What are your parenting stress points?

[Whirliwig72]

What do your kids do that gets your blood pressure and stress levels soaring. How do you keep it together? Please share your experiences / advice here....

My stress triggers ( I have two boys, a three year old and a five month-er)

1. baby crying when I'm stuck in traffic and can't park up anywhere. I've been known to cry myself when this happens since I feel so utterly helpless and crap :(

2. screamy diva tantrums from my three year old because his toast, squash'um, pasta shape etc has fallen on the floor or touched another piece of food on his plate.

3. Struggling to get unco-operative toddler to stop dawdling and get dressed to go out while trying not to wake up baby that is strapped to my chest in sling.

4. doing the whole bedtime routine solo every week night -I actually fear it it's so bad. Properly timed it's just about bearable but if i mess up and baby gets hungry or desperately tired half way through it's pure hell :(

When they lose something and then ineffectually shuffle around the place half looking for it making a trail of mess as they go. Grrrrrr!

well mine are 7 and 5 and it's the bickering and fighting over somethign as simple as who sits where on the sofa

I have a young baby and I get stressed when my older ones dawdle (not sure how you spell that) or just take ages to do anything which then impacts on the timings etc. for my baby. It drives me nuts. It also works in reverse though, I get frustrated when having to stop to do a nappy (esp. when I've just changed it) or something else when my older ones are off to school etc. I just keep telling myself it will get better. I hope. And don't get me started on the bedtime routine (or lack of it!!)

trying to persuade three children to eat breakfast and actually leave the table to get ready for school before the bus is due.

one has adhd and his meds don't kick in before he gets to school (and have worn off as he gets home) and one has cp and eats reeeeeeeaaaaaaaaallllllllllyyyyyy ssssllllooooooooooowwwwllllllyyyyy. the third one is entirely nt and gets on with it, but gets shouted at anyway because she's there.

i spend the mornings in a tourettes-like loop. with the swearing.

ha, gumby. i will raise you 'which tv prog/ dvd to watch'.

oh yes, the losing something and trying to find it one winds me right up!!! They never look for precious lost item or just do a half hearted look for it so I end up turning the whole house upside down only to find the lost item somewhere really obvious and actually not lost at all. Lots of Grrrr'ing and counting to 10 (and a little quiet swearing).

They have varied over the years - but now that DS is 10 it is:

1. The rudeness/answering back

1. The fuss over homework - ie: 2 hours arguing/procrastinating/fussing etc etc to do homework that will take a maximum of ten minutes - I am happy to help, provide a nice working environment, snack, etc etc (all the 'right' things we are told to do) and it still becomes a battleground . And I am a parent that thinks homework is a good idea and wish there was more of it !

Not sitting still and concentrating on a meal.

DD (10) - mornings

DS2 (7) - mealtimes

DS1 (13) - bedtimes

I think they've got it all covered.

My dd bites her brother every time my back is turned and that winds me up. Ive tried everything to stop her but has no effect.

My ds's tantrums he is terrible 2 stage

And dd's whining all the time and not listening to a word i say

I can't bear when I can't put dd2 down even for a second. It took me 45 minutes to unload the dishwasher this morning. I hate when there are quick jobs to do and I can't do them because she screams blue murder.

DS - 14. The moaning grumbling Victor Meldrew (sp) act constantly.

DD - 5 smart answers and fight to get ready for school and bed.

Leaving the house in the morning. When, usually my eldest, asks me where her toys are? I do not play with her toys! Trailing mud through the house as they forgot to take shoes off. The latter infurtiates me as this mess could be avoided.
Otherwise like to think I am quite chilled. :)

Feel your pain noisy child, my ds1 clunks his baby brother on the head on a regular basis, waiting for the day when he can get his revenge and clunk him back ;)

Gwendoline - can you distract your babe with high chair and telly or jumperoo. That works with my baby for short periods although he too likes to be carried almost constantly.

DS1 (4 and a half)- the fight/slowness to get ready for school and bed

DS2 is only 4 weeks old and sleeps 24/7 so no stress points yet!

I was trying to single a few out , but I think I will just settle for my children

YY to the crying baby in the car and not being able to pull over, that'a terrible and very stressful.

My other two are:

1. When dd is tired and I have to do a quick but essential job before I take her up (usually put coal in the stove) and she whinges the whole time and won't be put down so it takes three times as long as it should.

1. In the morning after a bad night trying to get dd into a snowsuit to take the dog for a walk, when she's just decided that she wants to sleep at last, but the dog needs a wee.

Oh, and my only coping strategies and repeating the mantra 'this too will pass' and the rather less constructive, being grumpy to dp as if it is somehow his fault

I don't have a jumperoo :( (are they good?) and she's not quite 4 weeks so pre-high chair. I know, I know, 4 week olds barely know they're born, I should expect to have to hold her all day, I just want 3 minutes to pop to the loo!

Tiredness

My tiredness, when I'm tired I lose patience sooo quickly, then it all goes tits up very quickly

I'm usually very laid back but if DH is stressing about the kids making too much noise or something it definitely has a knock on effect

When my DTs don't eat due to fussiness or illness I get very stressed

When dd throws a tantrum because I asked her to tidy up (or when she talks back!)

My DC are 7 and 3.

Flashpoints for me are

(1) mealtimes; and

(2) that silly hour before bedtime when they are bouncing around with each other and it always ends in tears.

Bedtime.

If i hear any anecdote, advert or programme involving someone referring to 'lovely bedtime cuddles' or 'checking on them' or 'how much we love bedtime stories', I just have to stick my fingers in my ears. It's like you're exhausted, drained and mummied out, your child is equally fed up, and someone sticks a mountain in front of you and says 'Ok, just pop up to the summit at the double'. Can't bear it.

Gwendoline - jumperoos are the bees knees. Most babies love them and they can be put in them from around 12 weeks or when they can hold their heads up. My only caveat is those with a toddler too be warned they will try and comandere it for themselves!