Anyone else hate sundays?

I have a 14 yr old and a 12 year old and a lone parent. I work full time, although I am able to wfh for a few days. I love Sundays. My son has the same lunch every day, and I make it just before bed at 10pm. I make tea, and chill with them. My son does his homework, I play no part in that, except to remind him.

one dc is autistic and their bedtime takes a few hours but even then I don’t feel like I have no time. I reckon you have very high standards of cleaning, well more than me. I don’t iron, not even school uniform. Life is too short.

Good lord, get the 14 year old to iron the clothes at the very least!!

Shop on a weeknight after work (I do this)
14 year old can make her own lunches
Do not iron at all
Split the cleaning over other days
Stop feeling sorry for yourself and find a class or something on Sunday
A 14 year old doesn't need parented.

Eh?

I had my mum quizzing me about why I couldn’t visit her this week because I have stuff on in the evenings…I’m working a full week plus evenings…

I bloody love my job but this feels like the longest half term in the history of education right now
(and I’ll still be working evenings and weekends in the holidays…FMAL)

I can't relate to the parenting side but I do understand the Sunday blues. You work through the week, Friday arrives and you're excited to finally be able to live your life, then the weekend whizzes by and then Monday hits again. It's a neverending trudge. And for what? All you can do is hope you catch a break and get respite, no matter how brief, and forget about the world.

I’m guessing these people saying ‘14yo…really?’ don’t have chatty teenage daughters.

Mine’s nearly 20…she’s been home from her first year at uni for 6 weeks and it’s lovely having her around but I’m ‘on’ all day at work, then come home and have to be ‘on’ for her as she wants/needs to chat (she’s had some stuff going on over the last few weeks).

So on top of the practical stuff and general mental load there’s the mental/emotional depletion of that, plus the difference in what we prioritise housework wise and never been able to leave the house and know what I’m coming back to (it’s often my mess tbf but at least I know and I’m expecting it!)

Fortunately I’m a raging introvert and have lots of online friendships so I don’t struggle with loneliness but I totally get the overwhelm and relentless of it all.

I hate Sundays, it means I have to teach in school on Monday. And lo and behold unlike the rest of the civilized world we are in school until Tuesday week. I actually can’t believe it when all my friends working around Europe have been phoning asking how my summer holidays are going. 🤬🤬🤬🤬

Can you get the cleaner to come once a week, do online shopping (10 mins max), no ironing (non iron shirts), cook easy meals / batch cook/ get your child to dinner once a week, stop supervising homework, lower standards around the house, get your child to have lunch at school?

Okay so I understand. I’m guessing everyone’s case loads are bursting at the seams. Is everyone working like this? Are your days all out of the office? Even half a day at home once a fortnight sounds like it could make a difference.

However, if you feel like this, you could end up burning out and that helps no one.
I think it might be worth having a word with your manager regardless. It’s their job to come out with solutions to manage this.

Can you side step into another team/are of SW. it’s just DC will be going into GCSEs and May need more support.

@tearsandtiaras noted.

@Runnerinthenight if she has a son as well and there are 2+, yes it changes the thread somewhat, especially if younger than the 14 noted.

OP I am full of admiration for how you’re coping- I know I couldn’t do it! I just hope you can carve out a little niche just for yourself. Some things can be left- eg substitute a chore with watching your favouriteTV programme, or relaxing with a face pack. I hope your DC appreciates you.

Does it make any difference?

@tearsandtiaras at 18.57 you said: I have no family, no partner and my son's father is not in the picture in any way.

Agree with@Ahhhmarsbar
It's ok your parent saying they don't want carers / only want you , it's hard work and if / when you become ill - who will take care of them?
We had a lovely lady pop in to mum every morning.
Chattered ti her etc - just lovely.
You can't pour from an empty cup.

I think there will be some ways you can rearrange what you are doing to make your life easier. Like online shopping.

can I ask why are you working at home in the evenings (are you a teacher?). I think it’s a separate conversation to be having with work, it’s not within your hours and if it’s happening all the time then that’s not on. It means all your work can’t be done within the hours they are paying you to do.

can you finish earlier on a Friday? Personally I don’t think you should have that much cleaning to do on a Sunday. Even 10 minutes every day of targeted cleaning/tidying can make a difference. The big things like bathroom/beds on a Sunday.
You are out a lot, your house shouldn’t be getting that dirty/messy.

Does DD cook or start to get dinner ready? Prep ingredients etc I think that might be a better use of time than ironing (and get non iron). I find DD wears a blazer and honestly you can just iron the front of a shirt.

I think also having a teenager on Sundays is very different to having a primary aged child. It’s hard to find something to do and you do tend to fall back on house stuff. No parties, softplay, parks, it can feel a bit empty in comparison.