Posting here for traffic.
I am a head of part of a private school, who also works full time teaching hours of a class. I commute 45 mins each way to my school and my 6 year old son (just started Year 1 comes with me). I am absolutely drowning. The workload is way too much; we are not replacing staff who leave due to financial pressures, so not only is the teaching load AND leadership load huge, we are all having to do extended hours duties and lunch duties too. On Thursdays, for example, I do not have a break AT ALL in my day from 8-5:30. The leadership role is extensive and the team are often difficult, but we are slowly getting there.
It’s more my mental health I’m struggling with. I struggle to organise my home (just got a weekly cleaner I’m not even sure I can afford). By the time we get home, I’m exhausted, and I do not have the energy to force my little one to practise his spellings etc. as I’ve done it all day. My husband works from home and cooks dinner and does the kitchen afterwards which is great, but his job is also demanding and he has ADHD (medicated) so he often isn’t a huge help with household things. Pre child, my house was lovely, clean, stylish and tidy, and it made me happy. Now my house makes me feel overwhelmed and miserable.
I have lovely friends but during term time I really struggle to muster the enthusiasm and energy to keep in regular contact. I feel like I’m just a boring drain who has nothing positive to say. Also not helped that all bar one of my closest friends are either pregnant/ just given birth, all with girls. Husband and I have been trying for a second for 4 years, with “unexplained secondary infertility” and multiple pregnancy loss.
I just feel so alone, very low, and like a failure in all aspects of my life. Any tips or uplifting stories that this will all get better or become easier?