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AIBU?

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Original poster

Are parents just absolutely exhausted all the time?

148 replies

Englishrose223 · 13/07/2024 18:55

Might be a stupid question but when I look after my neices (6 and 3) I literally feel like a bus has hit me.

OP posts:
Yolo12345 · 13/07/2024 21:42

Yes - and quite often unwell, like sore head, sluggish etc

hekal · 13/07/2024 21:41

Not me. Have a 6yo and 2yo. I tended to sleep about 5 hours a night pre-dc, so I never felt sleep-deprived unless they were going through an hourly waking phase, which was always brief. I'm a sahm so don't have to juggle work on top, and I use a lot of holiday camps and drop-off activities for my eldest so mostly deal with just the toddler, who also goes to loads of classes so I'm not thinking up ways to entertain her.

Storyland · 13/07/2024 21:40

If you only have one, it's not so bad. The first years are exhausting. But once they get to school age it becomes massively easier.

Although I can't comment on the teenage years yet.

JellyWellyBoots · 13/07/2024 21:39

I can't remember a day in the last 7 years since my DD was born that I haven't felt tired, both physically and mentally. I've raised her pretty much alone for the majority of her life & it's definitely taken it's toll.

Would I change it? Absolutely effing not.

motleymop · 13/07/2024 21:39

TemuSpecialBuy · 13/07/2024 18:59

Yep.
i love them sooo much but i wish I hadn’t been so old (38 & 40) when I had them

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I feel the same. Older than you though. But then most people do find it knackering, regardless of age. So who knows!

TheCosyRain · 13/07/2024 21:39

I just want to add that I was scared to death of becoming a mother based upon everyone telling me how inconceivably hard babies are and how knackered I would be. I wish I hadn’t hyped it up so much in my mind. It was fine and I wasted a lot of mental energy on it

Icannoteven · 13/07/2024 21:38

Yes. And I’m so exhausted I accidentally clicked Yabu instead of Yanbu.

motleymop · 13/07/2024 21:37

Devilsmommy · 13/07/2024 19:54

This is 100% true. The mental exhaustion is the killer for me at the moment, I have an energetic 21 month old. Enough said😅

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This rang so true to me. I caught sight of my hunchback the other day and have been forcing myself to sit up straight today - it's a massive effort though and I feel so strange doing it, like a bit of a dick.

This thread isn't giving me much hope that the tiredness better!

TheCosyRain · 13/07/2024 21:35

I have a 20 month old and no I’m mostly not tired. She’s a great sleeper though

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 13/07/2024 21:31

Tbh no, I wasn't. When they were tiny babies, yes. After that, no. Mine were both good sleepers, which obviously helps a lot.

Londonrach1 · 13/07/2024 21:27

I was...however got 7 year old and life has settled but know what ahead...teenager years are awful...not from the teenager but the other bits it's exhausting mentally ..tbh it's hell from what I hear..think I'm in the between stage where life is ok and you getting sleep and not tried but in a year or so we going to head back into exhaustion...saying that I rarely get back 9.30 before I'm in bed...

rickyrickygrimes · 13/07/2024 21:26

Yes. Relentless. That’s the only word.

Timeturnerplease · 13/07/2024 21:26

I’m a parent and a teacher, so spend most of my waking moments with children. I’m not sure what it’s like to not be exhausted, to be honest.

Busby88 · 13/07/2024 21:24

Yes 1yo and 4yo and I’m exhausted all the time, I constantly look around in amazement at others who appear to be functioning/ not tired.

Despair1 · 13/07/2024 21:23

Yes, yes and yes again. And when they are teenagers, the mental exhaustion.
And constant worry

Topoftheflops · 13/07/2024 21:19

Yes constantly. Made worse by no other childcare. Grandparents busy with their own lives. It's very tiring.

IAlwaysTellTheTruthEvenWhenILie · 13/07/2024 21:19

4 and 17 months. I run on coffee a lot. Sometimes it doesn't even work. And I walk around wondering if it's bed time yet

Vinotinto78 · 13/07/2024 21:18

Yes. It’s truly the hardest endurance sport there is. Fuck triathlons.

Cheesandcrackers · 13/07/2024 21:13

Kids aren't hugely complicated but there are a LOT of uncomplicated tasks... Throw in some disturbed sleep and it all adds up.

Cantbebotheredwithausername · 13/07/2024 20:55

Yes, and I only have one DS (almost 3yo) who sleeps through the night.

TangerinePlate · 13/07/2024 20:47

Yes. Both kids like Duracell bunnies for years. Eldest calmed down now and likes doing his own thing, youngest has ASD and still going. I’m permanently knackered 😭

Sapphire387 · 13/07/2024 20:38

DS13, DD11, DSD10 and DD11m.

I'll be trying some of those Lamberts Multivitamins.

CrikeyMajikey · 13/07/2024 20:38

Yes. It’s never ending.

WestminsterCrimes · 13/07/2024 20:18

Yes. I am deeply exhausted after 13 years of 2 DC

Proutrfht · 13/07/2024 20:17

Ohthatsjustalotofeffort · 13/07/2024 19:45

Yeah they’ve really helped me - it was a fellow mum on here that recommended them as I was just so so tried all the time. Thought I needed a doctor - I take multi bit, vit d, iron and omega oils and it’s done amazing - took a few months to build up (maybe 3) and now I can sleep well and do everything required of me in the day without feeling shocking.

lol I know what you mean- when we got away we wonder what the little ones are doing - and I so appreciate how lovely the age is they are and don’t want to wish it away- just wish we have a nanny / housekeeper etc and that would be spot on 🤣

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Amazing, thank you so much, I’m definitely going to try all of those. Feeling hopeful I might actually feel normal again..!
Ha yes if I win the lottery I’ll be investing in a nanny 🤣