Can you say exhausted????

[nikkiARNGwife]

So DH started his new job this week...well..he's still ARNG just got transferred to a new position (and promoted to Major! yay!) but anyway...it means he's now working 1.5 hrs away from home rather than 10 minutes...so he leaves at 5:30 am and doesn't get home til nearly 6 pm. It's only been 4 days but he and I are BOTH exhausted already. I always get up when he does..so now I'm up at 5 am every day when it was 6:30..so I'm having to adjust to that..I am enjoying the hour or so of quiet time before the kids get up in the morning..but the early mornings are really catching up with me..last night I went to bed at 7:30! lol

But the days are SOO long now...he used to be home by 5 at the LATEST and now it's a little past 6..those of you who are home with the kiddos ALL DAY can surely relate to an extra hour tacked onto the day without any backup lol...and then Ella's bedtime is 6:30 so he hardly gets to see her at all. I'm worn out...but the alternative is moving which right now we don't want to do...we've got Avery all registered in a private school for the fall, I live 10 minutes from my parents..we love our house and where it's at..this is home for me..where I grew up..we spent years trying to GET here..I don't want to move away again kwim?..

I know we can handle it...I'm just really tired and looking forward to the weekend lol

[jacinda]

Aw Nikki, that's got to be so hard, on all of you. My DH's work hours (when he's home) are pretty similar too, though I don't get up when he does in the morning. I think maybe you should stay in bed and get that extra hours sleep in the morning. He can as easily say goodbye to you there as at the door. I hope you find a way to make it work for your family. Maybe after a few more weeks you'll settle into it. Hugs.

[lovely1m]

Wow, I wouldn't be getting up with him. lol I hope it all evens out soon!

[aggiefamily]

I hear ya! Billy gets up at 4:15 (which wakes me up) and leaves before 4:30. He is gone until around 7:00 PM most nights. He will usually come home early 2 days a week. It makes for a very long day.

I throw the boys in the pool in the afternoon to wear them out. Then after they eat I put on a movie so I can do a speed clean and recoup before B comes home. When he gets home I tend to disappear.

[nikkiARNGwife]

I tried not getting up this morning..but I'm the kind of person that if I wake up I'm up so when that alarm goes off I'm done pretty much...and can't go back to sleep..so i figured I might as well get up and have some quiet time.. I don't mind the early mornings so much as the late days kwim...and he's always been home in time to take over with the kids while I got supper ready..now I'm having to keep an eye on them and cook which isn't easy with my dare-devil daughter lol

[MandaT]

I can really relate to your long days... hubby leaves at 4:30am (I don't really get to go back to bed because the baby wakes up at 5am to nurse) & doesn't get home until after 5pm, sometimes closer to 6. It does get exhausting for sure.

Hope that you get readjusted & it gets easier. Soon!

[schock77]

That is hard Nikki... I'm sure as you both get used to the new schedule, it'll get easier, but that's no consolation now. Be sure to take advantage of having your parents nearby- maybe they could by by so you could get a break (or better yet- a nap!) Hugs!

[NeverendingJen]

I can totally relate, DH leaves around 5 am for work and gets home shortly after 6 most nights, it makes for some loong days...and we only live 40 minutes from base!

[KirstieGai]

I'm up at 4.30am every day, go to the gym, home by 7am and am with the kids all day. Some nights I'm in bed at 7.30pm but mostly 9pm. Once every 2 weeks I need to have a nana nap during the day

[newfiemountiewife]

I never get up when DH gets up, or if he gets called out LOL. Half the time I barely wake up to know he's gone hahah!

It's hard to be alone with kids all day, it is tiring. I'm sure once you get on the schedule for awhile, you'll be fine and not so tired!

[aggiefamily]

I agree! Once you have a couple weeks under your belt it won't be as bad. When Avery starts school it will be easier. You will be busier and out of the house more. He will be exhasuted when he gets home from school.

If it wasn't for Mother's Day Out last year I would have run away.

[rach3975]

Yeah, it's exhausting. DH and I both get up by 6:30 (or whenever my 4 year old makes us, since he's up at 5 most days), and he's out of the house 7 to 7. Unfortunately, his position is that he's been working all day, too, so no way is he taking over with the kids while I have a break (or even do housework). He helps with the kids and bedtime, but only if I'm still doing 50% of it. Cooking dinner is hard-Lauren is a dare-devil, too, Ben is usually tired and melting down by evening (he's my early bird) and Jason is still letting off steam after being forced to sit still in school all day. I make a lot of super quick meals!

[ayaandjudah]

this called out to me, especially today. I work full time and drop off and pick up the kids every day. So we get home and I have to put on a movie in order to be able to cook. I hate doing that as we only have three hours together in the evening but if I don't all heck breaks out, there's massive fighting and someone always ends up hurt.

I really hope it gets easier for you and that things calm down for you. It's really hard being a mommy.

HUGS

Originally Posted by nikkiARNGwife

I tried not getting up this morning..but I'm the kind of person that if I wake up I'm up so when that alarm goes off I'm done pretty much...and can't go back to sleep..so i figured I might as well get up and have some quiet time.. I don't mind the early mornings so much as the late days kwim...and he's always been home in time to take over with the kids while I got supper ready..now I'm having to keep an eye on them and cook which isn't easy with my dare-devil daughter lol

[heathergw]

oh hon, I feel your pain and many many (((HUGS)))... long commutes equaling super long days are soooooo hard... I was rejoicing the day Mark was approved for 2 days of working from home.

[nikkiARNGwife]

Thanks y'all..just needed to commisserate a little yesterday lol. Good news is it's Friday and I get a couple of days to regroup

I don't want to sound whiney..b/c I'm soo thankful that I'm able to stay home with my kids and I wouldn't trade it for the world..but you know...it just gets exhausting sometimes

[emmasmommy]

this is the exact reason i went to work part time LOL
I love my kids, I really do but I need a chance to get away every once in awhile too, or feel needed by someone other than the girls.
DH works construction so summertime/fall sucks around here. He's gone from about 530 until 6 or 7 most nights. I totally feel your pain Nikki, Lord knows we all have to complain sometimes!