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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I know I am AIBU, but whenever child-free ppl complain about being tired I get annoyed, barring medical/health issues

381 replies

worldenoughandtime · 13/01/2023 18:07

This is just a secret confession here, in the anonymity of the internet, and I hope I have enough social skills to disguise my true feelings. Which is of extreme annoyance when child-free people complain about being tired (given there are no aggravating health concerns). (In my social circle at least, people complain about being tired and busy all the time).

The tiredness that comes with managing kids - especially more than one, and especially for lone/single parents of which there seems to be more and more- is just on a different level. Needed to get that off my chest.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 13/01/2023 18:09

I am a mum of a disabled 13 year old so using your logic I should say that parents of children without disabilities shouldn’t complain they are tired?

everyone has their own circumstances, their own problems and their own tolerance for tiredness. It’s not a race to the bottom.

Greensleevevssnotnose · 13/01/2023 18:09

You chose to have them I assume? I didn't and sorry but I get tired 😩

Thedaysthatremain · 13/01/2023 18:10

Its not a competition though.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 13/01/2023 18:11

worldenoughandtime · 13/01/2023 18:07

This is just a secret confession here, in the anonymity of the internet, and I hope I have enough social skills to disguise my true feelings. Which is of extreme annoyance when child-free people complain about being tired (given there are no aggravating health concerns). (In my social circle at least, people complain about being tired and busy all the time).

The tiredness that comes with managing kids - especially more than one, and especially for lone/single parents of which there seems to be more and more- is just on a different level. Needed to get that off my chest.

And us childfree can't possibly know what real love is either because we don't have children, can we, OP?

Riverlee · 13/01/2023 18:11

Maybe the childless people have other concerns, such as after elderly relatives for example. Alternatively they may work long hours.

I guess you’re thinking that they can alter their life to accommodate their tiredness, ie go to bed early, or don’t have the physical and mental stress and demands of children.

Chikapu · 13/01/2023 18:11

Fuck me, us childfree people really can't do anything right can we?

Thepeopleversuswork · 13/01/2023 18:11

I don’t know… I have experienced this reaction but in reality it’s impossible to compare.

A person could easily have severe job stress, depression or other life stresses which could make them feel more tired. It’s really impossible to do a direct comparison unless you have walked in their shoes.

Thesealsknowsheismagic · 13/01/2023 18:11

I have 2 kids and think you are being ridiculous.

You are tired because of your kids. Other people are tired for other reasons.

Having kids doesn’t mean you get more tired than all other people.

kateclarke · 13/01/2023 18:11

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MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 13/01/2023 18:12

Chikapu · 13/01/2023 18:11

Fuck me, us childfree people really can't do anything right can we?

Tty being childfree AND over 60 on here. I suspect if we were to say what we think about some parents and their attitudes we'd be very swiftly banned.

ZeroFuchsGiven · 13/01/2023 18:13

You are talking utter shite and I say that as a Mum of 4

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 13/01/2023 18:13

That stinks OP. Don’t ever voice your option in rl.

Loput · 13/01/2023 18:13

Kids and illnesses aren't the only factors involved in tiredness YABU

EmmaEmerald · 13/01/2023 18:13

Chikapu · 13/01/2023 18:11

Fuck me, us childfree people really can't do anything right can we?

No we can't.

I'm exhausted but that's okay because I'll just relax in my childfree smugness tonight.

OP - bed, made, lie.

Clarabe1 · 13/01/2023 18:14

I am child free and I am worn out to the bone weary tonight. May have an early night with a good book I think..

9outof10cats · 13/01/2023 18:14

I don't have kids, but totally admire people that do. How you juggle your work, social and married lives is beyond me. Yeah, I get tired, but every day I am thankful that I never had kids. Having a demented cat stresses me out - I could never have coped with kids 😁

theswoot · 13/01/2023 18:14

Thedaysthatremain · 13/01/2023 18:10

Its not a competition though.

This! How tired you feel is personal and relative to you. Someone else’s situation doesn’t change yours. Why the need to compare? I hope your social skills really are good enough to bury this one away IRL because this attitude really gets on my tits

Confusedteacher · 13/01/2023 18:15

I dunno OP, there’s no tired like teacher tired… <runs away…>

Edinburghmusing · 13/01/2023 18:15

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cadburyegg · 13/01/2023 18:15

Yabu and I'm a single parent of two kids

One of my most tiring experiences was sitting in a&e for 16 hours with a friend of mine, didn't have my kids with me!

StormInaDcup99 · 13/01/2023 18:15

Haha. This made me laugh. Only people with kids have a monopoly on being tired lol

My kids are grown up now....but believe me....it really is ages n stages......I'm st the stage know where I have chronic insomnia and I'm never not tired

But the post has made me laugh out loud.. which is a good thing

Whyisitsososohard · 13/01/2023 18:15

It's as if you could have chosen to be child free

DILLIGAFQUEEN · 13/01/2023 18:16

YABVVU. Been a parent does not give you the monopoly on tiredness.

Redblanky · 13/01/2023 18:16

Nah. My most tired was as a new widow whose young adult children were falling apart having just lost their dad.

Closely followed by a period in a targets driven job which wasn't going well for me and resulted in daily scrutiny.

Toddlers and young children were a breeze by comparison.

solidaritea · 13/01/2023 18:16

I'm a teacher. I'm tired.

Yes, they don't come home with me, but there are 150 of them to look after.

Obviously anyone that does my job and then goes home to kids has my full respect and then some.