My house has a time of day that seems to become frazzled all at once. Somewhere between 5ish – 6ish each night the tension in the house begins to thicken…The offspring are hungry, the youngest is cranky...the phone begins to ring off the hook, dinner needs to get started (or it is time to leave for practice and pick up dinner on the way), the final load of laundry needs to be put away, the dog is chewing on my daughter’s last pacifier, and the boys down the block are ringing the doorbell in hopes of working on the giant “crater” they are digging in my backyard…oh…and they need a bag of popcorn to get started! And without fail…all this seems to come down at the same time of night! The craziness felt like a huge bear attacking my sanity and me, and though it's a short period of time it felt like it took over the morale of the entire day. I believe the coined name for this time is “The Witching Hour” and rightfully so…because at this time of day, even the sweetest moms can morph into the nastiest of witches!
Well, couple of years ago, I got a brave hair, and decided that I was going to go to battle with this “bear” and work pro-actively to conquer it before it got a chance to pin me down! So as with any attack, I planned, prepared, and gathered up some resources to take into battle with me. The following are some hints, tips, and suggestions to help in your personal witching hour or bear wrestling!
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER - Due to the dynamics of each individual family, there is such a huge variety of things that can help keep you on top of the bear instead of pinned underneath, but here are a few that work for me…whatever your method, the idea is to be ready for the attack…take on that crazy time of day with your eyes wide open…ready and waiting, with resources at hand to help you and unashamed to call for back up.
First offensive move - Ambiance!!!!
The sensory setting of this time of day is very key…work to make it a “calm” setting…If your house allows, play some classical music (STOP and RESIST the temptation to laugh!!!!!!!) Seriously… Classical music is good for the offspring and it has a medicinally and physiologically calming effect on the brian...Look it up! Play some classical music in the area that you mainly are…for me it is in the kitchen usually making dinner. You don’t have to blare it through the whole house or MAKE your kids play it in their rooms, but the point is that it does help bring about calm in your home…not the white noise of the latest breaking news on the FOX news channel...that only adds to the tension. Save that for earlier in the day or after dinner…Trust me...try it for a week or so and see how much less tension you feel.
Second offensive move – Feed the Natives!
Usually the offspring are hungry and if your husband comes home early and dinner is not ready yet (if you are cooking), chances are he is hungry too…don’t make this a battle…remember the bear would love to pin you down with whining offspring and a husband who is “sampling” dinner before it is ready…just set out some cheese and crackers for all parties involved…it takes two seconds…just grab some crackers of your choice (we use Triskets) and cut up some cheese (I keep a huge bar of sharp cheddar on hand), and set them out on a plate…set out just enough to tide everyone over till you can eat or enough that your husband can snack on something other than pre-cooked-dinner.
Third offensive move – Guilt-Free-Self-Occupation for the offspring –
This means they “try” to occupy themselves without your aid or involvement…so maybe they watch TV (big deal!) If the program is appropriate, and they have not been glued to it since school let out…so what…let them watch while you do what you need to do…In our house, I set the TV to record a show that Fisher loves on “Animal Planet” and that is when he watches it…or else he plays outside with the kids from the street … in the meantime, my youngest is in the other room watching Elmo…all of this may not work in your house, but the point is, find something that they can do during the witching hour and try your best to make is self-occupying, so that you can get your stuff done, a puzzle, games, art, playing outside, or watching a program on TV…even if it means your practice a little more flexibility.
Fourth-offensive move – Relax – and don’t be ashamed to call for Back up!
No Matter What ~ Don’t let the witching hour win!!! If you are totally late in getting to dinner...just “call for back up,” and make Sandwiches or hop in the car for MacDonald’s! Let the kids skip their baths when it is going to be too crazy make it home early enough to get them bathed, if won't kill them. The point is to try your best to "choose" to relax…and trust me, it won't be easy some nights! Even when the bear is beginning to have you pinned…smile and kiss him on the cheek…don’t fight him, or he is sure to win!!! In the words of Scarlet O, “Tomorrow is another day…” After all…if the dinner is burned, (or not even started), your late for practice, the crater in the back yard has swallowed up one of the neighbor kids, and the dog has found you daughter’s dirty diaper… the best thing you can do is throw in the towel (literally) and sit down with your baby and watch Elmo! Trust me…if you do that…you have still won!
Please re-read the Disclaimer above again and go fight with vigor!
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