Overstimulation

I am about to blow my wonderful mom image here. LOL Most of the time we moms notice our babies get overstimulated. When that happens they usually cry uncontrollably. Well, this mom gets overstimulated. It is caused by noise. I recently explained it to Josh. I told him that I wake up every morning with a gauge kind of like a gas gauge. It starts out every morning on empty and as the day goes on it gets full. The little things like the boys leaving their radio on all day while they are gone contribute to filling up my noise gauge. Most of the time I don't even notice the radio, but it still has an effect on my. The hardest days are when Marc is home because there is constant noise. He likes the tv and likes it loud. I am a total basket case by the time I go to bed on his days off. Most days I am fine. It is just me and Hannah most of the day and I don't usually have the tv on. Well, today I was not so lucky! I went for my usual morning run. When we got home Hannah was very into needing mommy mode. On top of that Caleb wanted me to go help with his Thanksgiving feast at school, so I did. It wasn't just his kindergarten class, but all of them....in the same room PLUS Hannah in a needy mood. I guess that was my downfall!!!!! His teacher asked if I wanted to take him with me when I left...I knew better and headed home for an hour of somewhat peace and quiet. Caleb and Samantha came home from school and seemed to be louder than normal. They might not have been, but once I have hit the full level on my gauge any noise seems to echo in my head. Unless you deal with this you can't possibly understand that statement. After Josh got home we had to go to the chiropractor and then the grocery store. OMGosh...the small space in the car with all the noise and Hannah wanting me to give her the world while I was driving was just HORRIBLE. Probably no more than usual, but I was so over the edge it just seemed like they were yelling in the car....even the laughs hurt. I have no idea what I was thinking...ya'll know I don't fear going places with all 4 kids. It doesn't bother me, one child in particular might stress me out a little, but for the most part going places is just normal for us. Not normal for us is 4 kids at the grocery store at dinner time on the Monday before Thanksgiving. Just the grocery store the WEEK of Thanksgiving is enough to send anyone to the looney bin. I laid out the expectations before we went in and I guess it went well. I think it was probably a normal trip, but by then I was just ready to tune out everything. The constant questions and wants (not many because they know better) were just too much. Caleb and I butted heads in the cereal isle because he wanted a sugary cereal that I don't allow them to have. It didn't help that I had a few people give me dirty looks because I don't allow my children to have certain cereals...I had a mean comment in my head, but refrained from saying anything! We were finally able to move on though. Seriously, what I don't understand is people who just park their baskets wherever so no one can pass by. When I don't have kids with me and I need something down a popular isle I leave my cart at the end and walk down to get the item. Obviously I don't do that with the kids. It seems like some people get offended because I keep my cart with my kid next to me. Whatever though. Needless to say that shopping trip was pure torture for me as was the ride home and "together time" before bed. Right now my skin is still crawling because I can hear the boys radio, myself typing, and the football game. I have been looking forward to this game and don't want to turn it off, but it sounds like it is just amplified in my ears. Oh well, I will smile and press on. I know I will wake up empty tomorrow. What I want to know is if any of you have little quirks like mine. What are they and how do you handle them? I also want those of you who know me to understand a little of what is going on in my head if you happen to see me in a crowd OR room of kids and it looks like my eyes are about to bug out of my head. LOL Now back to the game that I will continue to watch while the sound is muted. Oh and for the record, when I get overstimulated I don't uncontrollably cry! ;)