To think some people exaggerate how tired they are as parents?

Not in my experience. I’m a parent with a near 2 year old and work FT in a demanding job. I’m physically and mentally exhausted and have been since I got pregnant. There is always something to do, no downtime and little chance to properly rest. My DD sleeps well and always has since about 4-5m. I’m still knackered regardless.

I’ve been tired since 2008 🤨🥱😆

I agree with this. You could easily guess who had young kids in my last workplace. They never really said anything about being tired but it was obvious by looking at them.

I wouldn’t assume the Op has no children tbh.

Yabu

There are all different kinds of kids and all different kinds of parents. Lone parents, disabled kids etc..

Surely you must realise you can't generalise.

I'm absolutely f**cking knackered and have been for most of the time I've had kids. It's not just parenting and the drudgery of house work, it's exacerbated by a demanding job, a long commute, chronic pain, out of control hormones, overwhelm from current affairs. I feel like I spend my weekends trying to recover just to do it all over again. I am no longer in the phase where I am so tired all the time it never feels safe to drive, but I still very tired. And I am not exaggerating.

People can be tired for all sorts of things. I don’t have kids but I have a farm and a yard of horses to run. Early mornings and physical work all day in all weathers.
My friend has 2 kids and spends most of her day in the house, but she is often shattered too. No-one’s worse off.
It’s just different lives isn’t it?

I seem to have every weekend booked up with school events (including stuff that needs practice or prep), playdates, hobbies, we having some trouble with bed wetting and some schooling stuff that needs sorting. I am actually very tired tbh. Still have to empty the dishwasher and get another load on before I can get into bed.

I doubt it.
It's probably more that some people having not been through it don't appreciate what it's like.

If people are cancelling on you and saying they’re tired because of their kids maybe they just don’t want to see you?

I bet that op doesn't have a clue what is she talking about and just trying to stir the waters and hope that she hits the nerve.🐒

"Tired" doesn't always mean literally tired/ lacking in sleep. It can mean fed up, worn down by drudgery/monotony, drained - mentally or physically.

I had a long week at work. Intense 10 hour days Mon to Thursday then yesterday it was more like 12 hours including travel to and from a client. I had 9 hours sleep last night but i still feel like I have no energy to do housework or go into town like I had planned. I've pretty much just chilled at home reading the paper and playing on my phone. In shorthand I'm too tired to do much!

When my kids were little I felt like this more often. Looking after them wasn't physically exhausting but I regularly felt very drained and longed for some quiet downtime to recharge, but they'd go berserk if I didn't take them out and tire them out so I really did feel like I was "tired" most of the time.

Im a lone parent and I find it extremely exhausting and I'm always tired

What a horrible post.

What an odd thread to start on a parenting website!

#IStandWith@PeloMom

No, op you're right.
Parents just make it up for the attention 🙄

When my baby woke up every 45 mins for 1 year, I was tired. So very tired.
He had reflux and allergies and severe (bleeding, oozing) eczema, so could never self settle and sometimes spat up 30 times a night. Not the norm, but lots of babies and kids are poor sleepers for a range of reasons.

Then as they get older they may have bad nights due to sickness, nightmares, bed wetting, trouble getting to sleep etc.

And of course the whole "being a parent 24/7" thing is pretty bloody exhausting both mentally and physically.

Right now I want to sit down with a tea but DS wants help with a craft and DD is just starting to walk so needs help (my back!!!).

I used to work in an emergency clinic doing 12 hour shifts 5 days a week. That was nothing in comparison.

I mean... it depends on the circumstances doesn't it?

One kid vs 3.

SEN, disabilities, illnesses vs none.

A baby/toddler that actually sleeps vs one that doesn't.

Family/friends support vs none.

The ability for one parent to stay at home or one or both parents go part time vs 12 hours shift .

Financial ability to buy in support (cleaning,cooking etc) vs none .

A partnership rather than a dick husband (or more rarely wife).

And so on.

My friend with 3 kids (1 at least with SEN ) and a really shit husband is more tired than me, and I'm more tired than another friend who's father is a banker (and a decent bloke) and is a SAHM with a nanny and a cleaner and 2 kids.

It's all relative though, because we all moan about being tired/busy/overwhelmed sometimes.

I’m not any more but when DS1 woke every 45 minutes through the night from three months to nearly a year…on my knees didn’t quite cover it…it would have been viewed as torture if you did that to a prisoner. Nor did he nap for more than 45 minutes during the day. Neither DS slept through until after they started school. That was 8 years without getting an unbroken night.

I doubt they are all exaggerating, I am absolutely exhausted. I love my daughter, she's brilliant, but working full time and having a child is really tiring.

I would say it’s the opposite. Most exhausted parents are underplaying it or keeping it to themselves as it’s a boring thing to keep banging on about. The early years of parenting are utterly, crazily exhausting. After that it’s just like having a very time consuming second job. Still tiring compared to pre-kids but not so bone crushingly knackering.

Well I suppose in general, some people overstate or exaggerate their feelings. Not sure it's particularly prevalent with tired parents - I remember being completely unprepared for how utterly exhausting the early days are. Why the need to start a bitchy thread about it?

Spot on.

You literally don’t know what’s going on in people’s lives 24/7 so how would you know whether they’re exaggerating or not🤣🤣🤣

Kids are quite relentless sleep or not. I find once sleep was good kiddo had so much energy and was so relentless for the whole time he was awake.

I would guess there are just as many who are absolutely exhausted and barely mention it