Today is going to suck

[Galadriel]

Geez, I literally haven't been able to sleep at all. Its almost 6am, and my guts have been bothering me all night, and I haven't been able to sleep at all. Today (and some of tomorrow) I have to babysit my 3 year old niece. I just want someone to shoot me now. The thing is my brother is on a business trip, so we absolutely have to watch her. I am so not looking forward to this. I love my niece tons, but she's at the stage where she wants your attention all the time, and wants to do everything with you involved. What I don't get is why it never seems to fail that the times I desperately need to have a good nite sleep I can't get one?

[csjones]

Blech, I'm sorry Galadriel. I have been through that before. Emet always keeps me up on nights when I have something to do the next day. I also have a 3 year old niece and though she is delightful, she drives me totally batty! Is there any way you can get her to play quietly or read to her? Just do something that isn't so involved?

[Galadriel]

Hello Carolyn,


Yea we are going to have to do quiet activities today. Luckily my husband is coming too, and he got a bit more sleep than me, so ifI need to rest he can take over. I know parents have to do this when they haven't slept. Well wish me luck!

[marieb73]

Good luck and I hope you get some rest soon.[img]smileys/smilies_01.gif[/img]

[HDogg]

I also have a 3 year old niece. She is loud and boisterous and when I have a headache or lack of sleep, it's too much. But I've babysat a couple of times and one of the great things about kids is, you can go outside with them and they can keep themselves entertained just running around or playing on a swingset, while you lounge. Can you take her to a park? Fresh air always helps with the sleepy factor--and coffee of course! Just let her run around until she gets tired and maybe you can take a long afternoon nap together! You might surprise yourself though. When it comes to kids, energy can seemingly come out of nowhere if your know you are the caregiver. Let us know how it goes! I bet you'll have fun!

[tcsarah]

I hope it went/goes ok and you manage to get some quality sleep soon. I too always find when the pressure is on to get a good night's sleep because you have a big day the following day or know you need to be extra alert, that's alawyas the times you are tossing and turning all night.

[Galadriel]

Whew welp I made it! We got back home about a couple hours ago, and I just woke up from sleeping. It went okay. The one bad thing was being so tired seemed to kick in IBS, and I felt real sick most of the day. Urgh. Its just my niece she likes to play with you and have you involved. I suppose I do have a harder time putting my foot down, but I am better at it then I used to be. Heh its always "Aunt Laura chase me here, lets run over there!" And Aunt Laura is like "nooooo Aunt Laura need sleeeeep!" [img]smileys/smilies_02.gif[/img]


This has confirmed my opinion that I do not want kids at least not yet for quite awhile. I don't know honestly how parents manage every single day, because kids can be very demanding of time and energy.

[silver]

I understand what you mean...My IBS acted up last week before I went and picked up my 18 month old nefew. He is such a joy and loves to play, but needs to be watched so closely. I wonder if it the stress of having to care for them that makes us so nervous and makes the IBS kick up?? I didn't sleep well at all the night before either. I love him so much, but it still stresses my out to no end knowing that I am responsible for him and I worry.

[Galadriel]

Hey Silver, yeah I totally know what you mean, Its like the night before the dread and panic kicks in of "OMG what am I going to do with this kid for the next like 12 hours straight?!?" I also think man what if something happens to her when I'm watching her, but its more the how on earth am I going to entertain this kid for X hours? Yep lots of times before I babysit I'm up a lot of the night before just I think from anxiety or something as silly as that sounds, and usually IBS kicks in too, which just really makes things misreable. I think the IBS is from the stressing. I just feel guilty too, because I love my niece very very much and it can be fun to be with her, I feel bad for stressing so much and even dreading it sometimes, but I do. Its not at all that she is bad or anything, she is a good kid, its just knowing you are responsible for them and entertaining them. Sometimes I wish I had a manual. [img]smileys/smilies_02.gif[/img]Edited by: Galadriel