To wish - a bit - for a mild illness just so I’d get a break?

[Squirrelfluffkin]

Maybe a short sign off work. Perhaps a night in hospital.
It’s all so relentless!
Dc2 does not sleep. Awake at 7am and up until 10.30pm. Always been the same. Dc1 has SEND and is Hard Work. My work is demanding and working with people with MH issues.
There seems no way off this treadmill!
Today dc2 was up at 6.45 - we were out of the house for 9.30am, we went to a local fair and then the park. Then I took them for lunch. Then we went to watch the local cricket and dc2 went on the playground. Got back about 5.30pm and dc2 is straight into wanting to do crafts. I make dinner and feed everyone. Dc1 wants me to go and play football with him now. I’m thinking god, another two hours before either of them are asleep. I am SHATTERED. The house is a tip because neither of them have an attention span unless it’s for a screen. I’ve got a mountain of laundry. I need to vacuum. I need to clean the bathrooms. I want to go to bed!
I’d love a day off - to sleep.

I have Covid. Trying to 'enjoy' sitting drinking tea! I totally get it op. I used to imagine breaking a leg - no more taxi service for the dc..
Only suggestion I have is more sleep.

I cannot see a way of getting more sleep!
I know everyone is tired all the time when they are adults but I am SO tired. I have a chronic illness as well. All things conspire to make me exhausted. I try and arrange the odd thing with my friends but I’m just too tired and end up cancelling. My life is literally work and children.

Hope you recover from covid soon (but not too soon, if it’s mild and you’re quite enjoying it).

I remember that feeling. I briefly considered committing a minor crime so I be arrested and have a night in the cells...I didn't by the way but I do remember being so jealous of people in prison

Dc1 wants me to go and play football with him now.

Well I hope you told him no because mummy's tired.

Forget a short illness. Maybe a short prison term instead? In solitary, ideally?

I mean... would it be so bad to give them a screen if it gave you a break? You all need some down time and it doesn't sound like you're getting any.

None of my children were sleepers and working full time with a largely absent husband was exhausting. When my still breastfed youngest was 16 months my grumbling gallbladder pains turned into full blown pancreatitis.

I distinctly remember being tucked up in my hospital bed with drips everywhere, a catheter and being pumped full of morphine thinking “ah, lovely to have a rest.”

So yes, you’re not alone.

I do suggest avoiding pancreatitis though.

Yanbu. I've always felt like this as a lone parent. I've had a couple of day operations and had a nice few hours in hospital each time.

Do you iron? If so then quit. Wash /dry /fold /away. Would you consider a cleaner? Even once a month could be helpful. I am a cleaner and I know how productive my input can be even now and again to my customers..
Cut back on activities out of the home.. If my dc winge about what are we doing I say just living!! Ds 6 is imaginative about making up games. Sometimes dc really do need to experience boredom to become creative!!

I often fantasise about a not-too-painful break to the leg requiring a few days (maybe a week?) hospitalisation in a private room. I totally get what you mean.

I well remember the feeling. Just wanted a night or two in hospital, I thought I'd have to be totally out of it otherwise I'd still be calling in childcare favours and giving out instructions over the phone, but I would also need not to be so ill that I couldn't get straight back into it once I got back.

I had an operation recently and a night in hospital. I was actually really looking forward to it. I don't think I made the most of it though, I was constantly thinking about the kids and if my husband would remember to do X,Yand Z. I think next time I would not take a phone with me and let my husband just get on with it!

Who would take the DC if you went into hospital? Why not tell them now you are feeling run down and could do with their support?

Let them watch TV. You can’t do it all!

I totally get it OP. Small children can be a total nightmare at times. Will they sit and watch YouTube kids for a bit. I find it's a sanity saviour for me. I remember my waters breaking at 33 weeks on DC3 and as I wasn't in labour but had a history of complications in late pregnancy they immediately admitted me. I was like someone on holidays relaxing on the ward.

I had these thoughts when DC was a baby. Something painless that required observation and a few nights in a hospital.

My partner was shite and let me do everything. All of the thinking too.

It passes and gets easier but I do understand x

@Createdjustforthis I choose hospitalization a couple times because of my SN child at home would've led to no rest/recuperation! (I've had pancreatitis five times and oral pain Rx doesn't compare to IV!)
@Squirrelfluffkin You are amazing to keep your family going and I hope you get some rest. Is there any way you can book a cleaner or a babysitter?

I once got cellulitis and had to be in hospital for 4 days on antibiotics - transmitted from DC preforated ear drum - it was bloody lovely. Hang on in there OP - dreams can come true.

P.S both of us lived to tell the tale

Also looking back I had one night on maternity ward then asked to leave. The nurse was saying "are you sure" and I thought "of course". Looking back I can see she was a wise woman and I should have had as much time as they'd allow!

How old are your DC? Can they not entertain themselves for a bit? It's OK for them to experience boredom and then find ways to entertain themselves. Don't worry over them saying "I'm bored" and that you've got to fill the time with something for them to do.

They sound old enough that maybe they can also help out with basic household stuff like putting away laundry. dusting and vacuuming!

Ahhh it’s not just me.
I find my dc do not shut up. Dc1 hasn’t stopped talking since he got up this morning. I’m just like shhhhhhhh. I am quite introvert and I find the total lack of space really hard. They take everything from me. My sanity for a start.

I'd recommend an orthopaedic ward, they won't expect you to move then.

YANBU I often fantasise about it actually. But then I’d be constantly worried about how the kids are being looked after. I know they’d miss me too and play up majorly when I got home though.

I totally get this OP. I remember exactly where I was when this thought first dawned on me. I hadn't had much sleep for ages and ages and was bone tired. I remember thinking what a ridiculous thought it was but recently I've had a couple of trips by ambulance to A&E and it was bloody lovely. I didn't have to stay long but even with a medical student poking my veins (and missing) it was beautiful to have someone look after me and to have to lie down with no one making demands of me. I often think I'll look back at these early years of parenting as a very strange time in my life.

Great advice re the orthopaedics.

They are 5 and 13 but my 13 year old is not like a 13 year old.
Even with an iPad they are at me - turn it up, turn it down, put this on for me, find this for me, I’ve pressed the wrong thing and lost the video I was watching etc.