Sometimes you Just Need to Walk Away

I was just lucky enough to go on a holiday. Yay! But to be honest, travelling with a 17 month old was exhausting. I just got home, and I could really use another holiday. Sammy was intense, teething, tired, clingy and hot!

 

I was at my wits end, and when the exhaustion and frustration builds up, I get snappy, only making the situation worse. We both build up and up on each others frustration, until eventually we're both in tears. That's when you've got to walk away. Things are bubbling up too quickly and the only way to calm things down is to remove the pot from the stove—you being the pot in this analogy. Just make sure your baby is safe, either with someone else or safe in their cot, and give yourself a few minutes. Things will then calm down. 

 

The key is the 'make sure your baby's safe' part. Because disclosing my 'fail mum' moment, I didn't do this on our travels. I was changing Sammy's nappy on the bed, she was screeching and fighting me the whole time, and I was desperately trying to keep poo off the hotel sheets. I wanted to get us all out the door and the frustration and screaming got too much. I finally got her nappy on, and being so furious, I walked away... 5 seconds later, I watched her fall off the bed. That's when the real tears started. For me, they were tears of guilt and anger at myself, knowing that the bruise on my baby's forehead was because of my negligence, her howls and screams due to my temper. I had let her down. 

 

These things happen. Let's be honest. There a moments that just get too much. We need to know that those moments are not due to our skills or adeptness to motherhood, but just the reality of parenting. It's ok to step away for a quick moment, it's actually the best thing you can do... just make sure they can't hurt themselves when you leave them.

 

Take care of yourselves!

 

Pippa (Co-Founder, Bubs and Boobs Co)