3 kids and overwhelmed but so happy in a way

Question

have a 7 year old a 4 year old and a 3 week old.

I feel overwhelmed, I love my kid's and husband but post partum depression has got me down so bad. Im already taking zoloft and im still upset. It seems like I will never catch up on anything in the house, laundry, cleaning anything. I'm worried about making sure all 3 kid's get the stuff they need education etc everything. I have this scary feeling in me that i wont be able to handle it once there all in school, is this normal to feel like this even when not depressed?

Answer 1

Get a family member or friend to give you a break for atleast an hour a day.  Even if it means for you to take a nap somewhere.  More than likely your sleep deprived and a little nap time might refresh you and also help with depression.

Answer 2

you probably would be helped by seeing an MD and thinking about an anti depressant.  depression is not just a 'sometimes' thing - it's always there, somewhere....

Answer 3

Hey, guess what!  You'll be able to handle it BETTER when they're all in school, so don't worry about that.  Right now, you have them to care for during your days and all the other things you need to do around the house.  As they get older, they can even help you with little chores.  You'd be surprised, your 7 year old might even enjoy helping you set the table sometimes of do little things like that, as long as he/she is praised for that and told what a good job it was.

Bringing up kids is VERY scary.  I know!  I brought up 4 of them!  At times, I felt like pulling my hair out.  You know what?  Right now I treasure those days so much in my memory.  Time goes by quickly and before you know it, you'll be going to their high school graduations.

In certain cases, things take care of themselves.  Just lead your life the best you can and don't sweat the small stuff, OK?  You'll be OK.  Having a 3 week old is very tiring when you have other kids especially.  That too will pass.  Once you he or she sleeps through the night and you have even just one or two full, decent nights of sleep, everything will seem so much brighter.

Answer 4

I would say yes. I have three kids they are 6, 4, and 4 months and it can be very overwhelming. The laundry and the baths and the house cleaning.... it's amazing how it keeps on going. But you can do it. AnD forget the laundry for a day....or two. :)

As long are the kids are fed and clean then who really cares about the rest. If someone doesn't like how your house looks then they can clean it themselves. You have to take care of your self before you can do any of that stuff. Don't kill your self trying to be the perfect 50's house wife, that is all a fairy tale. I know, I've tried and I suck at it. I am the worlds worst house wife. But my kids are happy and clean and loved, for the most part the laundry is done and the dishes are done (thanks to the hubby).

If your husband isn't already then see if he can do one thing a day. Mine does the dishes everyday for me. It is a huge help.

So ask for help. It's okay if you do, it doesn't make you less than a wife, mother and women.

HUGS!!!!

Answer 5

Yes, it is normal. It seems that mothers spend the rest of their lives worrying about everything. That's why they say once you have a baby, you're never sleeping again, ever. You spend the first weeks getting up every 2-3 hours to feed. When they finally sleep through the night, you worry about their health and check on their breathing every 15 minutes. When they're teenagers you worry about alcohol and drugs and wonder where they are. When they're grown ups, you spend the night asking yourself if you made the right decision by letting him marry that b****, and is she feeding him what he needs...It is normal. Ask your doctor if you can change your medication to one that works better. If you're not going to counseling, give it a shot, it helps you accept the things that are out of your control.

It also helps to talk to other mothers, preferrably the ones who've had more children than you. If they managed, how could you not? My mother raised her 7 children plus 2 grandchildren, she is a source of inspiration when I am at my wits end.