OK, who else is struggling?

[Thorilicious]

Lockdown 1, I was doing new activities, baking, cleaning and exercising.
This time round, I'm tired, my sleep is all over the place. I end up at least once a day arguing with dcs about doing their school work. I have no escape from the dcs, when normally they'd be at school and I'd be at work.
I know it won't be like this forever, but just need to know I'm not the only one...

Struggling here big time. Every morning I wake up almost in tears at the thought of another long, shit day ahead. My DC's have become so clingy and whingy, I can't even do the most basic things without them climbing all over me. And they're 7, 6 and 4! Then DH comes home from work wanting to climb all over me too 🙄 I've just had enough of being here but I know I need to carry on for them all.

Turn the news off. Don’t watch it, get rid of any apps that notify. Stop spending time on social media as much if that’s needed as well.

It isn’t easy but choosing when to go and catch up with the often negative news has helped me loads

Had starting typing a huge self-indulgent post, but fuck it, can't be bothered.

Yes, I'm struggling. Crying. Have to go and try to get DD 11 out of bed to register for a day of online lessons that she hates, after nowhere near enough sleep, as that's all gone to shit. A child who used to love school and had just started at her dream secondary school. Now lonely, sad and struggling.

I hear ya Op 🙌

Exhausted exhausted exhausted.

I'm really struggling too. I just can't cope with working and home schooling.

I am angry at the people who insisted there should be more online teaching etc as it just makes it harder for us to juggle everything.

I'm physically and mentally exhausted and weepy every morning. Facing another day of it is really hard.

I understand why we have to do it and am not pushing for schoolsto reopen, but I don't understand why expectations (work and school) can't be lowered so that at least we don't kill ourselves trying to do impossible things.

💐 to everyone else who is struggling just now. 4 DC at home all the time, not used to having my personal space invaded for such long periods of time. There's just no let up. Two older DC can do school work themselves, but younger two need nursery. Can't do it all. Been a shouty parent, not what I ever imagined. It is grim.

@lightlypoached thanks for those ideas, I have just put a reminder about breathing in and out slowly at least 6 times into my phone. I had stuck post it notes up in various places around the house and it really was really helping to do it a couple of times a day, to release some of the stress that builds up in all of us during the day - but then I stopped seeing the post it notes as they were too familiar. So the reminder in the phone is a great idea.

It is so, so, so much harder this time around.

A few anecdotal reasons:

1. the weather means people are indoors much more / probably not taking enough exercise or getting enough daylight.
2. the camaraderie and good spirit of lockdown #1 isn't there this time around. People are angry and mean. There is so much division
3. homeschooling is so much more organised and full in this time. A lot of work is sequential so you can't pick and choose what to do, you need to to do Monday and Tuesday's work to be able to do Wednesday's.
4. employers are a lot less sympathetic this time round and people are feeling the pressure to keep their jobs at the detriment of other aspects of their life.

I can't do this until Easter. I feel like I can't do it until Friday at the moment

• Easter isn't confirmed, just hugely speculated.

Me! I have managed to remain positive up until this week and now I’m just done with it all. Stuck at home with an active 13 month old, we do go out daily but it’s just so cold, wet and muddy it’s such a chore to get ready and clear up from once we return home.

Started a new job in September which I was enjoying, due to this lockdown the role has now changed and I hate it so much. Going in every afternoon is awful. I’m also worried about mixing with others and potentially being exposed to the virus.

It just feels never ending, I am so angry at how the situation has been handled and have friends in Australia where I am so envious their lives are back to normal. If the UK would have handled things better we could be in that situation too. The fact they’re only just thinking about closing the borders is a joke and a year too late!

I’m struggling and it feels good to write it down here. I’m struggling with homeschooling, lack of variety in life and no personal space. Set on top of my DF passing away at the weekend (Covid) and dealing with all of that, and my DM being in intensive care with pneumonia on top of Covid. And I can’t see the people I love for a hug and comfort (except DH and DC who are doing a great job).

Fuck 2021.

Me. I'm a sahm. Toddler ds and frontline nhs medic DP. I try so hard to look after both. Nearest family over 165 miles away. I miss the toddler groups so badly, they were my lifeline in so many ways. I can't believe I've managed without them since March last year.

Me. Teaching online 8:30-3:30, meeting online, so much work to do. Am averaging 12hr days. Brain feels wired from the stress of it. It's completely unsustainable and after 20yrs and am this close to quitting if only I could.

In between lessons I'm running round checking my own kids are ok with work set by school. DH is WFH not keyworker so we've kept kids home. They're brilliant and it's ok but i am at the point where I just want to dive under the duvet til mid may.

I have chest pain from the anxiety and stress. I don't sleep.

I'm struggling. I cant stop crying I love my family but I need them all to go away. I need some time not being surrounded with a million and 1 jobs that need to be done.
My boss is constantly having a go at me if I use my annual leave but I cant work when my 1 year old has been sent home from nursery.
I hate her for making me feel like this I just want to quit my job but I cant afford to plus I have to give 3 months notice anyway so it wont fix my problem now.

I’m very up & down - doesn’t help that I’m in pain from various things so not sleeping particularly well. We are lucky enough to live in what has been a pretty safe area but now lots of people I speak to say that cases of Covid are “ rife” in our community. That scares me as I work in a large store so have direct contact with the public. DD12 is moaning A LOT about having to do schoolwork, although give her her due she is ( mostly) getting it done & receiving some positive feedback from her teachers. I worry about my parents who are in their 80s. I do their main shop but DF is still going out to get his paper, collect DM’s prescriptions etc. DM has a form of Parkinson’s so may not cope if she contracts Covid. Also this bloody weather is depressing! We have had some beautiful sunny days but oh the rain! Back garden is a mudbath!

I’m trying my best- making sure I walk at least 4 miles a day; trying to eat as healthily as possible; not drinking alcohol... but I’m still knackered and low. I’m almost terrified of lockdown ending though, because I’m wondering how ill cope with working, the way I currently feel.

@Lovelydovey I'm so sorry for your loss

Me 🙋🏼‍♀️ I can’t cope with this anymore.

Me too. Been struggling MH wise for a while now, I’m so fucking done with it all.

"I love my family but I need them all to go away"

This really sums it up for me. It's the complete lack of mental space. Can't get a minute to yourself, even to pee. It's incredibly overwhelming.

Sums it up for me too. I could go out for a solo walk once DH is home, but mentally and physically I just don't have it in me....

I’ve got to the stage everything dh likes I’m utterly sick off if I have to see another episode of the Simpson’s, only fools and horses I will scream thank god he’s found Sherlock Holmes stuff to watch, not my thing but much better, last night I had two hours of 24 casually to watch, that keeps me going,

Oh I avoid the news now sick of it,

I cant imagine anyone who isn't struggling just now

Yes, me! I’m not too bad today but was crying at the weekend and barely spoke to dh. I feel almost jealous of him because he’s still going out to work and I feel like his life hasn’t changed much whereas I’m stuck at home homeschooling and having to keep an eye on the kids. I feel really trapped. I know it’s not fair on him but he’s a relentlessly cheerful person and it’s pissing me off because I feel like he doesn’t empathise or understand how hard this is. I feel like I’ve lost all my freedom and the only escape is going on another fucking miserable, freezing cold walk!