Is this normal?

[Blueberrycheesecake1]

Toddler and 5 month old. I spend 70% of the day stressed either worrying about naps or about entertaining toddler. I'm with them alone most of the time 7 days a week. I love them to bits but find it so stressful and often close to tears by end of afternoon if it's been a challenging day. They are actually quite good too behaviour and not terrible sleep wise. Am I being pathetic??

@BiggerBetterHealthier maybe normal is not the best word. But it certainly isn't rare. There can be a lot of pressure on mums to do everything (kids, house, work, no sleep) and be pinteresty and what not.

I think it’s normal. I am always bemused by the people on these threads who think otherwise. Some kids are just harder than others, some mums are…I’m not sure what…more relaxed? Better copers than me?!

I remember when my first was just over a year and someone described their child’s first year as ‘traumatic’ - I could have hugged her as it was how I felt too. It’s great some don’t find it incredibly hard and stressful but there are plenty who do OP.

Thanks again and I know I'm actually fine for example in the evening when they are asleep! Or when the day is going ok. I just find it a very fine line between that and intense stress. I have never been anxious but looking after both all day I can never relax. I agree it's to do with personality to an extent. Thank you to everyone who took the time to reassure me I'm not the only one!!

And thank you to everyone for the concern too. I do love them to bits and in a way don't want to grow up as they are so sweet... then the next moment I can't wait for them to!

For example the other day I went for a walk with both so that the baby would have his last nap. She started screaming (over tired??) And then I realised the toddler had fallen asleep in the pram instead - at 5pm... Thanks to everyone for the tips too @MaizeBlouse et al. They made me think - and laugh !

Hah your wrong kid sleeping in the pram story is familiar territory for me too OP.
It is bloody hard. Relentless in fact. You're doing a really good job.

The other day I couldn't leave my 2 DCs for more than 15 secs without one of them crying for some reason. They are loved, healthy, thriving, smart, funny, normal kids and this just what they do.

Some kids are just easier to parent than others. I have to parent my kids soooooo much. And tbh I think I am quite good at it: I am patient and consistent and fair. But do they still scream a lot? Yes! Do they sit and colour in? No! I very very very rarely raise my voice to them (and it's never been worth it!) so they're not getting the loud shouts from me or DP. They're just bloody noisy little tikes.

My 3yo also dropped naps early but has a cheecky sleep sometimes before dinner