eally do need you. This means you really must take care of yourself. If your children are older, you've been taking these parenting responsibilities seriously for a very long time. You're probably tired, and you probably need more than a morning off. Try to aim for a regular weekend away to really clear your head and gain perspective. Trade baby-sitting/supervising your children with another family who also needs time off occasionally. Finding an older woman who has already been there and done that can be extremely beneficial. Ask her to share her parenting wisdom with someone who's still in the trenches. If your child's behaviors are what are bothering you, then you definitely need to take action. Decide that whatever the problem is, the solutions will be found in facing it, not in hiding from it. Find out the facts, assess your possibilities, and think through the consequences, find professional help if you need it. And remember, families are all about working through the hard times. Your child needs to see this part of life modeled, too. Another thing to consider is: have you been developing yourself over the years as diligently as you've been developing your children? You need growth for all the same wonderful reasons you work to ensure your kids' growth. If you've deprived yourself of that health, the time to renew is now. Starts--or re-create--a hobby. Schedule the time and money for it. If have you tried some of these simple solutions and yet still your frustration level grows there is one last suggestion. Try to find professional help. When times get genuinely tough, don't make the mistake of running from your frustrations. That includes excessive drinking, watching too much television, or overdoing going out with the girls. These kinds of activities will only make your heart more miserable in the long run. If you feel genuinely trapped even after trying some of these solutions, then it's time to find a professional to talk it ...