Whiplash Parenting

Ya'll... I feel like I am located within an insane asylum on a pretty much daily basis.  I don't mean that in a "my kids drive my crazy" kind of way.  I'm speaking more to the mental toggle that is the ups and downs; the severe highs and low lows of parenting that occur within moments of each other.  The emotional whiplash that comes from observing and correcting children antics.  There can be this monumental feeling of "Good gracious I am failing and am raising sociopaths" and then the other end of the spectrum... the elation of  "Look at these wonderful character traits... I'm raising beautiful people!" These very same thoughts can occur within moments of each other, often!  The mental strain of motherhood is unlike any other. Amiright?

To backtrack, my kids are 10(b), 9(b), 7(g), 5(g), and 3(g).  They have the capability to be so incredibly thoughtful and sweet.  They can be helpful and capable, good solid human beings, not only on their own, but working together in collaboration as well.  They do things that make my heart swell and affirm why I had children in the first place.

Then... well then they can be barbaric, incapable of speaking in a normal human pitch: the yeller, the whiner, the crier, the link-up of voices that mimic a full high school cafeteria level of noise... They can show absolutely no respect for the livelihood of each other and can be so cutting and mean.  Defiant, rude, irrational, irresponsible (how hard is it to put the milk away and put shoes in their shoe bin?!)...

Then they revert back to polite and capable. Dude, I can only take so much back-and-forth.  Anyone else feel me?

Tonight Emily cleaned the whole dining room after dinner, by herself, then within a few seconds of joining the rest of the children again, she did something to make Annie scream. ::face palm::

I don't know if this is everyone's kids or just mine...

I mean, don't get me wrong, the highs are awesome.  Seeing the times that they care for one another, respect you, listen and obey and do things without being told make the whole journey worthwhile.  During those times I truly feel like I am seeing their future selves.

But then...

When June is on a vendetta to get Josh admitted to the hospital,  Josh is egging on June and whining that he's getting hurt (but does NOTHING to get himself out of the situation),  Elizabeth is crying over Josh stepping on her homework,  Emily is angry because Elizabeth colored on her picture,  Annie is screaming because the pony shirt is dirty in the wash and she wants to wear it, and the dog is zooming around because the kids riled her up.  In THOSE moments, it feels like a fast track to loony town.

Then moments later, somehow, peace emerges and they sit together harmoniously watching a show calmly.

I think motherhood provides the mental conditioning necessary to face pretty much any task, vocation, or moment in life.  Dealing with the above conditions for the last 11 years, I feel pretty sharp.  Either that or my mind is slowly slipping and they are sending me to an early grave.

Whiplash parenting... anyone?