To be dreading the holiday

Because that’s so easy to do when you have two small children and a job and a husband that does nothing to support you and NHS counselling waiting lists are 6 months.

It would be a mistake to give the OP the impression that taking responsibility for her mental health is impossible. Getting a GP appointment is the first step (doable), and then likely medication for depression. Very achievable things, which will make her life much better.

I was one who offered the routine and going out in the morning. Thanks for your rude reply to someone who was trying to help.

Sort out your DH problem now. He won't get any better and he's the reason you feel like this. I've always had 6 weeks holidays off alone while H works and I've never felt like this. Yes 3 and baby was brutal but the minute my H came home he took over for a while to give me headspace.

nonotchristmas · Today 12:25

MrsSkylerWhite · Today 12:16
Can you not see how aggressive you are? Perhaps the GP can help?

Can you not see how condescending you are? Perhaps stopping that would help.

No, I can’t.

I think that you’re struggling more than you ought to be in the circumstances that you describe and maybe need some professional help to get things in focus.

Our kids are adults now but I remember how difficult it was to be at home with them when my husband worked away all week for around 6 years.

I hosted overseas 6th form students for income because of the age gap of our two (nearly 9 years) so with mostly absent husband couldn’t really work outside of our home.

So, had 5, 2-16 year olds to look after by myself for several years.
Of course it wasn’t always easy but I honestly always looked forward to school holidays, If anything, a break from the usual routine made my life a bit easier, tbh. We could just be daft and have fun with no time pressure.

I’m sorry that I offended you but I do think that you are very, very defensive and aggressive. I was usually exhausted. What’ I never did, though, was mentally blame the children. I certainly never hid from our youngest when he needed me.

Again, I apologise but sometimes things need to be said. You chose your husband. You chose (I hope) to have two children. Your husband appears to be your problem and you need to deal with that,

What do you mean your husband won’t take the kids out?! How has he got away with that? Pack a bag for them and make him do it. Then you can have a rest at home

You do realise that mental health treatment doesn't make people in stressful challenging situations suddenly feel good about those situations, right? It isn't like some lobotomising positivity treatment that turns people into Stepford wives / mothers. Just checking you're clear on that.

OP I can't believe the nastiness you're getting for expressing understandable apprehension about the holiday and the fact that you need a break once in a while. People suggesting you have some sort of mental health problem because you're standing up for yourself is ridiculous too.

I wish you luck getting through it and hope there are enough moments of loveliness to make up for the exhaustion.

It's a wild place this MN- OP, I'm sorry you're getting such a lot of flak. I am you and you are me. And tbh you've saved me starting a similar thread so thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Full time secondary teacher here. Knackered. Two boys, 6 and 3. Fight like anything. Husband works really long hours. I've started with the annual tradition of feeling poorly as soon as school finishes too. Beautiful times.

I always feel as you're feeling in the run up to the holidays. Largely because I'm frazzled and really wish one of their hobbies was "watching mummy reading a book". I, like you, will be braving the park and trying to get through each day. I'm not a bad mum because I feel this way. You aren't either. I would just much rather not go to the park in winter if I'm honest. My kids benefit from it though so I will.

Thanks for being so honest, my health visitor recommended this app and sitewhen I suffered from really low mood and loneliness after a pretty traumatic birth with my first born. I've really benefited from the kindness of strangers here but, from time to time, some people feel the need to stick the boot in. I'm sorry that's happened to you today. If I'd started my threat tomorrow as planned it would have been me.

Have as fab a festive season as circumstance allows. I'll be right there with you!

Because that’s so easy to do when you have two small children and a job and a husband that does nothing to support you and NHS counselling waiting lists are 6 months.

That's so unfair. The OP needs to take responsibility for her own mental health and seek help.

National trust is fab. Around £10 per month for family membership. They usually do some kind of kiddy adventure trail at Xmas and half terms etx

Yes doing childcare /parenting 24/7 x2w x 2dc is hard

Dh needs to man up and help you

Go out and grab a coffee and read a book for an hour in a coffee shop

He can look after them

All your plans sound lovely. I assume dh will be coming out with you all to help you

Exactly. Most people just get on with it.

I don't think the children are fictitious on this thread, just people don't really resonate with what the issue is as it seems an everyday scenario, but you are obviously feeling very negative about things and people are only offering ideas on how to make the time pass.
Hope things perk up for you soon.

Didn't think I needed to explain that shouldn't let your kids play in the road, with or without flooded verges. As for the wind, don't stand under a tree. Sorted.

You sound happiest being a martyr who isn't actually doing any of the simple cheap options to entertain her kids and then wondering why it feels like hard work and expensive. If you spent less time being stroppy you might have more fun.

Then just go out! You say your little boy is happier outside - other kids (as shown by this thread) are happy inside baking. An empty park is ideal, no random teenager to clock a toddler in the head on the swings.

Well, seeing as OP didn't describe it as 'hell on earth' and you were the one to use that term, why on earth are you berating her and telling her to get a flipping grip. You are also disgusting for using Gaza to criticise the OP.

I resonate entirely. Mine were 3 and 1 when lockdown started and I almost cried when nursery closed. I know exactly how you are feeling. They will get older, it’ll get easier/more bearable in time. Meanwhile, just take it day by day.

Lol sound like mine were, I did all that with mine but it always involved me being in the middle to keep the peace/provide the context to the play.

Don't be so judgy and complacent. I had two really easy children and I thought being a mum was so easy. Then I had a third and I felt like the worst mum in the world.

Maybe you've got a supportive husband unlike OP. This thread isn't supposed to be an opportunity for posters to boast about what great mums they are and how easy it is.