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Exhausted, demoralized

8 replies

downinthemouth · 15/07/2018 03:17

NC for this as I am ashamed of myself but need to ask for help.

DS is absolute fucking donkey work. He’s sometimes sweet and kind and thoughtful in anstonishing ways, but good god I am so exhausted and demoralized by him. Every night it’s a battle, from dinner until he finally passes out in bed. Most nights he plays silly buggers getting mummy or daddy out of bed in the middle of the night “hungry” or “need hug” and I get that he’s 2.5 but we both work full time just to survive and we live in terror of being evicted (I know, the law would support us, but we do not have the money to put up a fight.) Mornings are one long struggle, from the instant we get up (he’s always the first one up).

I thought I would be happier. I thought I could do this. I thought, secretly, I might even be good at it. But nothing has been easy, from his birth to BFing to every single night and I’m just so tired and angry all the time. I feel like I’m letting myself down, and I’m letting him down, too. I didn’t want to be this kind of mummy.

Please tell me it gets better soon.

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Tigger001 · 15/07/2018 03:37

I think when you are not getting sleep everything compounds and seems worse. You sound like you do your very best for you LO, remember at 2.5 he is still a baby really, I know everyone will say routine , routine ( and there probably right ) but if you are feeling that low, throw all the rules out for just 1 day and try and have fun with him, with lots of kisses and giggles and games and remind yourself how much you love him, stress free.
. Is there anyway your partner could get up with him for a full night one night, so you can try and get a full nights sleep to feel better about starting the day.
Try not to be too hard on yourself

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downinthemouth · 15/07/2018 04:52

Thank you, Tigger. I appreciate the kind words and the advice.

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Happyandshiney · 15/07/2018 05:14

Hang on in there!

It gets easier, honestly it does.

2-3 is a really hard time. It feels like a slog but honestly you’ll get through it.

My twins are 10 yo now and I look back to when they were two and genuinely wonder how I survived it.

But they are lovely now. They are incredibly well behaved. They are regularly complimented on their manners. They make friends everywhere they go and do well in school. They get on really well and are good friends.

They are easy and funny and they make me so proud. Other parents regularly tell me how lucky I am.

But when they were 2.5 they were non stop whirling Tasmanian Devils (think Warner Bros cartoon) who could destroy a room in about 30 seconds, would remove each other’s clothes and nappies, pull over furniture, help each other climb over stair gates and cheerfully but viciously bite each other black and blue. And they never bloody slept.

But we got through it. And it was worth it. And you will too.

And you are a good parent and he will make you happier. You just have to hang on a bit longer.

And I know that right now 6 months feels like forever. I remember that well.

But it isn’t forever.

Standing firm in the daily battles you have now will stand you in good stead later.

That fact that he’s hard work now doesn’t mean he’ll be hard work forever.

One day you too may smile, grit your teeth and try not to throw something at the people who tell you that you are “lucky” to have such an “easy” child. Grin

You’re just tired. It’s normal.

It’s really awful, but it’s normal.

Hang on in there, the sun will come up soon.

Flowers

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OrdinaryGirl · 15/07/2018 06:01

Happyandshiney your comment has cheered me right up - thank you! My twins are 2y 4m and I am exhausted and frazzled and slightly despairing just like the OP. You are giving me hope.

And, OP, sisterly fistbump to you! Thanks Happy is of course right - I also have a nearly 5yo and I remember how 3-4 felt SO much easier than 2-3. Hang in there. 💪🏼

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Happyandshiney · 15/07/2018 06:16

Ordinary three under 5yo? You deserve some BrewCakeFlowers and probably a medal. Grin

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MakeMineATwin2 · 15/07/2018 06:24

My twins are at that age too and it is relentless! I was thinking the other day that I'm a few years this horror I'm living will be a distant memory and I will look back on it and laugh. I bloody hope I'm right Confused

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Kingsclerelass · 15/07/2018 06:29

Downinthemouth, on a totally practical level, when you renew your contents insurance, if you have it, tick the family legal cover box at the bottom. It covers you for rent disputes & costs about £15.
It would take away the worry about being evicted which you really don’t need.
FWIW, my ds is 9 now and is lovely, but he was horrendous between 18 months & about 3. Hang in there Flowers

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downinthemouth · 15/07/2018 13:38

Thank you everyone.

King what a fantastic tip, thank you! I will definitely do that!

Ordinary, Make and Happy Twins? Three under five? You definitely deserve medals!

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