UrbanBaby

09.05.19, 02:05 AM General Topics
11 replies

I have a 4 year old and 20 month old. It is exhausting. All they do is fight when I'm around. Anyway, I work & was home with them today, sorta working from home. It got me wondering, would I dislike being around them so much if I wasn't working? I feel like I'm always anxious about work & times I'm home with them I'm never 100% there, they can sense it, I'm angry & I'm anxious about work. I've thought about staying home and selling my business but then I think I'd be miserable too. [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
General Topics 09.05.19, 02:05 AM Flag

Dear UrbanBaby community,

Thank you so much for being a valued member of the UrbanBaby community. We wanted to inform you that we are shutting down the site on July 6th. We are grateful for your participation and support that has helped make UrbanBaby such an important resource to parents for many years.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can email us at urbanbaby-support@cbsinteractive.com.

Thanks so much,

UrbanBaby Support

working mom of 3 and 6 here - i wondered this for a long time and currently between jobs for a couple mos and at home with them with much more time despite intvs and mtgs. for me the answer is all those things are just as annoying and difficult but you may be slightly less frayed. not a radical transformation but obv the push pull of the WL balance is extremely hard on your mental health esp at this age. Keeping your cool is almost a ft job that doesn't allow for a ft job to do at the same time. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 09.05.19, 02:11 AM Flag

you are right, keeping cool is a full time job! Good luck w/interviews & tiny kids. No fun! [ Reply | More

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General Topics 09.05.19, 02:13 AM Flag

Those are hard ages. Kids require a lot of patience and are needy for attention. I'm not sure you'd like giving up work to be around that all the time. It's almost weird to me that you'd think you'd enjoy it. GL! [ Reply | More

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General Topics 09.05.19, 02:21 AM Flag

Ask the 4 yr old what he would like and bribe him to be the good "older brother." if there is fighting, no reward. Toddler will follow his lead. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 09.05.19, 02:36 AM Flag

I have this problem too. I'm considering getting a coworking desk this year because I think it would be healthier for everyone if I could draw clearer lines. The expense (the space plus additional child care) would be hard but I think it would be temporary, until both kids are in school, and might really be worth it. On days that I am fully "off" I enjoy them much more and suspect that they enjoy me more too. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 09.05.19, 02:59 AM Flag

I have 3, each 2 years apart and they absolutely drive me crazy to the point where I've started looking to work again (after 5 years off) because it's honestly wearing me down. The bribes, discipline, constant activity and outings, playgrounds, heart to hearts, lead my example talks do nothing to stop the bickering and fighting. It's just a constant thing that I'm hoping they grow out of at some point. So to answer your question, yes, I'm miserable too (sometimes). [ Reply | More

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General Topics 09.05.19, 05:15 AM Flag

You are putting in the time now. Your life will be easier in a year or two! [ Reply | More

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General Topics 09.05.19, 12:03 PM Flag

Thank you, and I hope so! [ Reply | More

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General Topics 09.05.19, 01:47 PM Flag

So you say you're honing your excuses that you want to give your husband, family, and friends when you quit work and SAH... [ Reply | More

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General Topics 09.05.19, 06:30 AM Flag

Yes. I was a working mom in a stressful line of business up until 4 months ago. I felt just like you. Now I have so much more patience, Iâ€™m getting to know them as people , and my stress levels have plummeted. I easily fill up my days and hope I donâ€™t have to go back to a full time crazy position. I was always angry, so anxious, couldnâ€™t eat, etc [ Reply | More

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General Topics 09.05.19, 12:00 PM Flag

You may need to create separation between your work and your home - I wfh and cannot imagine trying to work without a nanny/sitter - when I'm working I'm (for the most part) not with my kids. And when I'm with my kids I'm (for the most part) not working. My kids are now in school and I'm so glad I kept working through the early years. Hang in there. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 09.05.19, 02:22 PM Flag