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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To say that children really fray my nerves

94 replies

Ouchy · 31/12/2019 17:12

Is this just me?

Mine are nearly 7 and 10.

I’m constantly watching what I say so I don’t accidentally say the wrong thing
Constantly breaking up arguments between them
Constantly fielding snack requests
Constantly have someone trying to negotiate how much screen time they should be allowed
I don’t have all the answers!!
Managing others’ emotions
Instilling table manners, tidy habits, personal care habits

I know a lot of this is just parenting but OMG!!!!! It’s better in the summer....

OP posts:
DamsonDress · 31/12/2019 17:15

No. You are not. Sometimes I want to sell one. Just working out who's the favourite...

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 31/12/2019 17:16

Oh god it's sometimes just awful isn't it.

Dd(8) has backchats syndrome. "What s the time mummy?"
"Its 7.30 dd"
"Errr no actually mammy it's 7.32"

FUCK OFFFFFFFFFF

DamsonDress · 31/12/2019 17:17

Joking aside you don't need to be constantly doing all of that. Sometimes it's ok to politely tell them you are now off duty and they can either sort themselves or pipe down. Go elsewhere (in the house, not the next county, mind) and give you a bit of peace.

gamerwidow · 31/12/2019 17:21

Yes they are a pita but you don’t have to do all of that all the time.
It’s fine to say actually I’m sitting here having quiet 30 minutes and anything that needs me to do something in those 30 minutes isn’t getting done.

Original poster
Ouchy · 31/12/2019 17:21

Thank you. Yes Damson I am now doing exactly that! Crown Grin

OP posts:
passthebucky · 31/12/2019 17:22

I have five admittedly the elder 3 are teens and come with a different set of problems, the younger two are 3 & 5 and they actually drove me too insanity this holiday. Roll on the 7th when their back at school. I'm a broken women Confused

EdersonsSmileyTattoo · 31/12/2019 17:23

I only have one and I agree with you!

stargazer2030 · 31/12/2019 17:30

Wait until they are teenagers- they expect you to be on hand to listen to every little mean and gripe - in great detail but feel its okay for them to ignore you the rest of the time.
I find that saying I just want some me time for 20 mins usually results in an hour or so of sulking and silent treatment. Result 😆

Tombliwho · 31/12/2019 18:01

They are draining. The bickering is unreal. I find them easier to deal with in the Summer months, enjoyable even! We're all going a bit stir crazy at the moment.

FreedomfromPE · 31/12/2019 18:04

I may or may not have given the finger to the odd closed bedroom door after bedtime. I am a big fan of any weather outdoor activities. It definitely helps.

Original poster
Ouchy · 31/12/2019 18:09

Yes Freedom, any weather outdoor activities are a must - I try to get them out and active daily. But getting them out in the first place is a huge challenge in itself! But yes, that’s my best ‘tool’ in my ‘winter with kids’ survival kit

OP posts:
Londongirl86 · 31/12/2019 18:11

We are like this with my nearly 5-year old. She's always telling us off if we say certain words. or if we dare laugh at a joke when she doesn't think it's actually funny but she's made us laugh!

Constant moaning for food. Refusing to pick toys up. Won't out washing in the basket. Leaving half eaten apples everywhere.

Bedtime battles every night lol

Original poster
Ouchy · 31/12/2019 18:14

Yes that’s exactly it Londongirl - I think it’s a little girl thing as my boy totally isn’t like that

OP posts:
SproutinducingFarti · 31/12/2019 18:14

Try teaching! Doing that for 30 at once and having to try and get them to meet educational targets as well. Still at least you get paid for it I guess!

Original poster
Ouchy · 31/12/2019 18:17

Couldn’t do it sprout. Maximum respect and gratitude to those who do!

OP posts:
IdblowJonSnow · 31/12/2019 18:27

Totally normal! Especially in school hols!

MustardScreams · 31/12/2019 18:29

Trying to get a toddler into hat, gloves, coat and boots is my most despised task. Especially now she thinks chasing off is hugely hilarious. It bloody is not!

mousemousse · 31/12/2019 18:30

The half eaten apples Grin

For me it's screen time. I want to sit around and just watch crap TV but I feel I can't because I tell them they can't be on their screens. Stupid society making me think screen time is bad

BarbarAnna · 31/12/2019 18:39

This is me. 100%. Really struggling this holiday. Took some vitamin D earlier to try and cheer myself up.

MintyMabel · 31/12/2019 18:40

DD is particularly good at twanging the last nerve. Today she did something pretty crap and I called her out on it. She spent all day bringing it up again and I warned her not to. This lead to a meltdown where she yelled at me from her room for half an hour.

’Errr no actually mammy it's 7.32"
This drives me up the wall.

or if we dare laugh at a joke when she doesn't think it's actually funny but she's made us laugh!

If it helps, DD was like this but started to grow out of it at about 5 or 6.

Whowaswronghere2 · 31/12/2019 18:44

Sometimes when they both talk to me relentlessly at once, in high pitched squeeky voices I start to feel a bit sick..... I do love them don't get me wrong.

betternamechangeforthisone · 31/12/2019 18:45

Yesssss

The questions
The asking you to do stuff for them
Constantly having to make decisions over whether they should be allowed another snack or not
Having to tell them to come off their iPads because I’m scared they turn into monsters

It’s just CONSTANT

rhowton · 31/12/2019 18:47

YANBU I have two girls and I love them dearly blah blah blah... but I put them to bed at 5:30 today because I simply couldn't hear them whinge any more.... turned the monitor off in my two years old room as she is playing up there 😂

beautifulstranger101 · 31/12/2019 18:48

I have found the most tedious thing is playing. OMGGGG playing and pretending to be xyz is the most tedious thing on the face of the earth and it makes me want to poke my own eyes out, I can manage about 5 minutes and then I have to take a break. Sometimes I think this is why I had two so close together- they play with each other now and I can get out of it -bliss!

likeafishneedsabike · 31/12/2019 19:02

Feeling your pain too. It sounds selfish but I would just like to please myself for some of the time between Xmas and NY. Things like long baths, demolishing a good book in a day, binge watching The Crown etc. They’re not on and at me all day (10 and 8 yrs) but on the whole I feel like I’m functioning at their pace rather than my own. It’s tiring!