Lockdown and being a stay at home parent

[LloydBC]

I have 3 children under 5 and used to enjoy time with them. We alternated between the park, soft play, play cafe, play dates, the local farm - not big days out but always something to get us out and about.

Now I dread each day starting again. Nothing to do apart from the same walk or the same local park.

On days like today - raining non stop - I can't muster the energy or enthusiasm to dress everyone in wet weather clothes and get outside so we are indoors all day.

Its a constant - cook, clean, entertain, stop fights, wipe bottoms... I feel like I just want to escape... and then I remember even if I did that there is no where to go!!

My DH is wonderful but is WFH full time in a stressful job. A bath at the end of the day, or half an hour on my own just isn't cutting it. I'm too depleted with no end in sight.

I know everyone is struggling in their own way - and some have it 'easier' and some 'harder'. I'm just so fed up today.

[Lucylivesinamushroomhouse]

Me too op, me too. Similar situation here, 3 kids aged 5, 3 and 1. It’s relentless. I’ve always loved being a stay at home mum but only because I didn’t actually stay at home. We used to go to different groups and meet up with friends for coffee and play dates every single day. We’ve just done singing group on zoom and it’s so so depressing. The house is an absolute tip because all of us are in every day all day.

[LloydBC]

@Lucylivesinamushroomhouse 💐 it’s so tough. I’m just so desperate for this to pass.

[Thatwentbadly]

I have a 4 year old and a 1 year old. It’s drudgery at the moment. Schooling at home is driving me crazy. The cold, wet weather is awful.

[isitjustifyable]

I have a 4 year old and 1 year old and have hit a wall today

It's hard 😢

[ParkheadParadise]

3 under 5 is hard work.
I've got one and I'm demented trying to homeschool.

[firstimemamma]

Sahm mum here too op, my sympathies

[Edel2019]

My feelings exactly OP.

I'm finding today tough. It's been raining constantly. I'm TTC and I got a BFN today. I weighed myself yesterday and I'm 1 and a half stone overweight.

Can't even dream of going on holiday.

[Buzlightyear1]

I’m also the same I have a 4 year old, I was planning on sending to nursery when he was 4. I’m high risk so have not sent him as I’m worried , I doubt my decision all the time as I feel like he isn’t getting what he needs. We go to the same park and walk every day he’s really good but I’m struggling. I’m single his dad is not really involved so don’t get a break. I don’t really no what I’m doing anymore, I feel like I’m constantly letting him down and he’s such a lovely boy. We live in a village but all the fields are so slippery and muddy and I’m on crutches so can’t even enjoy walks as much as I’m worried about falling . I really can’t wait for it to be over. So I definitely understand how you feel wish I could be more positive but today has been a bit of a rubbish one.🤦‍♀️

[LloydBC]

Sending everyone strength... gearing up for diner, bath and bed over here. Then likely will collapse in a heap, half watch some TV and off to bed before we do it all again tomorrow.

[Lucylivesinamushroomhouse]

Also I’m finding the homeschooling impossible. Today the 1 year old managed to get hold of the 5 year old’s pencil and scribbled all over her work (which had taken soooo long and I’d had to bribe her with a chocolate coin for every sentence) while I was wiping the 3 year old’s bum. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh.

[ByGrabtharsHammerWhatASavings]

Mine are 4 and 2 and I feel like I'm losing my fucking mind. We were just like you, we went to the library and the museum and soft play, they had gym classes and swimming lessons and play dates. Life was brilliant, we had so much fun. Now we're stuck in the house, it's like minding a pair of feral animals. They constantly hurt themselves and break stuff, I'm always losing my temper and shouting. I want to cry every day and feel like the worst mum ever. I know I'm lucky in lots of ways: we're all healthy, no one has lost their job, no worrying about home schooling etc. But I feel crushingly board, stressed, and miserable.

[TulesDana]

@Buzlightyear1 I'm in the same boat, my 4 year old was due to start preschool last march, which obviously didn't happen. I'm a lone parent too, I'm full of guilt that she's not getting enough stimulation. She's such a lovely playful girl and she hasn't seen other children for so long. She has no friends, all of the classes and activities we used to do have been closed for nearly a year. it's so hard trying to do the same 14 hours every day. I'm really struggling right now and I hate that she sees me so worn down. We do have fun moments, reading, tea parties etc but that cannot fill out a day.

[Buzlightyear1]

TulesDana it’s so hard isn’t it, I feel the same we used to do so much before this happened so I wasn’t worried. Now with everything closed it’s so hard. Thank you for your message it’s nice to not feel so alone. Most people round my village are still going about things normally and there children are all at nursery, so I’ve felt awful. I really do appreciate your message .

[cookiesaurus]

I'm feel like I've hit a brick wall this week. I have a 19 week old and a two year old and feel like neither of them are getting a great deal right now!

I'm so grateful as my 2 year old is in nursery 2 days a week and she couldn't get there quickly enough this morning. It left me feeling like a complete failure as though she hates her days at home with me and her sister.

I just don't know how other people cope?! Especially those of you with more children! My husband is WFH but is really busy with work so isn't around hardly at all - he stops for dinner about 9pm for about 15 mins and then works through to about midnight! He does come out at 7 to put my 2 year old to bed.

Love and strength to everyone struggling atm, we can but try and power onwards! Hopefully, lockdown won't last that much longer - it's just making life so much more difficult (although I understand that we need it). xx

[Lucienne1]

this sums it up for me
www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/28/nursery-staff-work-covid-crisis-early-years-support