Trial #2 Managing MommyMonsta

Family gathering at my husband's cousin's wedding

I need to take a deep breath before I write today's post, it's a long one people!

To start off my post today, I'll share how our typical schedule starts every week:

1. Daddy comes back every Friday night - usually the kids will try to stay up late on Friday nights just to see him coming home. Most of the time, only Iman manages to stay up successfully to catch her daddy as he came into view.

2. Solid 1 1/2 days spent with the whole family. We do everything together - playing, watching TV, eat, pray & even grocery shopping.

3. Daddy goes back to his side of the world on Sunday and we continue our lives (temporarily) without him until the next Friday comes.

I have noticed that the kids have a harder time to adjust to this 'chipsmore' schedule - Iman will try to compete for more attention, Aisyah will increase her number of complaints and tattle while Hayla will be very emotional and will easily cry at the slightest provocation/issue. Only Hariz appear to be the only level-headed sibling among all 4 (most probably due to the fact that he's only 9 months old, ha!)

As for me, I find it hard to regulate myself effectively, hence the emergence of MommyMonsta.

Typical kids' antics easily irks and frustrates me. Time management is a hit or miss - sometimes I aced it, sometimes time just slips pass me so fast.

Energy levels are like fluctuating yo-yo, most of the time I'm chipper but when the mood strikes or when I'm exhausted, I'm just functioning at base level.

My coffee intake has also skyrocketed to new high. Now I understood the expression 'zombie without coffee'. A much appreciated energy booster.

A tactic that I find effective 75% of the time is by taking a few deep breaths and exhaling every time I feel MomZilla is baring her fangs. Another 25% is just me snapping at the kids after repeated level-toned warnings to stop whatever mischief they are currently concocting.

Nowadays, I pour most of my frustrations, anguish and wishes through prayers. If I still feel unsettled after praying, I will usually sit quietly and read a couple extra pages of the Quran - this usually works 95% of the time. The other 5%? Kissing and hugging those little buggers works wonders.

Despite my efforts to be the best SuperMommy in the world, I am only human. Trials and errors on repeat happen daily. At times I feel accomplished and I can indulge my kids but there are also times where I feel overwhelmed and need a breather to help regulate and center my emotions and focus. Of course, feeling like a failure is natural every time I scolded my children. But picking up after myself (and my kids!) and patching things up with them also comes naturally.

I learn and relearn this every single day. I learn to apologise to my kids if I hurt their feelings and I am also teaching them to be more attentive in taking care of each other's feelings. At the end of the day, we are all we have in this challenging world. Kisses and Hugs can resolve even the most stubborn of fights.

I hope I will continue to grow and mature emotionally in this journey of mine. Till next time!

My boo boo Hariz