To want a month or so off parenting?

I firmly believe that you should be entitled to annual leave from motherhood. I’d probably just take the odd day here or there with a weekend or two, but it would make all the difference.

My parents can’t look after my children for various reasons and my MIL lives too far away for it to be practical much of the time but my sisters ILs are local, retired and fit. She gets so much free time with her OH if she asks (although she’s careful not to take the piss) and I am wildly jealous 🙈

Yes! When I was in the thick of it with two small children, then the primary school when school gives you two days notice that you need to create an elaborate golden plated Egyptian sarcophagus, or a Roman warrior outfit, or make a stickman outfit because your child’s favourite book is the Stickman, or bake a billion cupcakes or you’ll be the WORST mother of all time; and then don’t forget to tick the box that says you’ve read the entire encyclopaedia Britannica with your child, but they still cant pronounce their ‘th’ sound and now you have to make them say ‘f’ a thousand times a day (I may be exaggerating, but you get my drift). Not to mention running around like a headless chook because woe-bide you if you should be late to pick up.
You can finally start to breath again once they get to secondary until the school refusal sets in and the stress all starts again
parenting is hard, it’s relentless, and when you are in the thick of and worn out, it’s hard to remember it’s also an incredible privilege, and the phenomenal love that flows between you and your little or not so little person you created / adopted / fostered/ guardianship.

A month? No way. I'd miss them like crazy and be annoying everyone by talking about them constantly.

I'd happily accept a weekend to myself in a fancy hotel though.

Wow ! People like this are living a totally different life and motherhood to me!

Totally relate, I have the same fantasy.

I have a friend who has frequent holidays and weekends away without her child. She leaves her with her mum. This is in addition to her mum taking the child every Friday night since the child was 6 weeks old, returns her Saturday evening. 24 hours, totally childfree, every single week. Mind blown.

The idea of just getting on a train and disappearing for a few days was so attractive at times

if you have cash you can buy knickers and a toothbrush in M&S

No, because I was working full time so still had early mornings. I'm sure my liver is glad of the rest too

Even just something like one whole day a year would do for me.

Yes OP I know exactly what you mean. I adore my DC but I'd love a small window of time to not be "on" 24/7 . I remember my mum saying the last day you will ever truly put yourself first is the day before you give birth to your first child. She never met mine, but I always wish I could tell her how right she was.

Well presumably you don't feel lonely and unfulfilled now so I'd focus on the positive?

Is your kids Dad not around? What is it your constantly worried about?