I'm not bi-polar I'm just a parent!

@miamilady (4910)
United States
December 16, 2008 6:22pm CST
My daughter and I sometimes tease eachother about being bi-polar. Neither one of us have been diagnosed as having bi-polar disorder, but sometimes we just have our "moments". I supposed I had one tonight, and I was thinking, maybe it's just part of being a parent. We went from taking a calm drive, to joking around, to being tested and screaming. Then on the way back, we went from singing along with the radio. As we're walking back in the door we went to being tested and becoming angry and some more yelling. I'm just wondering. Does anybody else out there go from laughing to being angry with your children within minutes? Is it just me?
3 people like this
12 responses
@syankee525 (6261)
• United States
17 Dec 08
well see how i see it, that what happen when we make fun of people who do have a mental illness. i do have bipolar it is one of the worst thing i ever had happen to me. and you maybe you should get check specaily if you have high and low days, go from being super nice to super nasty for no reason. welcome to the world of mental illness. hate to say be glad you wasn't acting like someone who got ms.. best of luck to you
1 person likes this
@miamilady (4910)
• United States
17 Dec 08
Hi syankee. Thanks for your reply. I don't make fun of people with mental illness in a cruel way. Or at least that is not my intent. What I do try to do is just see the humor in all of life's challenges. I appreciate your comments. Take care.
1 person likes this
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
17 Dec 08
Ah yes! Been there-done that! My kids are all grown with their own lives now. I do remember those days though. Now I feel like I am getting a little payback with some of the things the grandkids do to their parents. LOL!
@miamilady (4910)
• United States
17 Dec 08
One of my favorite lines when they get out of hand... " I promised I would NEVER say this to my own children when your grandmother said it to me, BUT I hope that your children turn out even worse than you did so you know how it feels! lol My daughter always reminds me how many times I've said that already! So much for promises to myself!
@ebsharer (5515)
• United States
17 Dec 08
I am 25 years old and still have those moments with my mother! In fact just 2 days ago she called me yelling about some thing and I ended up hanging up on her. About an hour later she called me like we didn't even talk an hour before! My mom lives 1200 miles away from me for about another month then I am moving back to FL I'm sure we will still have our momenets. Probably more often! I see the same thing between my mom and grandmother. My grandmother is the instigater in it, between them. I think she really is bi-polar going from one extream to the other in the same sentance! Or how about when you are screaming at your child and the phone rings! Thats a parents bi-polar! Your screaming at your child "CLEAN YOUR ROOM, DO THE DISHES!!!!" (phone rings) Nice soft normal voice you say, "hello" "oh hi Suzy yeah I'll be at the PTA meeting tonight blah blah blah" "okay bye now" (hang up) Back to the kids ... "I SAID CLEAN YOUR ROOOOOOOMMMMM!!!"
@miamilady (4910)
• United States
17 Dec 08
LOL I love your phone example. That is SO true. I had a friend describe her mother doing that. Unfortunately in her case her mother was too abusive. But I've also been "caught" yelling at my kids when my daughter has been on the phone with a friend and I didn't know it. She says "and you wonder why my friends are scared of you??" lol Like I said, we have our ups and downs, but thankfully so far, through it all, we manage to hold on to our sense of humor. Thanks for your reply!
• India
17 Dec 08
it happens sometimes. A small thing can become very irritating and one can lose one's cool. Once I went happily for shopping with my daughters and all was well till she started rejecting everydress that she saw. after about an hour of selecting dresses, she finallly did not buy anything. I got really angry. I said "Buying a dress is not a life time decision that you waste so much time deciding. you have to wear it for a few months and then you will throw it away."
• Philippines
17 Dec 08
Parenting is such a tough job and it makes it tougher since I found out in a hard way that we should really control ourselves when in front of our children. If we can control our temper when we are with guests, why not with our family. And I pray to God that I have better control of my emotions. I know its tough miamilady but hang in there and pray to God that she could help you become a better parent especially in today's world. I do hope you have more fun times ahead with your daughter.
• Tunisia
17 Dec 08
you have to care your children and always come down ! Thanks for being very friendly with your children!
• India
17 Dec 08
I am with you on this and I so wish my own parents, and most parents, were like this. Its the best way to bond with a child, whose mind is not mature enough to hold on to emotions or to channel them properly. Children are perpetually on the on/off mood and if a parent can become one, nothing better to understand them. Also they take you more as a friend and less as an intimidating all-knowing parent and hence pour out their darkest secrets to you, which in today's world is a boon. Yes, I am trying to be one, laughing and shouting and crying all at the same time. even quarelling over chocolates and who has the first right to the latest library book from school and also on how to hoodwink the teacher on minor matters and how to just bully the class monitor so that she knows better. And I must say that I enjoy it this way much more than being the conventional 'why have you done this/you have been naughty' mom
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
17 Dec 08
yes it does happen, especially with kids, doesn't necessarily mean anything other than you are living in the moment, but it is when they moods are always happening all day with everyone there is a problem bi-polar is still different to that.
@rsa101 (37952)
• Philippines
17 Dec 08
Oh I really do not think you are a bipolar unless a psychologist would decalre you so. I am pretty sure there are many parents that are just like you. One moment you are best of friends then an hour later best of enemies. That I think is a pretty normal situation between a parent and her siblings.
@roniroxas (10560)
• Philippines
17 Dec 08
that makes us two. i have teen kids and when you see us having a conversation and i get angry you can sure know that i am the mom. but if i am having fun with them we do a lot of things that has screaming ang laughing out really really loud. i feel young when we do that. i feel energetic plus i am really having fun with my children. so if people thinks that i am bipolar well if having fun with my children is bipolar then it is okay lol.
@Shar19 (8231)
• United States
17 Dec 08
This happens with me sometimes with my kids. One moment we are laughing and the next there is yelling going on. Kids really know how to push our buttons at times. The important thing is to try and remain calm as best that you can. The adults are the ones who are responsible for helping our children learn how to control their anger and actions. I'm trying to learn how to be more calm with my children too, especially when they get me so mad at times. If we can control ourselves then our children will learn from us the right way how to react with certain situations.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
17 Dec 08
You're the adult, look for the signs, you don't have to play this game. Kids love to manipulate adults, it gives them power, the choice you have to make is if this is the kind of power you want her to have or can you redirect this in a more positive way. Sounds like you still have good communication, now you just have to study the situation in a calm manner and decide the best way to redirect this energy. Blessings