To find work easier than being home with my toddlers

I keep seeing instagram/ social media posts which all allude to the fact that childhood is short and you need to be present as you blink and suddenly children are gown up and the magic years are gone and then you just have adults who don’t need you

Some of these creators are finding a way to make money working from home, sometimes exploiting their children, sometimes not. But you cannot make beautiful instagram posts without taking your eyes off your beautiful, precious dc for a bit. And when sahms have to post things like this, it’s an indication that they find it a struggle too - otherwise it would go without saying!

At least in nursery, your dc are the centre of someone’s attention, and not being trained to perform for the camera.

And bear in mind that some people are creating this sort of content as part of their religious ministry, or to promote a political agenda.

You’re going fine op.

This is really bossy and to be honest not really appropriate to turn up on a thread about how exhausting toddlers are randomly finger wagging about how to parent them.

As an aside, please do not let any guilt creep into the way you parent ie. Letting them get away with things, buy stuff they want, be impolite, hit you etc. You still need to parent them and any indulging of bad behaviour will only make them behave worse with you and make weekends (then school holidays) even longer.

I feel the same and don’t feel guilty about it at all!

I’m part time (three days a week) with my four year old and (two in July) one year old and I do find it really tough. I love them so much and I really do make an effort: we go for walks and the farm and the park and feed ducks, to groups and soft play and role play.

But it’s so hard with two of them. My guilty feeling is I can’t wait for the older one to start school in September but like you feel bad as so many social media posts indicate that it goes so quickly (no it doesn’t!) and that you should miss your child!

I also have a 1 and 3 year old and definitely find being at work practically a spa break at this point. I do only work part time though but my daughter still attends nursery full time which I feel a bit guilty about. My 3 year old is quite hard work (big emotions) at the moment and my 1 year old is just an absolute tornado so being at work feels like such a break. I also mostly work from home so I think I have the best of all worlds and really look forward to my working days now 😂. I think mum guilt just tears through us no matter what we decide to do as we’re so afraid of not getting it right and having regrets further down the line. It’s so hard but as people keep reminding me it’s not just the small years which are precious/magic so don’t hold too much weight on that. My hope is to just keep trying to get the balance right and that means also for me as well as the kids otherwise I’ll burn out. Keep doing what works for you :)

I relate to this! I worked hard for my career and due to how long it takes to qualify, am only now on a decent salary saving a decent pension. I also love my job and love my colleagues/team. Being at work makes me feel stimulated and "me".

I love my kid and have a second on the way. But by Sunday evening, if I'm honest, I'm pleased to go back to work the next day! I find weekends long and difficult to fill, plus we are in a tantrum phase and coupled with still not sleeping through the night, I'm desperate for some space come Monday morning.i look forward to seeing my kid after work but then when its straight in to tea/bath/bed monotony and arguements about each of these things, I'm desperate for work again!

I feel hugely guilty about this. I feel inadequate as a mum because it feels like I shouldn't have these feelings and should wish to be with them all day. Like I shouldn't find tantrums exhausting to manage and shouldn't find the poor sleep infuriating. I feel guilty for feeling like this every day!

Interestingly, my husband does not....