To wish I’d never had children?

Yes you're somewhat right. As are other PPs.
You may be heading into depression territory if you can no longer put the general feeling of doom and gloom aside and feel like everything is miserable.
IME you have to put a little effort into finding room for the little things that will keep you (and the kids) going. Simple things like bubble blowing in the park, playing Frisbee (I'm so bad at it but during lockdown DD got pretty good), trying new recipes, baking simple stuff (fairy cakes, chocolate chip cookies, flapjacks - simple and cheap and almost foolproof), creating mocktails? How do you do this? , painting your nails - toes too. Oh, and my personal favourite, make a playlist of upbeat/happy songs (or use one on Spotify) and don't be afraid to sing and dance to it. Live in the moment at least some of the time, and the rest becomes more bearable.

This is from someone who posted on the SN board a few days ago in a most dire miserable mood wanting to curl up and hide for a week, so many apologies if I'm sounding like a condescending tw@t.

Goodness me, that’s such a sad view, I would politely suggest maybe you also need to seek some help.

OP I'm agreeing with others, depression can often feel like realism, please do get help.

I felt like thus before, when I left university, I wondered what it was all for and felt a stark sense of "realism". But I'm so grateful for where I am now.

Yes, we aren't rich and struggle with money and have 3 disabled children BUT we are all so happy. Life feels amazing and we get up to so many adventures enjoying nature etc.

You may be depressed. But you may also just be maturing to a place where you realise all the stuff you thought was possible when you were a child just isn't how the world works.

Those of us who were brought up in comfortable circumstances in the UK had parents who hoped for the best for us but life, and we ourselves didn't all live up to expectations.

We don't all end up rich, living in wonderful homes with fabulous partners. Children aren't all sweetness and light and their futures aren't any rosier than our own lives. Most people's children won't continue to play the violin after the age of 13 or be sporting stars, and will instead end up in humdrum jobs with mediocre partners and average houses, holidays and happiness levels.

They'll have children of their own and put their faith in things getting better for the next generation - hoping for the best for their kids. Hoping one of their kids will have a stellar career or maybe even be rich and famous.

Unfortunately most will be disappointed as their children will just continue to have MH problems because the of their ADHD diagnosis at age 4, mollycoddling and social media/ digital device addiction. They'll trip through life gathering up failed relationships and grasping at an ever illusive state of contentment and probably post on MN about how they wished they'd never had children in the first place.

I think you need help op, please seek it, not just for your sake, but for your children. This is not realism and it’s deeply unhealthy,

Life can be hard at times, but it shouldn't have to feel as bad as you're describing. I'd agree with previous posters about speaking with your GP - they may be able to help you get through this.

Agree that it sounds like you need professional help. Yes life with young children is a grind and you will struggle to get the same carefree life as before. It's tough but most people manage to find some joy in there at some point when the struggle has lifted. Adulthood doesn't automatically need to equate with misery. It's not normal to feel utterly miserable about everything and it's not fair on your children to make them feel that it's all downhill.

Get some help.

Yes you don't sound like you are in a good place. Please tell GP (if you can contact them🙄) how you are feeling. Life is grim at the minute for a lot of people but you shouldn't feel as bad as this. Take care

I agree about you needing to find some support and I’m sorry you feel this way.

My circle of friends and acquaintances are generally happy. I don’t think your experience is the norm and hopefully your children will view things differently to you.

I’m totally hearing you op. I came to this very realisation over the last 12 months… I think it’s the naivety. I used to wake up in this house 18 odd years ago so full of optimism. It must be a youth thing? Bills, debt, failed relationships, failure at other levels, the world being a shit show, work stress, SEN child and family drama later…. I wonder what the fuck I hustled so hard for.

You sound very depressed and need help.

Life isn't like that at all!

Though I understand what you're saying, there's no choice but to keep plodding on and surviving. Depressing yes but ultimately the truth 😁

you need to seek therapy and support. If everyone around you is unhappy this is not good for you and I agree with pp , you sound depressed.

You sound depressed. Please contact your GP.

Please talk to someone about this, you sound depressed.