Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
10. Surviving the Nighttime Chaos
132 Plays1 year ago
Welcome to our circus that is the hours after nap until bedtime! Does everyone else feel like this is the most chaotic time of the day!? We share some hilarious stories that really show the real life behind the scenes of parenting. Join us for a laugh and solidarity!
Follow along on Instagram :)
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Health Challenges
00:00:01
Speaker
Hey guys, Morgan and Rachel here. Welcome to That's a Win podcast where we share the highs and lows of motherhood, celebrating the wins along the way. Thanks for joining us on our journey. Talk soon. Welcome back to another episode of That's a Win podcast. We're your hosts, Morgan and Rachel. We're coming at you today, both a little bit banged up.
00:00:25
Speaker
I've seen better days. We have seen better days. I've got I guess some kind of like sinus infection or something and you've got your and broken neck over there basically.
00:00:38
Speaker
Have you been noticing I haven't been able to really maneuver as good? I know. Did you just sleep on it wrong or what happened? I mean, I'm assuming so. Like I just woke up and was like, I've had like little cricks in my neck before. That's what my, my dad and mom always called him. Um, but this was like, and that was like when I would turn, this is like in the actual, like my spine, like at the back ish area. So like, I can lean forward and stuff, but I cannot like go backwards or hurt so bad. So hopefully we wake up tomorrow and just back to new, right? I know.
00:01:15
Speaker
such a weird feeling though like not being able to move as good like also with like trying to pick your kids up and like change diapers and stuff i was like but that but i can't do it i can't do it right and you like struggle best sinus girly yeah what's up with that I don't know. I think Eden gave me something. She's been having a little snotty, whatnot, and I
Celebrating Milestones and Parenting Wins
00:01:40
Speaker
don't know. It's just the worst when it's like the sinus headache, you know, it's just like all in your face and you just feel all that pressure. It's just like, oh, but you know, pushing through, we're pushing through here because actually today is monumental. We're recording our 10th episode. OMG.
00:01:59
Speaker
d Look at us. Who would have thunkin' making it to episode 10? Hey, it's our first little milestone, I feel like. Yes, Pat's on the back. Pat's on the back for episode 10.
00:02:13
Speaker
Yeah. And thank you guys for listening along. i'm I'm proud of us for doing it. We made it. We got a lot more to come. So we're excited about it. Well, we're going to talk today about the inevitable chaotic time period of four o'clock to bedtime. And how do we even survive that? But first, let's get started with our Winds of the Week where we celebrate our victories.
00:02:42
Speaker
My win this week is that we had a successful first week of school for Jude and Eden at their little preschool. um Jude went there last year, so he was like so excited, ready to go. He has all his friends, you know, so I really wasn't that worried about him, but Eden's never been in any kind of organized child care in any capacity. So she did pretty good. She had a few little few little tears, but that's to be expected. you know Usually by the time I was like down the hall, I didn't hear a crying anymore.
00:03:16
Speaker
so That's all good. She did good though. And um I, on the first day I was like saying a little prayer with them and I asked you like, do you want to, you know, pray for anything starting your new school year? And he's like, I want to pray for God to drive to my house and have a sleepover. He was like, Oh my gosh, why is it the cutest thing ever? Me too. Me too though.
00:03:43
Speaker
I just thought that was so cute. They're little innocent minds and they're sweet. I know. Just say what they're for, right? I love it. It's funny to see already like the differences between a boy and a girl. like Last year, I would always just have to get the scoop from my friend whose daughter is in Jude's class because she would come home and tell her everything and like all the songs and everything they did and Jude would be like, I don't know.
00:04:10
Speaker
I don't get anything from him. And I'm already seeing that Eden, like she comes home and she's singing the songs and she's like, dig craft or whatever. So it's just funny to see that difference between them. And hopefully now I'll get, you know, a little bit more scoop of what's going on over there. You get the lowdown. Eden won't tell you what's up.
00:04:29
Speaker
I know. They did good. i was I was happy how it all went down. I just want to say to the moms out there of the kids who are more attached and more you know anxious with changes and stuff, that used to be Jude. like He used to cry. He had a phase where it was just like so hard. We couldn't get him into Sunday school. like it was just It was rough and it felt like it was never going to end. and you're like feeling like you're doing all the things you're trying to try all these different things with them see what helps but I feel like it's just a phase that passes and now dude is a testament he just runs right into school and he
00:05:10
Speaker
has all his friends and he's excited. And so just some encouragement that it will get better and that they'll come out of it. It's just a little face. And then in a weird way, you're almost like sad. Like you're long you long for the independence in that moment. And then when they are so independent and they just going in, you're like, wow, it's just bittersweet. yeah okay When it's one way, you're thinking about the difference.
00:05:36
Speaker
the Like the way it can be different and then when it's the other way you're wanting it like we're just we're just never satisfied, you know I know just just never satisfied Well that I feel like that comes with age to like once you're familiar with something like you said like he's been there before You know, they can have the more concept of like, okay I know mom or dad or grandma or grandpa Aunt uncle whoever they're coming back to get me like this is not like dropping you off and by, you know, they have the more like concept for that, I feel like, but yeah that's an amazing win. It's such a nice feeling too. Like summer is great, right? But like once it gets to the end, it's just kind of like kind of ready for like a little bit of a routine, right? Like not that you want your kids to like go, but I don't know, just the routine of it. Just there's something so like just a breath of fresh air almost, you know, different, different exchange of scenery.
00:06:35
Speaker
I was ready for it for sure. And I feel like Jude does well too. Like he thrives on schedules and activities and, you know, they can do more there than I can do at home with him, you know, and it's kids his age. They're all learning, you know, like targeted things for them. So the socialization process of it is good.
00:06:54
Speaker
Yeah. Being around other kids. Yeah. Um, my when we, it was actually tonight.
Family Adventures and Dinner Tales
00:07:00
Speaker
We, well, you know this, but I was telling you that I was craving chilies, like so bad. And, um, we don't have one near us, like in Savannah. Yes. But that's like, what a good 40 minutes away, which I guess isn't really that far. Um, but Daniel wasn't going to get it at work because he works in Savannah, but whatever miscommunication didn't end up happening.
00:07:24
Speaker
And he gets home and he's like, Oh, I'm so sorry. Chili's like, do you want to just go? And I was like, you know, we usually just have dinner at home. Like, do I really want to like drive all the way with two kids and yada, yada, yada. But we did it. We went, kids were great in the car. Wonderful at dinner. Both of them ate wonderful. I got my chilies fix. Daniel doesn't really love chilies, but you know, it was about, it was about me tonight. You know, he took one for the team.
00:07:55
Speaker
Right. Getting getting my fix. So yeah, lovely dinner. um Awesome on the way home. Got back in time for bed. So just our wind is just a lovely family dinner. I'm getting my chilies. Wow. The real question though is did you get your chips and salsa and ranch?
00:08:13
Speaker
Is that even a question? If anyone goes to Chili's and does not get chips and salsa and ranch, we need to have a discussion. We ain't even living. You're not even living. You mean. And if you've never done the ranch and salsa, this is your chance to do it next time you go to Chili's. You will never go back. Don't knock your toes dry. So you to Chili's, but you'll never go back.
00:08:38
Speaker
You will hate it and never do it again. I never go back to not having ranch with it. I love you, Chili's. I know. it's it I remember just like, oh, I don't even know when first trying that. but And I was like convincing Cole to do it. And he's like, that is so weird. And I'm like, try it, taste it, and your life will be changed forever.
00:09:03
Speaker
so And it has, I'm sure. Of course. He's not he's never been the same. He never went back. Oh my gosh. Yes. So that's my win, successful fan dinner. It's a, um, like an undertaking to go out to dinner with kids. You know, I feel like sometimes you, or I'm just like, I just don't have the energy to do that tonight. I just don't think I can do it because it's a lot, you know, it's not like yeah you're just sitting there in peace, but it sounds like maybe you were tonight. You know, one of those nights where it was just good.
00:09:39
Speaker
it was it was and I feel like that kind of leads into like our podcast tonight episode because we're talking about those rough hours right from 4pm to bedtime and it's like oh gosh what do you do the time feels like it's going so slow but this kind of got us out of the house for a good couple of hours and then lower straight at bedtime. And it was like, okay, this is the way you get through it right here. Yes. Yeah. So perfect little, perfect little segue. I feel like, and we've talked about this so many times that something about that second half of the day or that night shift, shall you call it that is like, it just can be rough, you know? And I don't know the reasoning for that. I guess, I mean, if you think about it,
00:10:29
Speaker
You had a long day. I feel like typically we get out in the morning, we go do something out in the morning and then we come home and lunch and naps or rest time, whatever. So you're kind of like, okay, covered for the first half of the day. But I guess, you know, your kids and you, you're tired. You have more, you know, you're more tired. It's been a long day for whatever reasons.
00:10:48
Speaker
especially if I have like school in the mix you know and then they're probably hungry they're getting to that like snack time dinner time but you're like well I don't want to spoil their dinner so I don't want to give them a snack but they're hungry now so how do we do that and then I feel like your tolerance like as a parent like your patience and whatnot like you're not like your gas tank isn't full shall you you know you've had the day to bring it down so you don't have as much tolerance for like frustrations or meltdowns you know it's like everybody's kind of just like on edge and it just feels so chaotic i mean am i the only one or does it just feel literally so chaotic that time period it totally does that time frame
00:11:35
Speaker
i I mean, I'm not speaking for all the parents out there, but it's got to be. It's got to be like that for everyone. You know, I really liked how you put that, like the gas tank. It's like you start out the day so strong and it's just in, you know, your kids too, right? Like it's the start of the day. You're doing all the stuff. And it's just like,
00:11:55
Speaker
as it's just going further. for I probably just like all subconsciously we're all ready to just go to sleep at night, right? But I was talking to Daniel kind of about this when I was like, yeah, we're going to do this at the next episode. And he was like, even for like him as the dad coming home, like even having like the two sets of hands helping, it still feels like Matt, even for him, right? Like, I know on my aunt my like side of it, I'm like, oh, I'm ready for, you know, if he gets home at 3.30 or 4, like, I can't wait for Daniel to get here to help, right? But it's like, even with both of us, it's still the struggle, getting to bedtime, right? And then it's like, okay.
00:12:36
Speaker
Um, you know, like time for baths, time for book, and then we're going to have the milk and then we're going to brush teeth. And there it's just like, I gotta go read the books and go to bed. And you know, it's just, it's crazy. It just feels like chaotic. And I, I just like feel for Cole, like the scenes that he comes home to when he can.
00:12:57
Speaker
and I've seen like memes or reels or whatever on this how they're just like driving in the car listening to music and they get home and it's like people banging in the pans and all the crazy music and all this stuff. It's so true. I feel like he comes in I'm like I'm trying to make dinner in and almost like having to make dinner is like the worst time to have to do that you know so you know I'm trying to make dinner the kids are one of at least one of the kids are at my least screaming for me to hold them but I'm like I got a hot pan things are getting thrown around like it's just like chaotic and I'm like, welcome home. Hey honey, welcome home. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that my family has encountered that a couple of times where literally it'll be
00:13:43
Speaker
Nora's crying, Ivy's crying, and even I'm crying sometimes, right? It just gets to that point I'm like, where I remember literally when Ivy was a little bit younger, same thing, she wanted me to hold her, but I was trying to cook. And I'm literally like, I'm crying, I'm holding Ivy, I'm holding Nora. We're all three just having a cry moment. And we felt so good after, but it was like, we were all just really struggling in that time, right? We all needed some needed some tears. I know.
00:14:11
Speaker
That goes also along with, I think it was your little parenting hack, like preparing or having the dinner like ready ahead of time, right? I need to be better about that. um You know, because that can also possibly help those players, you know? I, um, another story I was just thinking about that when you were telling yours is I, okay. So it was on the rare occasion where I was in the kitchen cooking, but it was like peace and quiet out there. And that's when it gets suspicious too. Cause you're like, what is going on? And i I thought that Jude and Eden were in Jude's room playing.
00:14:48
Speaker
he was but she was not and then I'm like oh this is going so smooth I'm like I'm just killing it today and mom of the year yeah totally I had forgotten that their snack because I was trying to give them something to tie them over I don't know why I chose this, but we had some strawberries out and some chocolate hummus out there. And I forgot that it had been out there and somehow I go out there and Eden, she had found, you know that little handheld like frother thing where you push the button and it spins really fast? She had found that, which that's another thing. I feel like you just find kitchen gadgets all over your house with kids. You're like, where did this come from? Why do I have a spatula in my laundry hamper in my room? Okay.
00:15:34
Speaker
Yeah, I've been missing that. Thanks for finding that for me. I didn't know where that was. And she had been spinning it, spinning it, spinning it in the chocolate hummus. And when I say it was everywhere, it was all over her face, all over her hair, all over the rug, all over the couch. And I walk out and I'm just like, oh, my jaw literally drops. And I'm like, oh. It's one of those times where you just laugh so you don't cry because I'm just like,
00:16:01
Speaker
How did I not know this was happening out here? Oh my goodness. You're living your best life in the kitchen like, okay, I'm making you some good, good, like, okay. I know. You didn't expect that. Wait, that's so funny. That is hilarious. Oh my goodness. Sweet Eden.
00:16:17
Speaker
That's so funny. then eden lyn She will and this is a little side tangent but she will be the one that takes 10 years off my life. I mean she has just already proved to literally last night I'm calling poison control because she got into some hand sanitizer and I don't know.
00:16:35
Speaker
I didn't know how much she got. I just came back to her like gagging on it and looking at me like spit out, spit out. That's what she just kept saying. And I'm like, Oh great. And the first thing, of course, when you Google search, it's like, can be fatal. And I'm like, wonderful. This is just wonderful. And anyways, she's just my child that is going to.
00:16:56
Speaker
Well, the shout out here is I guarantee you, you are not alone in that. I'm sure so some hand sanitizer, some kind of some poisoned control scenario situation has happened yeah to some of our listeners. You know what I mean? yeah So solidarity, solidarity with that.
00:17:18
Speaker
Yeah, man. Anyways, that was my little tangent. But yeah, I just feel like those are the moments that are hilarious. So yes, I'm just curious, like what do other people do to get
Surviving Evening Chaos
00:17:30
Speaker
through this time? What what are the some things that you feel like helps? I guess, I guess you said getting out of the house, but what else helps y'all? Yeah, I think that goes along with my next thought is,
00:17:42
Speaker
But for us, it's going outside, like whether it's a walk, golf cart ride, swing set in the back, like I think switching gears from being indoors. Now that Nora will go outside, if you listened to the podcast before, um now that she'll go outside. um I think that like we always, after dinner, we take a walk every single night. And that's, I think that takes up a good 30, 45 minutes. So that's the little change of scenery and we know that outdoor time is good for good for the soul. It's for good for all of us. um So I think definitely whether it's like tonight, getting out, going to dinner, if you're able to.
00:18:25
Speaker
or just getting outside, getting some fresh air? that's Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Get outside as much as possible. I feel like it's been these past few days here in Knoxville, it has been like such nice weather. Green it, I've been sick, so I've been like laying in bed, but that's what I feel like. It's been so hot before that it's like we used to go on walks all the time, but then we just haven't really been going as much because the kids are like, I don't want to go for a walk.
00:18:51
Speaker
And also randomly our mosquitoes have been really bad. So we go outside for like five minutes and then we're literally all eaten up. So I feel like I'm just so ready for like the fall to cooler temps, which we kind of got like a tease of that this week. The mosquitoes not being as bad, but then I guess you get like the sun setting earlier. So you don't have as much outside time. So that's the there's the other side of it. Yeah. I, um, you and then a couple of my other friends.
00:19:19
Speaker
from back home in Knoxville were telling me about the temps and I'm just like, I'm so jealous. That's what I miss. One of the things I miss most about Knoxville is like the falls and actually having the seasons because we don't even have a fall out here. It might get like a little warmer. Like I think today it was 80.
00:19:40
Speaker
which seems like, oh, that's still hot. But to us, it was like, oh, it feels amazing. Like 80, it's not 102. What? Yeah. But I've been very jealous about that. I've seen like all the posts and everything. And I'm like, nah, you got the best seasons. Must be nice. Must be nice. You have all of it. You have all of it. I know. Like hot summers, the beautiful falls, the snow in the winter, springs, like the chill, windy. And then you have, again, back to the hot summers, obviously.
00:20:09
Speaker
Yeah he got All the seasons. Yeah, I feel like we have been using the pool a lot too at night to like go and do something Just to have like an hour. That's what's nice to have it in our neighborhood Just be able to like okay if we want to go for an hour after dinner But that's what's up the time to get to get to bed time. Yeah, if you have something Something to do outside Change it up and I also was thinking about I might need to be more strategic with like our TV time that we do. Cause I feel like now we typically do it after they have their quiet time and nap time, but I'm like, maybe I can utilize it to my advantage more. Like do it later. Yeah. Yeah. Like dinner and everything's chaotic. Absolutely. Because then, then it won't feel as, you know, the house is on fire kind of kind of deal. I like that. I'm going to take that too, because we,
00:21:07
Speaker
Well, really Nora, she just watches it when she has lunch. That's like her thing. When she eats lunch, she likes to watch. So I'm thinking also, maybe I just put, do it in the evening time, right? yeah So they're occupied doing that while.
00:21:22
Speaker
That's a good one. I like that one. And another thing is we we did this once last week and it was honestly perfect. We did like early, because I feel like the way we time it is like, okay, 30 minutes before we're going to have them in bed, we start bath and all the routine and whatnot. But we did it to where we, we did baths earlier and then we just got in our bed and put a movie on. So it was like, they were all ready for bed. Another Jamie's on and they're getting a little bedtime snack.
00:21:50
Speaker
And we were watching a movie, but then it like bought like an hour and then it was like, okay, time for bed. So that was also, I mean, obviously not every, every night that it won't work, but that's a good switch. It's a good switch up though. Yeah. Cause I feel like sometimes you just like want to chill, you know, you don't want to be out in the heat. You know, you just want to be in your Jamie's and in your bed. So that was a, that was a nice little change up. Right. That's the other side of it. Yeah. And then I guess like,
00:22:18
Speaker
Even sometimes if none of that works, it just, that's the moment that you're in and know that you're not alone in it, feeling hectic and crazy. And bedtime's coming. Yeah. to Right. Cause again, like some nights you try all the things and maybe they, maybe they don't really give relief. You know what I mean? And it's just.
00:22:43
Speaker
It is what it is, right? We're in this together. You you have me sending you voice memos and texts, venting. That's going to be my way of getting through it. There we go. Well, isn't it funny? I feel like we kind of like go dark between like the hours of like five and eight. Like we don't talk as much and then we both like come back to life at eight and we're like ready to talk and ready to, you know, catch back up in the few hours that we were in it.
00:23:07
Speaker
I've never actually realized that, but you're right. You are totally right because we're just like straight in mom mode. I got time. I got time. You're right. And then we're texting until 11 PM, right? I know.
00:23:20
Speaker
start again the next day, do it all again. That's right. That's right. Restart, restart. Yeah. Um, I've noticed that lately Jude has not been wanting to like eat his dinner. Like he's just been like not wanting dinner time. So I feel like also too, I feel like for some reason dinner is a harder time than like breakfast to eat or lunch, you know, maybe all these reasons that we've talked about before.
00:23:49
Speaker
So I feel like maybe just like lowering your expectations for all of that, you know, and like been like, well, I've offered all these foods throughout the day. If he doesn't decide to eat, then you know, it's fine. Like, right choice. So go just tying into like, just kind of maybe lowering your expectations for the nighttime, having patience and realizing that just as like we get tired we get hangry we get worn out by the end of the day so do they you know and we're like yeah it's just having that that perspective on those crazier nights and it's like you can enjoy the chaos too right it's like you can just be like
00:24:27
Speaker
This is our circus. This is what it is. Yeah. Right. No, totally. I always laugh because whenever Cole gets home and the kids are wanting to play, like he's just very like loud with them and like he's like, and they're jumping off things, tackling each other, and ah and it's just so much noise. and i'm like No wonder I'm like so overstimulated. You're overstimulated, yeah. By that point you're like, please no, please no. I literally am like, I can't, I can't. Yep, yep, totally. Yeah, that's a real, the overstimulated, overstimulation, I guess you would say, that's real. I feel that, I feel that daily.
00:25:13
Speaker
okay Then when they do go to bed and we do rest, we're like looking back at pictures of them and reminiscing on the day. And we're like, Oh, we love them. They're so sweet. I feel like everybody is just in that, has that same experience. You know, like you're like, I can't wait to get to bedtime. And then when bedtime comes, you're like, I miss them. I miss them. I want to go back to that chaos. I know. Cause again, it's just the season that we're in right now as parents, like we're not alone in that.
00:25:42
Speaker
We know that the struggle is real between 4 p.m. and bedtime, right? Yeah. So we're all in this together. We're all in this together. As Zac Efron once said. The famous Zac Efron. I think it was Zac Efron. High School Musical is what I was trying to say. Yes, I knew it.
00:26:03
Speaker
I love it. If anything, just know we're in the chaos too with you living the dream. And you know what? We can be not just surviving this time, we can be thriving. Well, thank you all for joining us for another episode. Best of luck to you in your four to seven PM timeframe today. We hope you guys are having a great week and we will talk to you next time. Bye-bye. Bye.
00:26:31
Speaker
Thanks so much for listening to another episode. Remember, everyone is worth celebrating. Talk soon.