Does anyone just not enjoy it ?

[Wellnesswhattime]

Being a parent. For the record I'm a good parent but I don't enjoy it. Child is nearly 7. Split with other parent when 1.5. I did about 90 PC custody until he found a gf. We now do 30/70. All he does at his dad's is eat crap and watch tv so I think he is better off with me. I don't want 50 50 and neither does his dad.
I remember feeling alot of pressure to have a child. I needed some treatment and my relationship was shit. I literally had a breakdown during pregnancy as I didn't really want all this. It makes me feel horrifically guilty. My mother never enjoyed being a mum either

Anyone ?

We’re all different and I think society still expects women to be mothers as it is ‘natural’.
I disagree and wish we educated girls and boys about the realities of parenthood so that informed choices around this were made and accepted.
For me, I loved being a mum and spending time with my 4 children but it wasn’t all happy days. Sometimes I was just incredibly tired, we were skint, kids can be very demanding and it can be hard to meet all their needs.
I don’t know how you can enjoy parenting if it’s not your thing.
Is there a possibility of a shared hobby or your dc has a hobby which allows you to socialise with other parents?
Is there something you would love, and can afford, to do that you could involve your dc in?
Much of parenting can be drudgery and doing stuff you don’t like so try and find joy/fun where you can.

I just thought I'd be better at it.

I never wanted children but proved horribly fertile! I had a difficult childhood and I tried to make it better for mine but being a parent is hard and we were always broke and my career floundered and I did lots of shit jobs.

I tried to find time for myself in little moments, found friends who thought like me and we used to swap childcare. I worked hard to get my three to understand each other and to work out things rather than fight and they are now good friends which I am pleased about in this troubled world.

Your situation is difficult OP and this is a horrible moment Economically, socially and environmentally. Well done for doing more for your DS. It does get better.

Try to find activities locally that are free or cheap where he can make friends, then his friends might take the load off you. We found activities like Woodcraft Folk great for doing outdoorsy things and summer camps at low cost. I suppose sport is an option? Lots of family things are available around us at low cost. If you invest a bit of time in that now, it will improve in the near future.

Try not to resent your exP in your kid's hearing. I still regret once shouting at mine, at a moment of total chaos, that I wished they had never been born and my oldest has never forgotten it and I feel bad about that and they are nice people now. Take care, good luck.

He prefers his dad which annoys me when he's lazy and boring. I just smile and wonder why I bother. He has lots of mates and we meet with other parents alot.

@OlympiaSims so you are going to use comments from this old thread unless the posters happen to see it again and contact you to object? Surely that is not ethical?

I think that slightly older children are more fun.

Primary years are a bit of a killer.

Most say they prefer the other way round though.

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