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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To still be frazzled at the end of each day 7 months after ds2 was born?

22 replies

BrazenHussey · 15/02/2013 18:22

I knew things would be difficult getting into a routine with 2 kids, but ds1 is three and a half and by the end of each day I'm losing my cool and getting really stressed around tea time and bedtime routines. Ds2 is happy most of the day til tea time when he's hungry and tired and then it's incessant screaming. Ds1 (who may be slightly autistic, we're waiting on the assessment) doesn't want to share me and is constantly demanding things at the same time. I feel totally split in two and very tempted to walk out the door and leave them to it! please tell me I'm not the only one? I'm feeling like such a bad mum at the moment?

OP posts:
GloriaPritchett · 15/02/2013 18:27

YANBU! It's such a hard stage for any mother.

shoppingbagsundereyes · 15/02/2013 18:27

I'm frazzled at the end of every day and it's nearly 5 years since my youngest was born. Kids are hard work

bollywoodfan · 15/02/2013 18:28

yanbu
I don't know how people cope with more than 2!

BrazenHussey · 15/02/2013 18:31

Thanks guys. brand new to mumsnet and you're all lovely! Smile

OP posts:
Fairyliz · 15/02/2013 18:39

we went on holiday when my children were 5 and 3 and thats when I really felt that I had got over their births and got my energy back! so YANBU.

MissyMooandherBeaverofSteel · 15/02/2013 18:39

You are NOT a bad mum, you are a normal mum. Not much wonder you are tired, do you ever get a break? Even half an hour in a hot bath with a trashy novel can make all the difference to how much you feel you can cope with.

AnnaRack · 15/02/2013 19:30

Hahaha! Still frazzled mine are 9 and 5. Better when u get a full ni ghts sleep though. X

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 15/02/2013 19:31

YANBU

Mine are 4.5 and almost 2 and I'm still shattered every day.

brainonastick · 15/02/2013 19:33

Yanbu at all... 5 and 3 was my magic age where it started to get better as well.

shoppingbagsundereyes · 15/02/2013 19:33

I think if there were a volume control I would be less frazzled. It's the constant talking that makes my brain ache. Looking forward to the teenage grunting years.

Carolra · 15/02/2013 19:35

I don't think it's unreasonable at all! I'm frazzled by the end of every day and I only have a 1yo. Just a thought though, when I was 15/16 I used to have an after school "job" playing with a neighbour's 3yo whilst she spent some time with a new baby and sorted out the house etc until the dad got home. do you have any nice young ladies in your area that might do they same? They didn't pay me much from what I remember...

Doingthedo · 15/02/2013 19:36

daily frazzled mother here, DC's 8, 7 and 4. I find wine helps.

Doingthedo · 15/02/2013 19:36

not really helpful, but we're all in the same boat!

CityMa · 15/02/2013 19:39

YANBU at all- I have two of the same age. That's all I can really say as I'm so tired, but I think that says it all!

BabiesNeedInstructions · 15/02/2013 19:44

Yanbu, I have a 2.2yo and a 4mo and I'm frazzled by breakfast.

Purplehonesty · 15/02/2013 19:54

Mine are exactly the same age as yours and I can empathise.
I try to do things earlier - like tonight I bathed baby early and she was asleep by 6 and then I had some time with ds to have a relaxing tea and bath and bedtime.
My dh is often working til very late so I dread this time of day it feels like you have the most to do with the least energy and patience!
It will get better I am sure.

DeSelby · 15/02/2013 19:57

I laughed out loud at this, mine are 17m and nearly 3 and I am very frazzled.

MsAkimbo · 15/02/2013 20:13

YANBU. I'd say you're conpletely justified. I second the pp who can't imagine how people have more than one child.

BarnYardCow · 15/02/2013 20:15

Sounds normal to me, actually feel more tired now, than when they are newborn! That tiredness seems to pass really quickly, after 2 years of broken sleep, that is the worst!

TheCountessOlenska · 15/02/2013 20:22

Oh God, this will be me in 7 months (number 2 due in 3 weeks), I find it hard enough with one child at bedtime. My DH works away so is rarely around and I find the bedtime routine soooo draining . . .

NotHerRealname · 15/02/2013 20:23

That sounds completely normal to me, My dc are 4.5 and 18 months and I am always frazzled at the end of the day. I get a bit shouty and cross most evenings especially when Dc1 has to be asked about 20 times to JUST BRUSH YOUR TEETH!!!!
YANBU, enjoy your grown up time now they are in bed (hopefully) Smile

missymayhemsmum · 15/02/2013 21:20

YANBU, when my first 2 were small I recall counting the hours until bedtime, starting at 2pm. Give one attention and you can be certain that the other one will scream and/or injure self. Try to do anything else, like cook a meal and all hell breaks loose. I think it's probably normal to be tired from the first week of first pregnancy until the last child is in secondary school.

Sounds like the teatime -tired kids routine is the worst bit, isn't it always. Can I suggest food that you just stick in the oven to reheat/ minimal prep and a judicious use of CBBC? Or stick dinner in the oven and retire to sofa with story and both kids?

You don't say how old DC2 is. My teenage son, when left in charge of baby sister at teatime discovered the combination of strapping sis into high chair, giving her finger food and putting in the night garden on i-player on a laptop just out of reach enabled him to get the dinner on. Genius boy. I had been trying to cook with a hungry crawler howling on my legs and getting frazzled, which of course meant everything took twice as long as otherwise.....He analysed the problem and found a solution, because he wasn't as emotionally wound up about it.

Before that, baby got put in a carseat hung at eye level in the kitchen.

If your DS is too tired for the bedtime routine try bringing it forward half an hour? (Risk of him waking at sparrowfart o'clock, but it doesn't always follow) Or promise him extra time with you if he lets you get baby off to sleep?

Whatever gets you through the day....I think we've all had the walking out the door fantasy.... in my case their dad got there first!

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