For those with young children who are working full time, how tired are you?

[quirkyquerty]

I'm a teacher, I live with dh and 5yo and 3yo dc. We see family every 2-3 weeks, but we live a 2 hour drive from them.

I am so tired so often, I'd quite like to know if it is comparable to other people in a similar situation or whether I ought to book in at the doctors. I don't want to feel like I'm wasting their time.

I wake up tired, but am woken 4-5 times a night usually by DC bed swapping, asking me to go in with them, squeezing into our bed, asking for water etc. Both have always been terrible sleepers.

I wake up at 5.30 most days with my youngest, I work full time, get home do tea, and DH does bed for the kids whilst I tidy and sort lunches for the next day etc.

I will always fall asleep on the sofa, often by 8-9pm. I feel like I'm seeing less and less of my husband as I just can't keep my eyes open. I can't remember being this tired before, but then I only began full time work agains since DC in sept. I could happily go to bed with them at 7pm and fall asleep instantly.

I fall asleep on trains, in the car when dh is driving, in the cinema, even felt myself nodding off at a nail appointment last week.

Is anyone else feeling this way or should I be concerned it's something more?

Thanks for reading

It’s been a while but I didn’t have it as badly as you because by those ages they only woke if unwell. I did have a stress filled job and an awful commute. Family also lived away, about 3 hours. We went four times a year and that was enough. MIL also used to stay with us for a week in the summer and at Christmas. Going every 2 weeks is quite frankly ridiculous. I missed my family but no wonder you are knackered.

I've always worked full time and went back after 6 months maternity for both mine. Both mine are asd and adhd. My parents are elderly and I'm perimenopausal. I'm exhausted all the time even though I get a good 7 hours a night. It's awful. I feel permanently wound up and irritated

Single parent to 1 and 3, working 4 days pw. Fecking knackered. In bed by 9pm most nights.

Joined mumsnet just to reply to this...

My wife and I both work full time as a doctor and teacher, hours 48+, my commute is 2 hours each way too which doesn't help. Both perpetually exhausted. Family and friends are all over 6 hours away. We have 18 month old daughter and we are shattered.

Praying it gets easier haha

This was my thread and I'm glad someone commented on it to remind me about it.

An update- I went to the doctors and then a sleep clinic. Turns out I had extremely severe sleep apnea. I was given a Cpap machine a few days later and my life has transformed. I have evenings again, I don't fall asleep everywhere, I have lost weight, I'm less snappy. It's changed my life.

Sometimes it's worth getting checked out!!!