To not be enjoying my days off anymore?

[Openthegate]

I went down from five days a week to three. Initially I absolutely loved it.

Now, I’m finding it really hard. My two year old is exhausting me 😂 The mornings aren’t too bad, we go to groups then but the afternoons seem to drag on forever and then it’s stressful thinking of breakfast lunch and dinner, getting him to nap has been harder lately as well.

I know the obvious solution is to go back full time but even if I was sure this was what I wanted I’d have to wait until next September, and I’m having a baby in July so will have a years maternity leave.

I’ve felt like this before with my two year old, it’s usually been a temporary phase. Don’t know if anyone has any tips for the afternoons (he is 2 in a couple of weeks.)

I bet it can sometimes be easier to be at work. I presume you are in education. I am a teacher single and decided to drop a day as exhausted. It not what I thought either as my romantic circumstances have changed. Oh well. I haven't got any experience of 2 year olds,can't they just 'play' or watch a DVD? Every minute doesnt have to be filled does it? Take care

I went through a phase of this but when they go to school you get to be a lady of leisure and it's marvellous. Eyes forward and look to the ultimate prize.

Two year olds are a bundle of energy and if you aren't used to being home you may well struggle. I don't find meal planning boring but I do it with my dh and my kids largely eat the same as I do. There are loads of ideas of toddler meals on Instagram and plenty of snacks you can make that you can freeze. What is the part of this that you ate struggling with, are there foods your lo won't eat or allergies to think of?

I'm a homebody so love my days off but I have 2 school aged kids so my days are busy once they get home and I have all 3 to look after. You don't need to entertain your toddler every minute of every day, set up an activity in a safe place and then have a cuppa whilst they are playing. The first time they might only stay engaged for a few minutes but it will get better.If you yourself are the type of person that needs to get out of the house for your own my then I would suggest changing it up s bit, so find some classes in the afternoon spend some motioning at home go for a walk etc. Your lo might well be transitioning towards forgoing a nap and I cam appreciate its much harder to get things done with a toddler following you about.

I find 4 days a week, with a Wednesday off so it’s never more than two days of work in a row, is ideal.

The afternoons are hard in winter - that cold wet post nap time when it’s too early for bath or dinner!

I’m not sure @Sceptre86 , I’m not a very good cook, and when I’ve tried recipes in the past they often don’t come out very well, even when they’re fairly straightforward! Ds isn’t a brilliant eater - it’s not that he’s fussy, more that he would rather play than eat so it can be a bit of a battle!

@WashableVelvet the afternoons are so hard.I don’t want the days to be relentlessly going somewhere but also seem to struggle to stay in the house as the TV inevitably ends up going on.

I would book them into a nursery for one of those days to give yourself a day off!!! Or a childminder
Life is too short to be stressed 😩

Utilise the government tax free childcare

He’s in nursery for three days a week, I’m only off for two of them.

So true! 100% agree 👍