to wonder if this is just what being a parent feels like?

[jellybean007]

I'm a mum to 2 girls, age 7 and 9. I work full time in a busy job which is mentally challenging and has some annoying people to deal with but mostly I like the work and I am able to work from home once a week. I have a very supportive husband and we juggle our schedules around to be able to manage childcare, but this does mean we don't see much of each other.

I feel like I have all the 'right' pieces in life but I'm just so tired and it's difficult to feel particularly excited about anything when there is so little time to do anything other than work, look after the kids, try (and fail) to keep on top of domestic chores.

I don't know if actually I'm not cut out to work in a challenging job whilst being a mum and all the other things or whether I'm missing something. I need to work for the income, we wouldn't survive otherwise and if I wasn't a mum with those responsibilities, I think I would really like this job but I don't have the energy to do it as well as I'd like which I struggle with (perfectionist issues!). Also struggle with feeling I'm not doing the housechores well enough, and not giving the girls full attention 24/7. I feel surrounded by need that I can't meet.

I don't know to what extent this is just the deal being a working parent. What do others think? Any tips you've found helped in your life balancing?

I think this is completely normal in families where both parents work and they juggle things for childcare. I do think it will get easier when your children are a few years older. But I also think it's worth considering what you mean when you say you wouldn't survive without your income.

I don't know anything about your circumstances, obviously, but often what people mean by this is that they would not have their current lifestyle. If you were in, say, a smaller house, had fewer holidays, gave up the car, kids didn't need as much paid childcare, and so on, would you manage? You would have a very different life, but not necessarily a worse one, for you or your family.

I think that sounds normal, but also a little miserable. My DH and I work full time in demanding jobs with one DD (in nursery) and we wouldn’t survive without our cleaner. I know it’s not always possible but is this an option?

It doesn’t sound like you have much (apart from your family) that brings you joy. Is there time in the schedule for something that makes you happy? I shoehorn in running sessions which I love.