Covid has made me hate parenthood

[undercurrent15]

Just that really.
I’m looking ahead to the 6 week summer hols with total fear and dread.
Being a mum used to be a huge source of happiness, fulfilment, joy and whilst at times challenging, I never resented it.
I love DCs (6 and 2) to death but christ, I am so miserable when we’re indoors at the moment and have such low tolerance for any silliness etc!
AIBU or is anyone else feeling the same?!

Although to be fair it isn't really anything anything do with Covid it's due to my 4 year olds behaviour.

4 year olds are tough! Hope tomorrow is better

@NeepNeepNeep I totally agree, self care is hugely important right now because it has been utterly relentless. And yes things are opening back up as PP have mentioned but mental health doesn’t just snap back along with it, I agree.
I’m lucky that both mine are down by 8pm so self care lately is baking some treats, watching some comedies and taking plenty of walks around work and school runs. Fresh air and exercise definitely helps and I’m hoping at least the weather will be nice enough to continue that with the kids in the holidays!
@PivotPivotPivottt 8 weeks!!! Ouch! Really hope they get easier for you, I hope you’ve got some support around you. Big hugs

Please don't forget that you had at least six weeks more home schooling (or at least full time home schooling) than you should have had, because of government incompetence. In particular that this time last year your children would have been at school at least part time.

You'd probably feel a lot happier if that had been the case.

I think the problem for many is that we got it in our heads that holidays means filling up every minute of the day with entertainment and fun which of course, kids grow to expect and become a pain when they don't.

Holidays when I was a kid was a long list of chores, many hours having to entertain myself and being bored.

Do I look back in horror? Not at all. Deep inside, I enjoyed being busy with chores and made a game of it with my sister.

I learnt to be creative with my play and that 2as with half the toys kids have nowadays.

Most importantly, a trip out, an ice cream, a meeting with friends were all treats that I fully enjoyed.

If we stopped spoiling our kids with so much attention and stimulation, expected more of them in terms of helping out, they'd probably be happier and we certainly would be too.

I think it's made me realise how much I enjoyed having "props" to parent - nursery, x activity on Monday, y activity on Tuesday etc. I really need those things to structure my week. And I need to see friends/other parents.

I'm not quite sure what I'll do with DD (3) over the holidays. We're hoping a visit to grandparents will be allowed. And I want to "make memories" (bleurgh) because she'll have younger siblings soon enough and I want to enjoy the time together and enjoy her. But I'm huge and pregnant and not in the best position to be Fun Parent anyway. Bleurgh.

Feel the same way. I have PND and anxiety though so think it’s understandable because I am literally ill. I’ve never had PND before so can only imagine covid is the main contributing factor. He was born in lockdown, life went back to some sort of normality and then we were thrown back into lockdown. Homeschooling was absolute hell, the teachers thought I did an amazing job and the DC were given awards for doing so much extra work. I don’t want them to suffer academically so pushed myself to ensure they still had a decent education (I am a trained teacher) but it was not easy, however easy I made it look. I was honestly destroyed by the time they returned to school in March and have struggled to recover ever since. Have lower tolerance for them ever since which sounds awful but genuinely just struggle with all of the noise and arguments send me into a complete tiz. No idea how we’ll fill 6 weeks, genuinely don’t have a clue.

8 weeks!!! Ouch! Really hope they get easier for you, I hope you’ve got some support around you. Big hugs

Thank you I have my parents although they work too so I don't like to burden them too much. My stepdad babysits 3 days a week for me to go to work but I feel guilty because he then has his own work to go to when I'm home. I'm a single parent too so I understand how difficult it is I hope you take advantage of some weeks away with parents/grandparents. It always seems easier when there is someone else around to help or just to talk to. 6 and 2 are also tricky ages. My eldest is 9 and she plays out all day long so i don't have to worry about keeping her occupied. Plus the 4 year old behaves a bit better when she's not in because they aren't fighting all day long.