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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Modern life is overwhelming

120 replies

Stressedoutwest · 01/05/2026 07:58

Probably self-explanatory, but there is just so much going on at any time. Constant notifications from the schools, working too much, life admin, chores etc etc etc. AiBU or just not coping as well as others?

OP posts:
Nofeckingway · 02/05/2026 14:53

@Stressedoutmummyof3 Of course not all , I said that . If you did not use it regularly in the workplace , it might be harder to learn.

Stressedoutmummyof3 · 01/05/2026 18:11

Nofeckingway · 01/05/2026 11:47

Definitely got harder for people . Everything being on online is not necessarily a great idea . The steps I have to go through to set up different accounts for different things, apps is annoying. And for anyone over 60 , it can be a new thing to learn again . Not always easy . Then there is Internet set up for TV ,etc. No landline now .
Work wise it used to be very much 9-5 , decent breaks and not such a toxic situation. You paid your bills with cash or cheque which you could post with a very affordable stamp . No need to trawl for quotes for insurance, or holidays , just went to local business. School did not have to follow the exhausting curriculum which is why teaching used to be a enjoyable job . And certainly didn't make the kind of demands of parents that are normal now . Sending of notes were normal and kids had to be responsible.
I see people struggle to cope with it all and feel sorry for this generation especially the women because one thing that hasn't changed is the idea that household a things are still their domain. I know my DS is an equal partner in his relationship and he does sometimes comments on how much I did compared to his father despite working too.

Why do some assume that anyone over 60 can't cope with technology? My dad and all my uncle and aunt's are over 80 and seems to cope all on social media and able to send emails.

duckydoo234 · 01/05/2026 15:14

Yes, it's incessant. I got in yesterday evening after a mad rush work-dinner-piano etc., hoping to sit down for 15 mins before starting the bedtime routine, and there was milk and glass all over the kitchen floor. Never a dull moment.

Upsetbetty · 01/05/2026 14:45

I’m very much an outlier here…I don’t find it one bit overwhelming.

Auroraloves · 01/05/2026 14:44

I agree. I’m not sure what the answer is

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 01/05/2026 14:43

crackofdoom · 01/05/2026 13:54

My teen keeps on telling me I have no idea how hard his life is. Nothing is more guaranteed to send me into a rage.

Mine is like that. Shes absolutely certain her life is business and more stressful than mine aged 17!

Dappy777 · 01/05/2026 14:33

Also, there are just too many people. In 1900 there were a billion humans. By 1960 that had trebled to three billion. It’s now eight billion and we’re heading for ten. Yes the birth rate is dropping, but only in some places. Africa’s birth rate is so high the African population is going to double.

Humans didn’t evolve to live this way. We were meant to live in tribes of around 150, not in vast urban sprawls with bumper to bumper traffic. Watch a horse in a field. Watch how calmly and slowly it moves. THAT is how we should live - in tune with them. Not stuck in tiny rabbit hutch houses with hundreds of other rabbit hutches jammed on top of us.

circusrunaways · 01/05/2026 14:12

At least little ones sleep early and I had a few hours to myself.

I’m finding this transition hard, there is less escape time 😆

oldFoolMe · 01/05/2026 14:12

I enjoyed lockdown, beautiful countryside walks, no clubs, life admin to a minimum and no commute so I had time for chores. I miss it sometimes and wish we could go back but in different circumstances.

oldFoolMe · 01/05/2026 14:10

dfitesh6753 · 01/05/2026 08:10

Honestly I found life got a lot easier when my kids left primary school! Give me GCSEs over WBD, class assemblies, Easter bonnets, football takeover days etc etc etc any day!!!

Other way round for me, helping with GCSE homework gives me a headache! Mine is endless football and rugby matches every weekend. At least little ones sleep early and I had a few hours to myself.

StandingDeskDisco · 01/05/2026 14:06

Imagine life in a medieval village.
Children take themselves off to school. No uniform. Or they go to work in the fields or whatever.
You stay at home spinning or weaving for hours, while the stew bubbles on the fire. Or wander over the countryside looking for blackberries and mushrooms.

Peace, quiet, monotony, no 'admin', no expectations. Bliss.
That is how we evolved to live.

(Please don't reply to tell me all about feudalism and the plague and lack of antibiotics - I'm fine with my fantasy)

circusrunaways · 01/05/2026 14:06

Plus if i’m serving milk powder up I don’t think we will ever run out 😆

FlyingApple · 01/05/2026 14:05

Yes, I don't know how it's possible to never run out of things that need doing 😂

I also would like to run away but take my husband and kids with me still.

circusrunaways · 01/05/2026 14:02

I’m good for milk tips thanks, we did have milk & more but too expensive now (£1.30 a pint). It was just an example of empathy with the OP, it’s really not that deep 😆

AprilMizzel · 01/05/2026 13:59

circusrunaways · 01/05/2026 13:20

The more I buy the more one of my dc drinks! And I can only fit so much into my fridge

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UHT milk sits on side till opened - milk powder or door step delivery. Plus attitude when it's gone it's gone and next door step delivery will be soon.

I do know what you mean - the amount they went through then covid happened and we realised how much popping to the shops for a pint of milk was actually costing as we always picked more up than just milk.

Same with bread in freezer or home made loaf with bread machine.

circusrunaways · 01/05/2026 13:57

@crackofdoom 😆😆

StandingDeskDisco · 01/05/2026 13:57

Stressedoutwest · 01/05/2026 08:22

The milk and bread gets me every time. Still shocked at how much of it the DC consume!

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Just on that point, both can be frozen. Get a big chest freezer if you possibly can.
Frozen slices of bread can go straight in the toaster.
Lay out frozen slices singly on a surface, in 10-20 mins they are defrosted enough to make into sandwiches.

GranolaBaker · 01/05/2026 13:56

I spend about 40% of my time coping with stuff that my parents never had to deal with (and my mum worked full time too) . Huge part of if is that they knew the name of my school and …that was about the extent of their engagement.

crackofdoom · 01/05/2026 13:54

My teen keeps on telling me I have no idea how hard his life is. Nothing is more guaranteed to send me into a rage.

circusrunaways · 01/05/2026 13:46

@InBedBy10 one of my teens was whinging Kevin & Perry style & I was like “you have no idea that these years are amazing" 😆

InBedBy10 · 01/05/2026 13:43

Totally agree. Im sick of being a responsible adult. Sick of always having to do things i dont want to do for myself and others. Like cooking and cleaning and working and paying bills and bring kids to activities and...... on and on it goes. I didn't know how good I had it as a teenager.

circusrunaways · 01/05/2026 13:39

Miranda65 · 01/05/2026 13:23

Exactly. Life hasn't really changed at all... if anything, the systems and tech we have now make everything much easier.

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life has definitely changed, just the world of work and length of commutes alone has changed

Imaginary86 · 01/05/2026 13:34

Sally2791 · 01/05/2026 07:59

I agree. I’m barely coping and live in a mess.

Same!

Limondrizzle · 01/05/2026 13:33

IWaffleAlot · 01/05/2026 12:10

Yes! I have two and it’s something on every other day! I swear they make up a lot of this nonsense too. They often wear specific colors for nonsense made up days.
My kids are in private school and they are forever fundraising for some charity and we the parents need to buy this and that!

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The multiple dress up days, at least 1 a term at primary school, where making a costume is encouraged or specifying a black top for sports day etc. I had none of this when I was at school.

circusrunaways · 01/05/2026 13:33

@Upsetbetty my dc don’t listen to every single thing I say 🤷🏻‍♀️

I pick my battles & a 12 ye old boy who loves milk is not at the top of the list