Anxiety today about family field trip tomorrow! Any suggestions?
I'm getting a stomach ache already anticipating any stress on our family trip to the zoo tomorrow. My kids are usually well behaved. But, they are only 3 & 5 and do get tired & cranky at times; the problem is Dad gets twice as bad as them & sometimes makes the situation worse. I then get stressed & do everything I can to appease everyone & calm everyone down & then end up feeling just sick to my stomach & a frazzled mess. If I try to make suggestions or comments to Dad about ways to difuse the situation that have worked for me, or just ask that he ignore the "whining" and not let it get to him because it will stop soon, he takes it very critically & personally. The day usual starts out great, then ends up with Dad scremaing "never again!", "I try to be nice but no one appreciates it so just forget it." Then the tension level in the house is very high for the next couple of days. How can I difuse this type of situation without blowing up like I sometimes do? I think we make more stress on ourselves than is really there and both over react one way or another. Any advice?
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lateralus_jenn
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2008 11:41 pm
this is a very tough one, but i feel for you. my best advice would be to stay positive. sounds simple right, lol? i know i know, much wasier to say thatn to do. i have trying times with my sister all the time, and lately i have decided to stay positive, and even "fake" it if you will. even if i don't feel the positive things, i say them in my head. the more you say it, the more you believe it. only YOU can decide your mood. don't let anyone bring you down. it is just one day, it is not the ond of everything. you can make it through it. just keep a positive attitude and that in itself can affect how other people respond. i hope that helps and just try to make the best of it. if you go in with negative expectations of how it will go, then it will go bad. be positive before, and during 
it can be a really greta day that could suprise you HAVE FUN!
it can be a really greta day that could suprise you HAVE FUN!-
Guest
hey there....from one mom to another if your kids are crabbing then the outing is too long.
Its nice to spend the day but sometimes the day is just too long...and set a pace for yourself....just walk and look let the kids be in control let them look let them walk let them see....as parents we sometimes get into the habit of shuffling them from attraction to attraction fast. We walk what seems to be forever to get to that freakin monkey house and then we are like hurry up lets go you want ot see the elephants dont you....try NOT to do this. Walk leisurely enjoy each attraction and who cares if you dont see it all....bring some snacks take some time to sit under a tree and take a break let the kids run around while you and hubby look on.
Kids whine when the are tired thats your first sign that its time to wind things down and head home. You have little ones go at thier pace youll have a much better time.
Dodger
Its nice to spend the day but sometimes the day is just too long...and set a pace for yourself....just walk and look let the kids be in control let them look let them walk let them see....as parents we sometimes get into the habit of shuffling them from attraction to attraction fast. We walk what seems to be forever to get to that freakin monkey house and then we are like hurry up lets go you want ot see the elephants dont you....try NOT to do this. Walk leisurely enjoy each attraction and who cares if you dont see it all....bring some snacks take some time to sit under a tree and take a break let the kids run around while you and hubby look on.
Kids whine when the are tired thats your first sign that its time to wind things down and head home. You have little ones go at thier pace youll have a much better time.
Dodger