Dupuy Family

Leah...if you didn't have a post like this every once in a while then I would think something is wrong! Can I just say AMEN! I feel like this often and I just have the one kid! It is their age. And don't worry...all kids are the same for the most part. You are not the only one with sassy 3 year olds who ignore their parent's wishes. I would say that 95%, if not all, parents with 3 year olds would say they are experiencing the exact same thing!

Seriously...you have 2 sets of twins Leah!! You have every right to have a whiny post every once in a while. I have seen you often with your kids and you are an amazing mom. You take care of and love those kids with all you have. They have everything they need and are healthy and strong and happy and love testing your limits! ha!

Remember to take time for yourself. You deserve it and are entitled to it. The kids can deal with you being away for a while and will like you much better when you return and you them...even if it is only an hour away. That is the only way I stay sane is to get out for an hour or two by myself or with Josh. I hear so many moms say they feel guilty to take "me time"...well just think how much better you do if you are refreshed and had time to breathe...how can that not be a benefit to everyone involved?

So..obviously I have a lot to say on the subject. haha! But I hear ya...I never expected being a mother to be the hardest thing I have ever done. I thought it would be easy! Boy was I in for a surprise. haha. No one doubts you love your kids...so don't feel bad about posting your frustrations...we all get ya.

Wish I was close enough to come over and play with your kids while you got out of the house. Hope you have someone close who can do that for you!

sorry leah. i seriously have no idea how you do it with two sets of twins. you are awesome. i'm sure things will get easier when your kids get older and hopefully your girls not listening is a stage that will pass quickly. i love president monson's quote about fingerprints.

He said, "If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly."

anyway, i hope tomorrow is a better day for you. take a breather and do something for just you. i think pasttimes of things you love today that just involve time to yourself are so great. love yah!

Um wow, these other comments are long. All I was going to say was TWO sets of twins! And so close together. I find it very hard with mine. I can't imagine what you do everyday with yours. You are a wonderful mom. Thanks for this post though. Helps us other moms too.

I so agree the closer I am to having this baby the worse my kids seem to get then I wonder what in the world I am doing having another baby!! My 3 year old is the same way I can't image having 2 of her!! I take my hat off to you you are amazing but thanks for the post it made me feel good to know I'm not the only mom that feels that way. I look at everyones blogs and think I'm such a bad mom cause they all have pictures of all the fun things they do and all the time they spend with their kids but in all reality they all have to have their moments not just us (I would hope anyway) O wish I could tell you it gets better but honestly some days I wonder myself!! Good luck and thanks to who ever put Pres. Monson's Quote That is so true I think I'm going to print it off and put it on my fridge to remind me of that!!

I think that every mother feels this way at times. I don't know how you do it with 4 kids I can hardly keep up with one and now having another one I think 'what am I doing' I also feel like I just need a break somedays. I always tell my self 'this to shall pass' and somedays that is what helps me.

You are not alone! I have 4 kids ages 9, 8, 2, and 1. And I stay up sometimes till 2am trying to unwind enough that I can go to sleep. And every night I lay there amazed that we all survived another day. My kids push me to the edge every single day and something inside me holds me together. I blame my mother! She wished for me to have 2 just like me. LOL I stay at home with my kids all day and I need a break too. Here is a number for you to call when you need help. Write this down. 1-800-GRANDMA! I know your mom isn't close to where you live, but I do hope you have other family or friends that are willing to take your kids for you once a week or something. Just remember when you get to the point that you can't take any more. I love my kids, I want them to be safe and happy. Go outside and walk around your house as many times as it takes for you to calm down enough to face them. They will be fine in the house watching t.v. or playing for 5 minutes while you walk outside and scream. lol. You aren't alone!! Being a mother is the worst, the hardest, the most wonderful and most rewarding job and God only gives it to us women lol cuz he knew the men couldn't deal with it! HaHa. Chin up! They will do something amazing in the next few days and you will forget how frustrated you were with them. You can do this!!

Leah dear,
I struggle with the 2 that I have, and I only have them 4 days a month. I had a lot of days this summer when we had them all month that I needed a day off. Sometimes they just need to hang out with their dad, too. So, it's good for all of you to give them some time just for Ryan to bond with them, and for you to rejuvenate also. I honestly don't know how you do it all...I'm jealous you have yours all to yourself and don't have to share them with another set of parents who "parent" different and have different rules. It's all part of life, but in the end all you can do is your best and no one can ask anything more. Don't get so down on yourself, you're a great mom. Love ya!

Leah... I'm so glad you are HUMAN! To me you were one of those Mothers that have it all together, all the time.
I'll share some things that I have used that "sometimes" work for me. When my kids are fighting/calling names/etc. I make them each sit on their own beds and think of ways that they can change to be nicer to each other. I know it sounds like it probably won't work- but even Holli (2 yrs. old) understands it. I call each of their names out and have them tell me what they are going to do to be a better brother or sister.
I believe in getting a trash bag and taking away toys for a long time... if they don't pick them up then I guess they won't miss them. I take them away- for months not just hrs. or days.
And last of all... I have to turn to the prohets for councel and guidance and direction. I get on lds.org and print off talks that talk about Motherhood- It reminds me of what Heavenly Father expects of me and what I should be doing... because we all know that Motherhood isn't roses every day.
***I have to tell you this though- One day we had a FHE on how to keep our family close together. And I know that I was lead by the spirit and I can always refer to that lesson and my kids remember how they felt and they of course never want our family not close... so that helps us a ton. Does that make sense???

I hope this helps some- call if you need to talk or anything! 801.789.7981 Much love to you!

A couple things-- 1) Just because someone appears put together on Sunday, doesn't mean they have it together. NO ONE, I repeat, NO ONE has it together all the time. We are just the hardest on ourselves. Try not to compare yourself because if you were a fly on the wall in these "amazing" women's houses, I'm sure you would get a good laugh. Just as many women look at you and wish they could be as amazing as Leah. Believe me, it's true. You are incredible! 2) Make sure you get at least an hour break away from the house every week!! Seriously don't EVER miss it! (And don't let yourself feel guilty about it either!!) Let Ryan know you need it and he will help you make that happen. When I start being cranky too much, my husband says, "Ang, you need I break. I can tell!" and kicks me out of the house. I come back a better woman and a better Mommy. Even if you just go sit at the library for an hour every Thursday night from 7-8 or trade babysitting with a friend and go on dates with your hubby. It makes all the difference in the world-- "If Mama ain't happy, ain't no one happy." 3) A huge part of it is really the ages of your kiddos. That was the hardest time for me-- ages 2, 3, and 4 (that is why they are so stinkin cute at those ages, so you will still love 'em. LOL!! J/K) Seriously, they make A TON of messes and yet can't help too much. They run off and don't listen and don't understand why anything is dangerous and think they know better then you, etc. etc. etc. All my kiddos started getting easier to deal with at age 5. Do we still have hard days?? Of course we do!! Everyone has hard days. But this is a really hard time in life for you. I promise it gets better. 4) Pray for help. Pray for patience. And always remember you are not a bad Mom at all! No one could EVER be a better Mom to those 4 little angels then you, Leah!! Heavenly Father chose you for a reason. Don't ever forget that!! You are doing great!! :)

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!! I think all of us know we are not perfect and neither is anyone else if only you could spend a day inside the walls of their home. On the outside it may look like they've got it all together, but go inside...and everyone struggles. Life is HARD!! Being a mother is REALLY HARD! And being a GOOD mom is the hardest job of all. You are a GREAT mom. You need to give yourself more credit! TWO sets of TWINS! Just thinking about that...I can't believe you have any hair left! haha!
Know that you are good enough. Because you are. And at the end of the day if the house is in total disarray...it's okay!!
Love 'ya!! Know you're not alone!

What can I add to all the wonderful advice? You know that you are the best Mom in the world in my book. There is no way I could do as good of a job as you do at being a MOM!!!! I am amazed every time I am around you at what you do! Just keep loving them. Hey, if it makes you feel any better, next year at this time you will have two JACE bugs on your hand. Ha, Ha. Love you tons sis, your my HERO!!!!

I hope the girls get easier. And for what it's worth, when I look around at other mom's that have it together, your are on the TOP of my list!!! SEveral times when I am trying to figure out what to do with Ethan, I think of some of the advise you gave me. All I know is that you are doing a great job, and there are ups and downs. If things went perfectly in someone's life, then they are doing something wrong to not get the trials!!! God will bless you. I miss you, and will pray for you to have strength (I know you already have, but for the Lord's strength). Tell your husband you have to go somewhere once a week for a couple of hours BY YOURSELF and do whatever you want. You BOTH need a break.