Patience

I’m running out of it.I’m 40 weeks pregnant today and supposed to be induced tomorrow so this weekend is our “last weekend as a family of four.” It started Friday with the (step)kids being rude to each other and bickering. It’s continued throughout the weekend. Whenever they aren’t arguing over something petty or correcting each other, they’re quite literally screaming (playing) loudly and suuuper hyper, romping around on furniture.I’m freaking exhausted. I’ve spent the last two weeks trying to prep freezer meals, get the finishing touches on the baby’s bassinet, order my breast pump supplies, prepare myself for labor & delivery.Today, I checked both kids nails and they needed cut and filed. Not a big deal, except I’m the only one (of all four of us parental figures) that does this and if I don’t do it once a week, they’re long and filthy by the next week I look at them. I checked SD’s ear piercings as well because this is also something that gets neglected unless I make it a point to do so. Lo and behold, she has earwax caked in her earring holes and behind her ears as though they’ve not been cleaned. So I clean the kids ears and I ask him to do their nails, please.My boyfriend has been super kind lately in helping do the dishes, and other minor stuff around the house. Kitty litter, trash, sweeping and vacuuming. Except that his version of clean and my version of clean are not in any realm the same thing. Today, he was stacking a dish and it didn’t appear to fit, so trying to help out, I grabbed it and went to dry it and put it away. There was food on the dish towel I used to dry it. (Obviously not clean...) This goes on with about half the dishes he “washes” and I’ve tried to kindly and gently tell him if he isn’t going to get the dishes clean, just leave them and I’ll get to it when I feel like I can stand to be on my feet longer than 10 minutes. It just takes me more time to have to rewash something I’m pulling out of the cabinet when I’m trying to cook. I’m super super appreciative that he is offering his help but not whenever I just have to turn around and go behind him and redo what he’s done.We went and got dinner, for everyone but myself, (couldn’t stomach the thought of anything fried) at the local dairy barn kind of thing. (If you’re unfamiliar with this, think of a mom & pop’s version of Dairy Queen.) Both the kids got hot dogs and SD always wants ketchup, which I have no issue with. But we got home and he invited the kids to eat in the living room. SD is a super messy eater and has already changed clothes twice today because of food and then toothpaste, so naturally I asked if they could please eat at the kitchen table since there were condiments involved.Honestly, I just didn’t want to have to get the stain treatment out for the carpet and crawl on my hands and knees at 40 weeks to get a ketchup stain out. And I can nearly guarantee there would have been ketchup on the floor. It would be one thing if the kids cleaned up after themselves, but they’re young, and I literally just don’t have the energy.“Idk why it fucking matters” boyfriend says and stomps out of the room. I literally turned on my heel, grabbed my car keys, and just left. I don’t feel like fighting right now. I don’t feel like cleaning up after the kids anymore right now. I don’t feel like cooking any more meals right now. My body is at its limits and frankly, my mind is also.So much for our “one last happy weekend as a family of four.” via /r/stepparents https://ift.tt/2G8sVRg