To think like most of us are on a relentless hamster wheel?

[pedagogical]

And I want to get off but can't due to mortgage, kids etc. My parents worked but I don't remember them feeling like this! I wonder if it's me or if others feel the same.

I feel the same but my life is quite restricted as two of our children have quite severe disabilities.

It can feel like that especially when in early years with lots of childcare costs and huge mortgage, but you still need a balance you can't do it all or have it all, if you both work full time and have kids you g
Have to adjust your expectations of what you can achieve in your spare time, time savers or just lower standards, no kid needs 3-4 extra activities a week or expensive days out each weekend, it's ok for them to chill with screens for 2 -3 hours on a Saturday morning while you have a housework and laundry blitz. You shouldn't live in a pig sty but you don't have to have a show home either. You can say no to things because you need downtime that includes saying no to somethings your kids want, self care is not selfish

My parents both worked, had a mortgage and 2 kids. I'm sure they felt like they were on a hamster wheel too

Your parents probably did feel like that.

Your need for sleep and rest and recuperation to come before a child or partners wants but not before their needs Everyone in the families needs have to be met before anyone can have a want. I would ensure that one day of the weekend and one evening a week as a minimum has no planned activities or commitments and nothing can be added to those days without agreement maybe a one off like a wedding grandpa's 80th birthday but if you are not careful one offs can end up being 2 or 3 of these days a month. We have Wednesday evenings and Sundays I don't do housework or shopping on Sundays I make food and go to church, we might have friends over but we don't do stuff just because. My DD is limited to 3 activities if she had a sibling it might be 2. Don't have anything on your hamster wheel that doesn't need to be there or is there because other people have it on their wheel, you can't please all of the people all of the time