They pandemic has taken the joy out of parenting

[ilkleymoorbartat]

Aibu to see junk this? I feel so impatient all the time. The added pressure, however residual, has made my tolerance for the smallest things so much more limited. Worries, like friendship issues, homework problems etc seem to be more overwhelming.

Does anyone else feel like this, and if not any words of advice?

I used to love parenting btw, but just feel like the pandemic has made me loose my way.

I feel exactly the same - my fuse is so short. We are on holiday at the moment - a much needed and longed for break and even I'm sick of hearing how impatient I sound with them. I just can't seem to get any joy back even though we're away!

It’s put all parents (working or not) under massive amounts of pressure. It’s made a tough job even tougher

I feel exactly the same way. My DD had some friendship problems a couple of weeks back and I had such high anxiety around I felt ill. I'm dreading the summer holidays when usually I look forward to them. I hate feeling like this

It’s been the opposite for me. I haven’t had to juggle childcare, commuting and work. The lack of commute has made the balance for me so much better plus I got to see more of my DS.

• Aibu to see junk this? = feel like this!

It's like I need a massive reset but it's impossible to know how to get that. Just feeling so sad about it now it's gone on for so long. I just can't see what's going to change.

YANBU the restrictions have taken the joy out of life for me. I find it hard to be motivated which then passes on to the children. I don't feel like it was so hard at the start/last year but now it's the never ending-ness of it all that gets to me.
How will them being out of school affect them in the future? When can they see their friends, go back to clubs etc? I worry about it all and feel sad for them.

Glad it's Bette for you @Faithless12 It's good to hear it's got easier for some people!

YANBU. I wish I hadn't had DD. Without her life would be a dreary slog with nothing to look forward to at the moment, but I'm middle-aged - I've had my fun. She's just coming into her teens, and as her world ought to be opening up it's closing in. No music, no clubs, a diminished school experience, no travel, reduced time with her friends. I feel so guilty that all I can give her is grey drudgery.

Do you think it's going to get better? Will it just take a bit of time to establish old behaviours and feelings?

It's complicated for me. DD was 2.5 when covid kicked off. Her nursery shut (she'd been doing two mornings a week), our regular playdates with friends ended, the local pool shut, the library shut. If you had told me before that we'd have to do without these things I'd have said it was impossible. It was very, very difficult but we (like millions of others) managed. I feel really lucky that I didn't have a child to homeschool, and that I could drop work to take care of her. I ended up running the local mutual aid group and just took her with me most days - it was very difficult at the time but now all I can think of is how we were based at the local community centre and she'd bash on the piano while I tried to work.

Now things are opening up and I'm on the one hand grateful for every activity/playground/ice cream stall that's open - everything is a celebration. I got emotional when the Sainsbury's cafe opened up again ffs, and that the staff remembered my daughter. On the other hand the things that are open are almost exclusively the ££££ ones, and I hate that.

I also now have a nearly 4 year old who has a very different - I don't know - worldview? Experience? to the one she and we had pre-covid and I'm really bitter about that. Everything feels fragile and contingent.

The pandemic has taken the joy out of everything and has made our lives/world very small. I almost feel as if I've been trying to get through a prison sentence. The lack of freedom and no possibility of travel to other countries has had a very negative effect on me. When I see celebs jetting round the world and having a great time, I feel so much rage towards them!!

My kids are 7 and 10.. I struggled hugely to homeschool them. They have missed out on so much in their little lives that they will never get back. It makes me so sad. My anxiety is always through the rood, have nothing to look forward to.
My kids finish for the summer next week. To say I'm dreading it is an understatement. I don't feel like theyve been back at school very long, only since March!! They don't need this long break as home is now such a boring place for them.
I've planned a few things but they are all reliant on weather and have to book everything. Can't be spontaneous. Every day will be a long hard slog where I'm just counting down the minutes to bedtime. It's no way to live and not fair on the kids at all

Yanbu op - my toddler had been sent home 4 times in as many weeks with a fever - each time the pcr test is negative.

It's relentless, stressful, and the media make it so much worse by constantly reporting the case figures - I know I don't have to look but it just makes me worried we have reached our new normal now and I don't see how we can go back.

I'm worried my DD whole life will be effected by this pandemic - a bit over the top maybe but there you go.

You are certainly not alone

Agree with Faithless12 I feel like I've spent a lot more time with DD

I’m just fed up, have little enthusiasm and motivation.

I just spend everyday trying to get everyone through the day.

I am struggling but I can’t acknowledge it as life goes on and my kids need me.

I’m just physically and mentally drained and there is no end in sight.

I barely have it in me to care about anything anymore. I am just in survival mode.

Hang on, you mean there’s joy in parenting?

@MidnightMonsterMunch 😂

There is little slices of joy to be had every now and again