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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be so incredibly worn down. I am not fun mum

137 replies

Wrappleschat82 · 29/03/2019 18:27

I have two dc. Ds is 10 and has ASD.
Dd is 3 and Does. Not. Stop.
She is up at 6am and does not go to sleep until gone 9pm. She dropped her nap at 12 months old and doesn’t seem to need much sleep. She’s just 3 and I cannot get her into the preschool nursery at my son’s school until September.
It is absolutely relentless. 7 days a week, 15 hours a day. I am so very tired - also my house is an absolute tip. Dd is gorgeous but she is always ‘on’. Like most 3 year olds I suppose, she isn’t super physically active like ds was but she wants someone to play with all the time, every second of the day. Trying to get things like ironing done is just impossible and I get no break in the evening because by the time she’s finally asleep and ds js in bed I’m ready for bed myself.
I just want some breathing space so badly. I’m really disappointed in the type of mother I am - I am not fun. I am tired and worn down and so so so bored. I am typing this in the bathroom but dd is sat the other side of the door shouting for me.

I love my dc but I have lost myself absolutely.

Sorry - it’s a moan really. I know it’ll pass. School is only really 18 months away and preschool will be good come September. It’s just really really hard work right now.

OP posts:
Wrappleschat82 · 30/03/2019 09:50

Thank you everyone.
I will have a go with the timer thing. Dd is fairly quick to catch on when she wants to be so that could work. I’ve sat her in front of the iPad for ten minutes at the moment but I don’t feel great about it.
The age gap makes it very hard. Finding things to suit them both is difficult. Ds has very few friends, I wouldn’t say he’s unpopular exactly but he finds it hard to make long term lasting friendships. He has children he plays with at school but he never gets invited to play or for parties and he’s not interested in having anyone over to play either. If he does he ignores them 😬. He won’t play with dd, he can actively be very unkind.
It’s difficult to have children to play anyway if dh isnt away as he works from home and won’t have the noise. In the same way if dd cries he appears as makes slit throat motions at me to make her stop crying.
Monday we go to a playgroup and swimming in the afternoon.
Tuesday we usually go to one of the places we have a pass for, or sometimes to the playground and library.
Wednesday we have tumble tots and meet a friend at a garden centre in the afternoon.
Thursday is forest school.
Friday is a dance class in the morning and then I try and come home in the afternoon to get a few things done.
We usually go out somewhere a couple of times a week with ds after school as well.
Saturday I take them both out somewhere all day - we are going out in about half an hour - usually national trust or I try and find something on that they both might like.
Sundays ds does his homework and I desperately try and catch up on some housework and ironing and then I take them for a walk or bike ride if it isn’t raining!

I don’t think my daughter has ASD - I wouldn’t say her play is rigid. She acts out lots of different situations, but it’s small world play 90% of the time. She uses different toys together and is happy to improvise, this morning some playmobil people were using a rule as a diving board off the edge of the table. She quite likes role play too, shops, drs etc. She’s very outgoing - not in the least bit shy. She is quite happy to do things like pick something up in a shop if we are out and take it off to the till and pay for it by herself (with me watching her obviously). She usually asks how much it is although she has no clue what the answer means 😂. However I will keep it in mind, next time we see the hv I might mention it.

OP posts:
Taytotots · 30/03/2019 09:52

Have you read any of Janet Lansbury's stuff? I don't agree with everything she says but some of it is useful, particularly on encouraging independent play www.janetlansbury.com/tag/play/.
As said above you do need a break. The playdate idea above is a good one. We used to do this regularly when mine were that age and the kids entertained themselves so we could just drink tea. Plus ditch the ironing Grin.
I think this is one situation where having twins is much easier! My DT occupied each other mostly.

arethereanyleftatall · 30/03/2019 09:56

Op, can you explain why you put up with your dhs awful behaviour?

Mememeplease · 30/03/2019 09:59

I’ve sat her in front of the iPad for ten minutes at the moment but I don’t feel great about it.
Let go of the guilt. It's more important that you have some time off.

Anyway there are so many educational apps that you can use those as 100% guilt free baby sitting. Then some free choice you tube kids stuff on top.
I'd allow at least an hour to an hour and a half of guilt free iPad if some of that is educational. Perhaps a bit less if you can wean her on to tv programmes too.

TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince · 30/03/2019 10:01

Your dh appears with throat slitting motions when your children are noisey😡😡😲

What a prize twat! He’s your problem not your dc. Next time he appears doing that, l’d go out straight away and leave him to it

kikibo · 30/03/2019 10:11

Look, there's no need to accept this from your daughter or your partner, frankly.

Who's the boss? You're the boss!
Bang your fist on the table with your partner and tell him to take care of HIS children at least when he's at home.

And as to your daughter, tell her mummy is going to do the household. That she can play alone or watch or participate. Whatever she wants. Start by giving her something she really likes doing like the pretend play (which is draining for adults). Either way, if she tells you what the dolls have to say, she already plays by herself, but she somehow doesn't have the self-confidence to really play alone. It only takes for her to realise she can do it to really do it.

If she does start following you around, I'd tell her clearly mummy has not got the time to play and that there are other things mummy needs to do. If the worst comes to the worst, give her her favourite toy, close the door and wait.
If crying does become really hysterical and not theatrical, you can decide to go in again and do withdrawal or timed play with a fancy egg timer.

I do play with my daughter and son, but the default thing is that they play alone. I can leave them (1.5y and 3 months) in the next room while I clear out the dishwasher. On the rare occasions I do hear anything (not hysterics), I call out so they know I'm there. I have always done this precisely because I didn't want to have children who needed to be with me/see me all the time. I need my mental space.
When she was 1, my daughter would sit happily playing in my ob's waiting room while I went to the lo for urine test, and had my weight and BP done or blood taken.

Don't take it as being smug either, it's a matter of showing who's boss. You can't be a good mum if you're drained like this. And it shows a sense of work ethic/duty that we have things that take priority over fun. I think that's a valuable lesson to instil in children.

FelixTitling · 30/03/2019 10:14

It's possible to teach independent play with an egg timer. There's an article I found really useful but I can't find it now too share with you.
Tell your dd that you going to each do your own thing for a bit and that after that you'll play her favourite game.
Show her the timer, let her hear it and tell her when the buzzer goes off you'll play together, she can l play on her own until then. Set her up with a game she likes, then start the timer for 5 mins.
Lots of praise if she manages it. Do it everyday, slowly increasing the time. Id think getting it to an hour is possible in a week or so.
This was brilliant for me and my son used to sometimes set the timer for me when I was pecking his head about potty training so I'd leave him alone Grin
Eventually we didn't need it as they'd learned to like their own company I guess.

QueenOfMyBee · 30/03/2019 10:20

OP get her into a childminders! Use that funding she is entitled to! Even if it's just every morning! You will get a break and she will benefit from being taught by a professional and being with other children.

My child minder is amazing, she does arts and crafts, teaches numbers, takes them on days out. My daughter loves it! It is absolutely worth it for a term, it will help to prepare her for school and she will likely love it!

coconutpie · 30/03/2019 10:32

You need to leave your H, he is the problem here. So your DC can't even make noise when he is at home? No wonder you're all so wound up. You'd be better off getting rid of that selfish man child as then you'd only have 2 DC to look after and you'd actually get a break every week as he'd be forced to parent his DC on his own for a day every week at least.

Singlenotsingle · 30/03/2019 10:41

That sounds exhausting! I don't think leaving DH is the answer, is it? You'll still end up on your own but with money problems as well. I agree, a childminder one day a week would give you a break.

Lllot5 · 30/03/2019 11:06

Just an idea maybe get her ‘helping’ give her jobs to do keep her occupied like that.

SevenSeasofRye · 30/03/2019 11:11

I am actually horrified that you put up with your partner's behaviour. He sounds beyond selfish and quite unpleasant. Why are you minimising his behaviour? HE is the issue as others have said.

ChipsAreLife · 30/03/2019 11:14

Your DH sounds horrible. Why are you putting up with it?

I echo the others get her into a nursery for the next term, kids adapt and be no different if say you didn't like that nursery and decided to move her after term which people often do. You need a break and she needs the social play

Gottalovesummer · 30/03/2019 11:16

Hi OP, it sounds like you do loads with your daughter.

Lots of people have suggested a childminder. I'm a cm and agree, that is what we're here for! It sounds like she'd be eligible for 15 hours , so what about finding someone who can do 5 hours 3 times a week?

I have lots of energetic 2/3/4 year olds and we are out and about a lot, plus lots of role playing/singing/dancing/crafts/messy play at home.

She might just come home a little exhausted. Worth a try? Good luck x

MrsFrisbyMouse · 30/03/2019 11:18

I had a 3 year old like that. He was later diagnosed with ASD, but at 3 we just had speech delay as diagnosis. Anyhow he just could not play by himself at all. Was exhausting. So practical things...

1 - iPad locked down with apps I'd approved. Kids You Tube also now very customisable. Don't worry about using the iPad - everything in balance!

2- get boxes or something with 4 compartments. Put an individual activity in each one. Cars/baby/kitchen stuff/drawing. Model how to play with each individually. Then direct her to choose an activity with you. And then finally by herself. Too much choice is overwhelming. Then retreat and have a cup of tea!

  1. Get her helping you. Mushrooms can be chopped with a toy knife etc. Socks can be sorted. Pillowcases folded etc. Parallel 'play' can just give you a brief breather.

It's hard and you have my utmost sympathy.

septembersunshine · 30/03/2019 11:19

Op, I feel for you. I have 4 dc but the oldest 3 (9,10 and 12) all play with the youngest who is 3 soon and a total whirlwind. They do a lot of what you do with your dd. My 9 year old dd loves this kind of play so thT gives me little breaks of 15 mins or so. Suits me but the nap is gone and the days are long and hard still. Plus the eldest three constantly bicker. Ugh.

I had him down for nursery 3 hours a week but after a term I asked for another morning. I look forward to my free time so much. Op, you need a break. Your oh needs to take the kids out at least one afternoon a week to give you a chance to get a measure of peace. Other then that I would get her placed with a setting 2 mornings a week. Honestly, game changer. And she will love the social interaction.

Deadringer · 30/03/2019 11:28

My middle DD was like this, I hated that kind of play! Thank goodness she watched TV sometimes. Honestly sometimes I just said no, and meant it. I would oblige for a bit then say, I need to go and do this, you need to play without me for a while. She got the message eventually but it was hard. Playing things exactly as she wants is doing her no favours long term, she will find it hard to play with other children if she can't direct the play. You could try doing things your way when you play, she might get fed up and send you away!

birdsdestiny · 30/03/2019 11:39

Op is in an abusive relationship , I am not sure timers etc are going to help here.
Op, this is not normal behaviour from your partner, Please speak to someone.

EnoughLifeLessons · 30/03/2019 11:40

No words of wisdom here I can give. But you honestly sound like you're doing a good job. Do consider putting her into childcare, even for one term, because it sounds relentless. My cousin is a SAHM and put her kids in part time childcare from 7-8 months for that reason. Just to get a break.

CSIblonde · 30/03/2019 12:22

Do your local library & community centre have toddler events groups? Mine have something daily, story group, play group, music group etc. Even if you hate mum group stuff it would break up the sheer grind. Failing that for your own sanity a term at the local nursery under the 15hours free scheme is worth it, surely?

ItsalmostSummer · 30/03/2019 12:53

She needs room time. Set a time in the day say after lunch when she goes into her room or a space with some special toys for room time. Let her know this is her special time to play (or mess her room) and mum had a cup of tea on her own (in the next room or as far away from the room as you can do you don’t hear crying). Start her on 10 mins with staying in her room and build it up to 30 mins. Have a timer nearby so she can see how long she’s in there. She may cry and scream. Too bad. You need a break. She will need to get used to some room time. Rather that than you bursting, and something bigger goes wrong in your family.

ItsalmostSummer · 30/03/2019 12:59

And I’d be teaching her now that any activity she does it starts with getting the activity out, unpacking it and playing with it and then putting it away. She needs to be doing this now, even with your hand over hers to be putting her toys and games away. Half your play and interaction could be tidying up. This would keep her busy but help with clean up as you go. Get her to help with home jobs. That can be your and her activity. Go around picking things up and putting away. Id utilize that even if she complains, better have her learn that now than try and install it later.

FelixTitling · 30/03/2019 14:50

Apologies. I haven't seen the post about ops partner being abusive.

FelixTitling · 30/03/2019 14:56

Having read all the posts back, I still can't see it. Where does it say op is in an abusive relationship birds?

Preggosaurus9 · 30/03/2019 14:58

It’s difficult to have children to play anyway if dh isnt away as he works from home and won’t have the noise. In the same way if dd cries he appears as makes slit throat motions at me to make her stop crying.

What the actual fuck?

Did DH isolate you from your family? By moving you away from them, by bad mouthing them to you, by throwing a strop every time you tried to visit them?

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