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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Why can't I just be happier ? Am I actually depressed ?

70 replies

unhappiemum · 25/10/2023 11:19

Sorry to post this on here but I just don't know what to do with myself.

I feel like I'm failing at every single aspect of my life.

I have two very young kids ( under 4 ). I have a husband and I have a family. I have a career too. But I feel like I suck at all of these things.

I don't feel like I play with my kids enough and I feel bad when I discipline them. I don't feel like a good mum. My oldest sometimes asks for her dad when I've told her off or put her in time out and I feel so bad about it. The last few nights she has woken me up at around 3 am and just stayed awake until 5 am for no apparent reason. One of the nights she asked me for chocolate milk and I shouted at her and then the next night I could tell she wanted to ask me again but she knew not to ask and it just made me feel like the worst human ever. Eventually I asked her is she wanted chocolate milk and she said ' yes please '. To be fair she always wants chocolate milk, but that's not the point. Last night my youngest was playing up, like he does every night at bed time, so I put him in his cot as punishment ( as he hates it in his cot ) and he was crying and my older child was also crying because he was crying. I felt bad again. My older child kept asking for her dad.

Speaking of dad. Dad works like an absolute dog away from home 5-6 nights a week and doesn't get in until 9pm. He's exhausted and has nothing to give. He is not happy with me and just wants me to give him sex, which I can't do because it brings me to my next point- I keep gaining weight. I used to be quite attractive and I suppose I don't actually look that old. I have quite a few years left of being reasonably young and I could be much better looking but I just can't seem to pull myself together and I absolute hate what I've become now. It's just not me and I cannot be touched by my husband when I look the way I do. I really am vile. I try to eat better but I just keep fucking it up.

This brings me onto work. I just can't concentrate on my work. I suspect I have adhd to be honest. It's always been very difficult for me to concentrate. I have some better days but it's a huge slog and I constantly feel like I'm not doing enough and like I'm absolutely rubbish at my job. I talk to people a lot in my work and I listen back to some of my conversations and I'm just absolutely awful. I'm nervous, unsure, under-confident and I don't know what I'm talking about. I sit and try to learn and train myself to do better and sometimes I do feel slow improvements but overall- I'm not where I should be.

This brings me to my house keeping skills. I do ok some of the time although my drawers and cupboards can be a bit messy. I do like to keep a tidyish house as I just cannot even begin to function properly otherwise. But I notice that I'll keep it all quite tidy for a few weeks and the it goes down hill. It's never as consistent as I would like. To keep it tip too tidy, I literally have to be clearing up and tidying constantly. I already have a cleaner once a week and this barely touches the sides. I also outsource the ironing of my husbands shirts.

Cooking - I'm not great at. I can't be bothered really and it's more mess than it's worth but it's a necessary evil. My husband is really into food so he is pretty much always disappointed in what I make. Oh he also thinks I don't feed the kids good enough food and always makes that clear.

Anyway, I know life is hard at this stage with two young kids, a husband that's not there really ( I do everything for the kids for 5-6 days a week ) they go to nursery thankfully. But all night wakings, all dinners, all getting ready in the morning, nursery runs, cooking, laundry, buying nappies and new clothes etc etc ( I do all of that stuff ).

I have a reasonably flexible job that allows me autonomy over my time. But it's pretty high pressured and results driven. It's definitely a challenging but rewarding career.

In any case. I know many many people have it much worse than me. I live in a big house and I have a big salary, so does my husband. But the drudgery and the exhaustion of everything is driving me insane and I want to scream most days.

Above all I want to be more present for my kids. I love them so much. Could I be depressed or is this just life that I can't deal with?

OP posts:
Angryappendix · 25/10/2023 11:23

Why are you feeding you under 4 year old chocolate milk during the night?

You’re sending a confusing message that if she wakes during the night, she’ll get chocolate milk.

Also why do you need to shout during the night? Sound a bit harsh, if a young child has woken up there must be a reason and shouting will not solve it.

How old is your youngest and why are you “punishing” a tiny child??

Ginmonkeyagain · 25/10/2023 11:23

Your husband is not helping. If he likes food so much and doesn't like your cooking - how about he does it?

Why does he work until 9pm every night?

unhappiemum · 25/10/2023 11:27

Angryappendix · 25/10/2023 11:23

Why are you feeding you under 4 year old chocolate milk during the night?

You’re sending a confusing message that if she wakes during the night, she’ll get chocolate milk.

Also why do you need to shout during the night? Sound a bit harsh, if a young child has woken up there must be a reason and shouting will not solve it.

How old is your youngest and why are you “punishing” a tiny child??

Edited

Oh I just lost my cool because she kept not letting me go back to sleep and then she kept asking me for milk and I said no and she started having a tantrum so I shouted at her.

I don't know why she sometimes wakes up and stays awake. She wakes up every night and just wants me to give her a cuddle back to sleep. But some nights, she just won't go back to sleep. I don't know why.

OP posts:
treeoaklane · 25/10/2023 11:28

What's your social life like? Give a bit back to yourself which will hopefully give you the motivation you need. As it sounds you are giving and giving and giving and you are running on empty.

I'm a very dedicated parent myself and was running empty, always giving back but now I take my self off to the sunbed twice a week it's only something little but honestly it really has made me feel good

unhappiemum · 25/10/2023 11:29

How old is your youngest and why are you “punishing” a tiny child??

Youngest is 18 months and he does this thing where he refuses to sleep in his cot and has to sleep in a bed. But he gets out of the bed 100 times at bed times and starts running around. So I 'punished' him ( just once ) by putting him in his cot for a few minutes because I know he doesn't like it in there. I was still in the room. When I took him out I gave him a cuddle and then he stopped running around.

OP posts:
unhappiemum · 25/10/2023 11:31

treeoaklane · 25/10/2023 11:28

What's your social life like? Give a bit back to yourself which will hopefully give you the motivation you need. As it sounds you are giving and giving and giving and you are running on empty.

I'm a very dedicated parent myself and was running empty, always giving back but now I take my self off to the sunbed twice a week it's only something little but honestly it really has made me feel good

I don't really have a social life at the moment. I WhatsApp with friends and joke around but I really have no desire or energy to meet up with anyone.

It's always so long winded and complicated to make plans and I just don't have the energy for it.

OP posts:
unhappiemum · 25/10/2023 11:32

Ginmonkeyagain · 25/10/2023 11:23

Your husband is not helping. If he likes food so much and doesn't like your cooking - how about he does it?

Why does he work until 9pm every night?

He doesn't have time to cook cos he's never home. His job is intense and requires these hours at the moment.

OP posts:
Ginmonkeyagain · 25/10/2023 11:34

Well in that case he puts up with that he is given. How does he think single people or couples who both have intense jobs cope?

PlumpAndGrump · 25/10/2023 11:35

unhappiemum · 25/10/2023 11:29

How old is your youngest and why are you “punishing” a tiny child??

Youngest is 18 months and he does this thing where he refuses to sleep in his cot and has to sleep in a bed. But he gets out of the bed 100 times at bed times and starts running around. So I 'punished' him ( just once ) by putting him in his cot for a few minutes because I know he doesn't like it in there. I was still in the room. When I took him out I gave him a cuddle and then he stopped running around.

😱😱😱

No wonder he won't sleep in the cot.

I would speak to your GP about how you are feeling.

unhappiemum · 25/10/2023 11:36

@PlumpAndGrump sorry why is that so shocking ?

I only did this once ! He has refused to sleep in his cot for about 6 months and I tried absolutely everything to get him to sleep in it.

OP posts:
Desecratedcoconut · 25/10/2023 11:36

You just sound fucking exhausted to me.

treeoaklane · 25/10/2023 11:36

Friends popping in for coffee is a good start. Also Listen to motivational podcasts they are brilliant. Anything to motivate you.
You've said you are both well paid can you get a cleaner?? If hubby is away he would be none the wiser.
The saying happy life is a happy wife and it's very true.

Small changes

Th1sisnotadrill · 25/10/2023 11:37

I feel the same way and in similar circumstances, also feeling so beat down by life and it's endless drudgery. I can relate to the mum guilt as I spend most evenings feeling guilty that I've not been in a good frame of mind to be fun and energetic as I'm shattered from work. I think it'll get easier we are in the thick of it I think. Try and do something for you once or twice a week and try not to be so hard on yourself, you've got s lot on your plate and I'd be having a firm word with your partner as well, him being out til 9pm is ludicrous and he needs to help you carry this enormous load - you can't sustain this without burning out. Sending solidarity ❤️

unhappiemum · 25/10/2023 11:39

Desecratedcoconut · 25/10/2023 11:36

You just sound fucking exhausted to me.

Yeah. I just don't know how much longer I can take it. I was also super burnt out on my maternity leave. I just don't know what's wrong with me.

OP posts:
Ginmonkeyagain · 25/10/2023 11:41

Your partner needs to leave his Big Job earlier and take on some of the domestic work. Or if his Big Job is really too Big for that he need to throw money at the issue - pay for a cleaner or get those meal kits/posh ready meals.

treeoaklane · 25/10/2023 11:42

I was the same hun. And I had a vitamin D deficiency they gave me some extra strong course and honestly I was on top of the fucking world for three weeks.
Then the course finished 😌 started to gradually feel like shite again.

It's shocking what a lack of vitamin can do to your body
It's worth checking out

NoSquirrels · 25/10/2023 11:43

Your issue is that you have no support from your co-parent.

You have an intense job.
He has an intense job.

But you do all the housework/domestic management (including outsourcing his shirts - hint, that’s HIS sole responsibility, not yours!), and all the parenting, including in the middle of the night.

It’s not you.

Desecratedcoconut · 25/10/2023 11:44

unhappiemum · 25/10/2023 11:39

Yeah. I just don't know how much longer I can take it. I was also super burnt out on my maternity leave. I just don't know what's wrong with me.

You have two small children who don't sleep well, a busy job and a miserable and grumpy dh who doesn't chip in to family life or running a home. That's what's wrong with you. What kind of superpowers do you think you have to manage all that and not feel like a broken arse?

NoSquirrels · 25/10/2023 11:47

My husband is really into food so he is pretty much always disappointed in what I make. Oh he also thinks I don't feed the kids good enough food and always makes that clear.

He is not happy with me and just wants me to give him sex,

It’s not you. He sounds like an arsehole.
I agree that if his Big Job requires him 15 hours a day 6 days a week then he needs to use his Big Salary to pay for a nanny-housekeeper who cooks, so you have time for self-care.

willWillSmithsmith · 25/10/2023 11:53

I can’t offer any advice (but I can relate to a lot of it). Your OP made me think of Wendy Craig in Butterflies (an old 70s show you probably don’t know). 💐

bridgetreilly · 25/10/2023 11:55

You need a cleaner, an au pair, and probably a home PA.

WonderingAboutBabies · 25/10/2023 11:56

Aw OP, you sound absolutely exhausted!! It might be time now to start re-evaluating things in your life to make certain parts easier.

For example - cooking. Can you (Or DH as he seems to be the foodie?) do batch cooking one night a week and utilize the freezer more? There are some really quick meals you can warm up in the microwave/hob. That'd take away a bit of cooking time in the day and also your husband can just pop something in the microwave when he's home!!

Also, to help me feel a bit less rubbish when I'm feeling down, I make myself healthy smoothies in the morning. It just kicks my day off on a good note and I get some vitamins in as well which really help.

Cleaning - don't worry too much about mess. It's going to get messy again!! What you should focus on is keeping things clean e.g. hoovering/mopping, cleaning bathroom, surfaces etc. Also you could get the kids to help tidy up, maybe even use rewards e.g. tv time/snack/chocolate milk.

Work wise - if you can, maybe look for another job that may be more suited to you? If you think you have ADHD, you can get medication that helps you focus - go to the GP :)

unhappiemum · 25/10/2023 11:56

bridgetreilly · 25/10/2023 11:55

You need a cleaner, an au pair, and probably a home PA.

I do have a cleaner. Au pair is hard to find where I live.

I also outsource the ironing of my husbands shirts.

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 25/10/2023 11:59

unhappiemum · 25/10/2023 11:56

I do have a cleaner. Au pair is hard to find where I live.

I also outsource the ironing of my husbands shirts.

But you need a housekeeper. And probably a nanny. And ironing his shirts is his responsibility.

If you don’t truly believe in yourself that ironing his shirts isn’t your job to outsource, then you’ve got some stuff to unpick within yourself about domestic roles and working parents.

unhappiemum · 25/10/2023 12:00

WonderingAboutBabies · 25/10/2023 11:56

Aw OP, you sound absolutely exhausted!! It might be time now to start re-evaluating things in your life to make certain parts easier.

For example - cooking. Can you (Or DH as he seems to be the foodie?) do batch cooking one night a week and utilize the freezer more? There are some really quick meals you can warm up in the microwave/hob. That'd take away a bit of cooking time in the day and also your husband can just pop something in the microwave when he's home!!

Also, to help me feel a bit less rubbish when I'm feeling down, I make myself healthy smoothies in the morning. It just kicks my day off on a good note and I get some vitamins in as well which really help.

Cleaning - don't worry too much about mess. It's going to get messy again!! What you should focus on is keeping things clean e.g. hoovering/mopping, cleaning bathroom, surfaces etc. Also you could get the kids to help tidy up, maybe even use rewards e.g. tv time/snack/chocolate milk.

Work wise - if you can, maybe look for another job that may be more suited to you? If you think you have ADHD, you can get medication that helps you focus - go to the GP :)

Thank you. You're very kind.

In terms of clearing things. I just really need a relatively tidy house, otherwise I feel completely overwhelmed.

I've spoken to my gp recently and there's a two year wait. But I'm looking into going private and seeing if I can get help that way. I would love to just be able to bang out my work in my allocated time. If I was properly productive I could easily go to the gym or play sports and hour every day, but because I doddle around so much I just can't. I used to go to the gym during the working day but I would just not get enough done due to how I work.

OP posts: