wrong Sort Of Photograph (don't laugh - it did happen with dd1).

And now I'm going to have a large drink and watch DP putting the girls to bed