Peri-menopause and toddler collide!

[Daphnesmate]

I have a just toddling, toddler. I am mid 40's with 3 dcs, one at secondary school. Anyhow, I was informed that I was headed for an early menopause a few years ago and these past four weeks or so, I definitely feel as if I have well and truly entered the peri-menopause. Usually, people have slightly older children at this point but things didn't work out for me this way and I had the last two dc a bit later.

My mood has changed, I feel irritable, short of patience - I'm not saying I was a perfect parent but used to throw myself into things a bit more. Now, I'm just feeling, like I have done all of this and want to kick back - many of my friends have older children and having an older child myself, I can see that it gets a lot less physically demanding.
I didn't feel this way until recently. Other minor health niggles have kicked in (I have a follow up gp appointment booked) but thyroid etc is all okay. I am convinced my change of mood is largely hormone driven and have been put on some low level antidepressants.
Just wondering if anyone else has found themselves in a similar position? If so, how do you cope. I never honestly felt my age until after my third dc was born but my eyesight has changed and as I say, minor health niggles, I actually think I feel older than my actual age now! I am so lucky to have dc3, just wish I didn't feel so grumpy about it all!

I’m 46 and have three older children (two at university and one just left), a six yr old and a just turned 3 yr old DS. It’s hard work sometimes and, as you say, my friends tend to have much older children. I certainly feel pretty ancient in the school playground! I do really love and enjoy my younger children and in some ways they make me feel young and in other ways they make me feel very very old! I find it tiring getting up early in the morning and have less energy than I used to have by the end of the day. I’m also going through the peri-menopause and can find that my moods are variable. I just try to be kind to myself and get my DH to take them out if I need a bit of peace or “me” time, which has become increasingly important to me. At least as experienced mums, we know that the toddler/preschool stage doesn’t go on forever - in fact it’s gone in the blink of an eye x

Hi Turbo, thanks for your reply. It gets easier doesn't it, though you don't stop worrying about them.
I think I find the toddler stage hard - they are on the go all the time and exploring many different things and you've got to be on the ball to watch what they are getting into. I take my dcs to the park a lot but I'm always on my feet with the toddler, whilst parents of older children are often sitting there nattering and letting their children get on with things. It is a gorgeous stage but it is also tiring. I have no extended family and dh works full-time. Meanwhile, most of my friends have moved on to a different stage in their lives. I know what you mean about time passing quickly but I think when you are in the thick of things, you don't always appreciate this, though you know intellectually, it is true. I also have an infant age child who doesn't have much fear and a lot of personality! I seem to crave my own time more and more, lately. I have hobbies that I enjoy now but it took me years to develop these and find out a bit more about who I am I suppose and with dc3, I definitely get the sense of starting all over again, though they are of course a blessing.