Is it normal to be so 'uninteresting' in these little kid years?

[herewegoroundthebastardbush]

I have so many things I want to do - in theory. Two ideas for novels I really want to write, would love to learn Spanish properly as I already have a grounding, would love to really increase my understanding of my professional area and look t advance into something more specialist, I'd love to join this local initiative currently running to get women into garage bands, I'd love to go to more gigs and talks and read more books, I even have a couple of quite simple crafty projects I'd like to do... but... I don't do any of it. I work, I look after the children, I do what must be done around the house, then I fall over in a heap and either watch tv or scroll Mumsnet until bedtime.

Children are 2 and 6 for context.

I am honestly boring to myself these days, but I just can't seem to summon up the gumption to do anything that I might actually enjoy. I can read again now (My book-reading part of my brain seems to just shut down after childbirth, it came back a bit quicker the second time after about 18 months) but I still very rarely read, or if I do it's rarely something new or interesting, just favourite fiction I've read before.

I just read a thread where the OP is finding her friend boring because all she talks about is her kids. Is this me??? I have a lot of thoughts and ideas, I hope I can still hold a conversation... but they are mainly what I do! So I do talk about them a lot.

AIBU to be a bit 'in abeyance', and if not, when can I expect my get up and go to get up and come back??

I relate to all of this!
2.9 year old and 12 week old DS.

I miss having the energy to read, I am writing two books (I maybe get 2 hours a month if I'm lucky), I also want to get back into Spanish (I lived in Spain for a year), I want to go rollerblading, hiking, and get some weight off.

I'm trying my best to do little bits here and there of what I want to do the most (so writing, reading) but it doesn't work a lot due to tiredness, illness, housework needing done instead, and we're going to start short walks again and days out with the kids when the weather gets nicer. I'm trying to focus more on doing fun things with them and grabbing moments for me when possible. But yeah it's tough to lose yourself.

Small kids years are overwhelming. I found that things got better - I felt able to be me again, rather than just an appendage/support/servant to them - once they were teenagers.

I have several interesting jobs, friends, hobbies, events etc and yet my kids still see me as boring as I am home sober by 11 each night I go out (which isn’t often), no strange men are brought into their lives, I am calm and cheerful each day etc. I chose to be “boring” because stability and routine gives better outcomes for kids. Sometimes we have to choose to what is best for other people. It does sound as if you are either exhausted or in a rut though. The Guardian has some very reasonably priced writing courses- that might inspire you?

My youngest is nearly 7 and it's only in the last 18 months or so I've started finding my mojo again.

I never stopped doing yoga and tbh sometimes my husband pretty much forced me out of the door to go as a link to my physical health and sanity, so if you have a partner and they're on board that's a good start! I find now my kids do after school activities this is good otherwise dead time to either run or read a book on the side of the pool, you could do duolingo or something for Spanish practice.

Do you have other mum friends? I've sound a couple of other mums who like going to the theatre and we try and link up once a month or so to go and see something, it's easier with other people who have childcare considerations etc.

If you want to write I'd pay for a creative writing course. Prepaid sessions are great for motivation otherwise you lose money! I did a returning to education course in literature last year and that was great and helped me switch on my reading brain again too.

There is also getting up early, I know it sounds hideous but I did do it for a while to get my yoga in. Then I could still flop in the evenings when I was done for the day.

It is hard, I know some people are endlessly motivated but most aren't. Remember it gets easier as they get older, you still have a 2year old so give yourself some grace!

Same here :(