Does this parenting phase happen to everyone and when does it end?

It's a having a three year old thing.

He's on the cusp of becoming an engaging little companion, so grit your teeth through the tantrums, try and give a calm response to his questions and before long, you'll be able to plonk him down on a surface whilst you get on with something and he'll just chat to about his day, his thoughts and you'll enjoy it and him a lot more.

I think it might be an introvert versus extrovert thing.
(Where the only difference is extroverts are energised and introverts are drained by being around people.)
I have really nice moments all the time with my kids but when I'm on my own for long periods with them, I need pockets of down time.

Bloody hell I’m married to a man who shoulders 50% of the graft and I STILL feel like this. It’s completely normal. You can love your kids more than anything in the world and also find it stressful, overwhelming and just plain old shit sometimes.

You’re doing incredible, even if it doesn’t feel like it.

Oh yes, parenting can be difficult are different stages, especially when feeling burnt out.
You need downtime. He is old enough to understand.

It's ok to say not right now! It must feel super intense doing it alone all the time. My 3 year old would have me tell him stories 'with your voice' all day and it's physically impossible. If we're in the car, I say 'sorry, Mummy has to concentrate on the road' and if we're at home and I run out of energy I busy myself doing something and then say 'later, I am just doing...x y z'. It feels mean but it's not! I justify it by thinking, if I completely burn out that's worse than occasionally gently telling him he needs to wait for my attention :)

I was a lone parent for years. It can be brutal on a Saturday I found. When he goes to bed do nothing, no chores or anything just decompress the way you need. 3 is a difficult age, they need so much engagement and they are too young for rugby/tennis/stagecoach. He will be 4 soon so you can start him in something that gives you a bit of a break…even if it’s going for coffee or a quick swim.

Can you take a day of annual leave while he’s in nursery to just be by yourself and take a break? Sometimes it’s needed

3 was the hardest age for me (apart from that initial newborn sleep deprivation stage). Life got so much better at 4+. He’s 6 now and even more amazing!

You can't and shouldn't have to do this alone. Totally understandable to feel like this if you're not getting any support and time off. Can you find a way to have some time to yourself?

I think you’re doing really well tbh, three year olds could break most people.
I always prayed for bedtime at that age, but would then realise I had to DO bedtime.
And yes it does end.

Oh yes, totally normal. I felt the exact same when mine was that age and I split parenting 50/50 so get plenty of breaks!
I think three year olds need to be around other three year olds. Does he go to nursery?
Also, there is light at the end of the tunnel!! We went through this phase during Covid and I found it extremely difficult. You are not a bad person. You are human. It gets much easier once they turn 4 (broadly speaking) and then (in my experience) continues to get easier and easier thereafter. I swear once he was old enough to take to a soft play and left to go off and play and I could sit and have a coffee everything felt so much easier!

Everybody hits the wall sometimes, I think that’s perfectly normal. 10 days in a row as a single parent would feel like a lot because it IS a lot. You are not a weakling or an unreasonable person.