Do you have the energy to go out/do things in the evenings?

[Whenwillthebuildingnoisestop]

I don’t.

I’m 45 with a 5 year old dc

Pre child and pre 40, I used to work full time all day, come home and often go to the beach until 10 pm ish or happily walk the dog or workout.
Now I just feel too tired and watch tv on the sofa.
The will is there in wanting to go out, I’m not depressed etc, I just get to the point where I can’t be bothered/just want to stay in.
I often feel too tired to walk the dog after 6, it’s becoming ridiculous as I love to do these things or used to at least.
Is this normal?
Is it age? having a 5 year old? Or something else?
Anyone else like this?
I just want to live my life!

I'm 51 with an 11 year old so had a child of roughly your child's age when I was your age, and no, I don't think that's normal. Or it wasn't for me at that age and parenting stage. Get your bloods checked? Could you be anaemic or deficient in Vit B or D?

@OriginalBliss Perhaps I need to if it’s not a general thing, Dh is the same but works a physical job
I have younger friends with kids the same age and some are the same, not all though
Dc is v v active and quite demanding

We are 43 and 47 with dc 4 and 8, and we both work f/t.

I spend my entire life exhausted and with no energy to do anything beyond working and parenting. No deficiencies etc as have been checked for all sorts.

I do make myself do things but it is a massive effort and frankly I’d far rather rest.

Not in the slightest. I'm 35 with a 5 and 3 year old!
If they're in bed particularly early, I might volunteer to DH to do the supermarket trip for a few things, but anything more than that?! No chance.

I hear you OP. I'm mid 40s with two primary aged DC (one autistic). I survive each day. Going to bed is usually the highlight!

Don’t mean this in an awful way but a relief to hear others are the same. Even now I feel quite tired and it’s only 4! Have only been out for big food shop (was packed due to holidays) and another shop with Dd.
Made breakfast and lunch for her and unpacked the shopping bags..not sure this is normal 🙈
The thought of making dinner and doing crafts with Dd in a minute is 😩
I used to have so much energy.
Its not great that I feel too tired to rant out dog out in the early evenings though as I used to love that

*Take our dog out

45. DD is 11 so a little easier. I literally force myself to go out to do martial arts and yoga. Often I feel like I could cry. But, if I stayed in it would eat away at me too. There is a lyric in a song which says 'don't take a free ride in your own life' and I really don't want to spend my time scrolling on MN or half watch something on TV, which is what I would do if I stayed in.

Often, I am glad I went out. I found the less I do, the less I want to do.

I am 43 with a 3, 6 and 8 year old and I hate going out in the evening! My youngest is a terrible sleeper and I have an autoimmune disease which doesn't help, I'm always knackered, but by the time the kids are in bed (8 year old is quite late now) I just can't be arsed.

I do go for a run in the evening once a week and walk the dog for a neighbour on another night, but the thought of getting ready to actually go out out fills me with dread!

2 and a 6 yr old- I can manage a dinner with friends but that’s it- a loud bar, a club, god no- I’d die!

No but I do anyway because that’s life. This week going to the theatre and out for dinner with friends. DH going to theatre on a different night this week. In term time I’m out 2 nights a week usually minimum. 3 kids under 8. It is exhausting but it’s the stuff of life is it not?

I think it's self fulfilling, I'm 48 and left to my own devices would happily sit on the sofa for hours, I'm on it right now in fact and will probably not move much until bedtime at 11pm.

I find that I feel more tired on my days off and the weekend though, I have no problem getting up at 7.30, doing the school run, working until pick up time, walking the dogs, doing dinner etc but if I don't have to get up I'll lie in then sit on the sofa and feel tired.

I can't say it's boredom because I love doing nothing and really enjoy sleeping.

Do you think if you forced yourself to put your shoes on at 6pm to walk the dog and go to the beach that you'd feel tired when you were out?

I always seem to be exhausted. I think it’s because my ferritin is low but I just get fobbed off by gps because it can be lower in heavily menstruating women. I don’t have heavy periods but they won’t bloody listen and I’m too tired to push.

I'm 60 with a 15yo. I still do things on Summer evenings - go for a run or cycling etc.

But 2 years ago I was falling asleep on the sofa at 7pm. Dsis dragged me to GP and made me go for a routine mammogram. Found a lump, surgery etc etc.

Two years later I'm back to normal energetic self.

Extreme tiredness is not normal - go to a gp. It could be malfunctioning thyroid or any number of other things but GET IT CHECKED.

mid 40s, part time job, 2 DC with disabilities. I haven't been out in the evening in years. No childcare and even less energy.

Oh and I have an autoimmune disease, like PP, so yep, shattered.

I didn’t before I changed jobs, I’m now far less exhausted despite working longer hours and less holiday!
38, dc are 19,18 and 12 so older and less needy in many ways.

No. I'm 49. I've had one night out in 8 years.
I can sometimes make it to an evening gym class but its so hard to make it work around mealtimes and general life admin.
My DD has MH problems so my priority is looking after her and keeping myself well. If I get run down I risk time off work.

Can you fit in more exercise? That gives you more energy and stamina

I'm 47 (kids are 17 and 19), work full time and am out most nights. I WFH and hate staying in once I've logged off so will often go to the gym then out for a couple of drinks or if not a gym night, I'll go for a run or walk.

I can't imagine being as tired as you seem to be OP, shattered by 4pm? I'd get your iron, etc. levels checked out. You're only 45!

I was the same and thought it was just me (30 with DC 1 and 4) but after I started with some more physical symptoms I went to my GP and was started on iron, folic acid and b12 as all were low, folic acid in particular..I still have days like today where I feel tired but it's more of a 'i need to sleep' tiredrather than the permanent state of lethargy I was in before. I have so much more energy now, it's actually a bit scary!

I'm early 30s and used to go running 3x a week for an hour and do other hobbies and socialise. Since I've been pregnant I've had HG and I've been too exhausted to do anything apart from work and sleep! Hoping it will get better!

SAHM here to 3 and 5 year old DD’s, I really don’t like going out in the evening! On the go from 6.30am until the eldest is asleep at 8.30pm.

Those couple of hours to myself afterwards are bliss and I just want to be alone or with DP in peace. It recharges me.

When they get older I’m sure I’ll have more energy and enthusiasm to go out more but at the moment I love my evenings to myself. (All my socialising is done in the day though)

Absolutely not 😂
I'm 31 and have a 3yo and 10mo.
I am always tired 😂

I’m the same age, but with teens. I go out a couple of nights a week.

Worth getting a blood test, OP.