to think some retired people completely forget what it’s like to be working full time?

To be fair, you can say no. It’s perfectly ok to say you just want to choose one charity event to help with (for example) and turn down other requests. People will always ask those they think will say yes (just like in school, always the same parents helping), but you have to learn to say no.

No i live a long way away from her.

@Chamb this is a bit of an oddly defensive and disingenuous reply.

Self awareness is available to everyone - regardless of their age/stage.

Totally agree. The level of juggling working families do these days is beyond what any previous generation has done. The majority of families have 2 parents working full or one part time (still doing childcare/running a house when part time) and many don’t live near family, as often people move for jobs/house prices these days.

Although alot of older women will say they did work, they must have had family/neighbour help with childcare as ‘holiday clubs’ are a fairly recent thing. We have gone from hardly any to a whole range of holiday clubs near us in the time i’ve had kids. Both our Mum’s (70’s) were sahm’s until they had secondary school children they could leave on their own, and even then, neighbours of a similar age were about to help.

Our children’s wellbeing/mental health has also never been of more importance than now. Our weekends are centred around our kids (nice days out, walks etc) and we still have to fit lots of house/garden jobs around the fun, family stuff.

School is a totally different place to decades ago aswell - there is constant communication home. I think we’re well past 10 emails already from our schools this week of various trips, things to bring in, days out, homework to do etc (I probably took a letter home once a term to my Mum!). Luckily I have understanding retired parents and say how different it is.

So someone older and retired judging a younger working family for letting the lawn grow abit long is just ridiculous (and I say that as someone who takes alot of pride in my house and garden). I hope they remember most are working at least until late 60’s these days and we’re tired 😁

Most retired ppl lived in a time when childcare was not common, benefits were not common, interest rates were in the teens. As a result many had two or three jobs to make ends meet. No handouts in those days or UC or free childcare etc.

When you age you tire quicker. My mum has a nap after we go food shopping. I don't but she needs one. Because she has less energy, she is weaker than I am, older and frailer than I am.

They are allowed to feel tired, you do not have the monopoly on tiredness just because you have kids and work. I bet you hate it when childfree ppl say they are tired too!

You started it, dont you remember?
You must be getting old and forgetful 🤣🤣

Well... I'm knackered... Retired a couple of years ago, have heart disease and am now just dog tired all of the time, doing stuff takes longer - sooooo much longer.

I have joined the moaning overtired retired... today I had a fasting blood test - they booked me in at noon!! So nothing but water from 10pm till noon. Fun. Dog woke me at 5am , took him for an hour's walk at 8. Can't drive any more so then had to get 2 buses to the surgery, 2 minutes to draw blood and 2 buses home. I'm sat here drinking tea and eating crap as my blood sugar has gone walkabouts... and according to Dd, ALL I've done is spend a couple of minutes getting blood drawn at the doc. (ALL?). Good job she said it from a distance - can't see far and can't throw far 😂.

Yes.
You give WFHomers a bad rep by posting during work time.
I or any of my team would have faced disciplinary procedures if we'd been logged on and posting to a SM site when we were supposed to be working.

Yeah in my case my sister is so much worse than my retired mum. My sister was appalled that we ate dinner at 6.30/7pm instead of 5pm as how would I then be able to put my child to bed at the obviously only appropriate time of 6.30pm.
My retired mum had to remind her that it's not necessarily possible to do all that when you finish work at 4.30/5pm as she's never had a job.

My mum does struggle to understand when someone doesn't respond quickly and I've had to remind her they may be at work lol but generally she remembers working life very well.

Could you not have fitted it in?

Surely the point of retirement is to move on from one way of living, and to an extent forget it, and embrace the next.

Same.

Now heading off to my Senior Flex and Active for Life classes in an attempt to compensate for legs and feet which don't work the way they should do.

My knee consultant looked astonished when I asked for physio to help my problems. Fortunately for me, the shoulder specialist was more sympathetic and the physio I got is following a protocol which looks at the whole person.

She got me started off with exercises and then passed me to a specialist class.

However, as others have said it's not possible to avoid all the problems which come with age and the genetic lottery does have an impact.

Someone above suggested a PT. Unfortunately, a PT can help but cannot compensate for all problems - and not all old people can pay for a PT.

I have a friend who - like me - cared for her parents and her husband and has various carer related medical ailments. She's always kept herself as fit as possible, but she's had to have a shoulder replacement and a back operation. She now has a hernia which is getting in the way of exercise.

She worked beyond retiring age because her pay was so poor and her pension is not good. She's in her 70s. She's an intelligent woman, but didn't have the same educational opportunities as some. She had a demanding job which made use of her intelligence, but her pay was not commensurate with her responsibilities or intellect. Moving was not an option, given her former caring responsibilities.

There's no way she could pay for a private hernia operation or a personal trainer so she goes along to the Active for Life class once a week and tries to avoid exercises which encourage her hernia to pop out.

Those who blithely talk about keeping fit and personal trainers as though everyone can do that are being a tad shortsighted.

Agreed. Patronising crap

I am retired and I haven’t forgotten. I worked full time from 15- 55 in a professional capacity . Brought up 2 children as a single mother taking 3 months maternity leave each time . Had no childcare support from family and volunteered in my spare time
Because I haven’t forgotten I help my DD out with childcare and occasional housework but I don’t feel guilty for enjoying my very busy retirement . I still volunteer , exercise , help my elderly father , travel so I class my life as busy - just not I. The same way that it used to be but nevertheless busy- I think I’ve earned it !

Wrong thread. Try the education boards.

Does anyone aware anything about get places after May in Perse school waiting list ?

I know you're WFH.

I asked if you weren't working from home if you would be allowed to have MN open on your desktop and be allowed to be posting on it in working hours.

Some do, but I've seen people on here complaining about people without children who were complaining about being tired/busy, because how dare they think they have a clue what real tiredness is when they don't have three boisterous children, two dogs, and a high-powered career. It's not a competition, but I get that it can be frustrating if someone's complaining when from the outside their life looks easier than yours does.

There's always someone who has (or has had) it harder. You think you're tired as a working single parent with three kids, but how would you feel if you were venting about being tired/busy and someone came along who has five kids and working two jobs and told you you have no idea what it's like to be truly tired/busy? Should you just never be allowed to complain? Or should the other person just privately sigh or roll their eyes and get on with life?

I'm retired and have a busy life with my interests and a huge amount of volunteering and family support.

I am constantly presumed to be on hand to sort every working person's need as I am retired and my time is their own apparently....lifts, dog-walking, baby sitting, post office runs, cat sitting, hospital errands (pick-ups), baking for each and every fundraising event, feed the fish and budgie while they are away for 2 weeks, every single community campaign, the requests and expectations are constant. People think they are doing me a favour by keeping me occupied.

How lovely and empathetic of you.

The pressure is on women. Ive been asked to take care of my mother Many times. Ive ben abused and shamed when i have said no, by my extended family.

I have seen the same thing happen to female friends of mine.

Eh what? Do you think that people should automatically take care of their parents, no matter how abusive the parents are?

My brother doesnt speak to my mother at all, because she tortured and hit him so much when he was a child.

Fine. Don’t do it. It’s not hard, is it? Nobody’s going to make you.