To think some people exaggerate how tired they are as parents?

[ThatMellowGreenFatball]

Yes, raising kids is hard, but sometimes it seems like people milk the ‘tired parent’ angle for sympathy. AIBU to think they overstate it?

I doubt it.
It's probably more that some people having not been through it don't appreciate what it's like.

I seem to have every weekend booked up with school events (including stuff that needs practice or prep), playdates, hobbies, we having some trouble with bed wetting and some schooling stuff that needs sorting. I am actually very tired tbh. Still have to empty the dishwasher and get another load on before I can get into bed.

People can be tired for all sorts of things. I don’t have kids but I have a farm and a yard of horses to run. Early mornings and physical work all day in all weathers.
My friend has 2 kids and spends most of her day in the house, but she is often shattered too. No-one’s worse off.
It’s just different lives isn’t it?

I'm absolutely f**cking knackered and have been for most of the time I've had kids. It's not just parenting and the drudgery of house work, it's exacerbated by a demanding job, a long commute, chronic pain, out of control hormones, overwhelm from current affairs. I feel like I spend my weekends trying to recover just to do it all over again. I am no longer in the phase where I am so tired all the time it never feels safe to drive, but I still very tired. And I am not exaggerating.

Yabu

There are all different kinds of kids and all different kinds of parents. Lone parents, disabled kids etc..

Surely you must realise you can't generalise.

I wouldn’t assume the Op has no children tbh.

I agree with this. You could easily guess who had young kids in my last workplace. They never really said anything about being tired but it was obvious by looking at them.

I’ve been tired since 2008 🤨🥱😆

Not in my experience. I’m a parent with a near 2 year old and work FT in a demanding job. I’m physically and mentally exhausted and have been since I got pregnant. There is always something to do, no downtime and little chance to properly rest. My DD sleeps well and always has since about 4-5m. I’m still knackered regardless.

I must admit I didn't suffer from the exhaustion (mental or physical) that posters often express on this site but, by today's standards, I was a young mum. So many women are having children in their mid thirties/early forties these days and I think this is bound to impact energy levels.

I don't have kids. I have felt that deep in your bones tiredness (mostly where I'd stay up til the early hours then get up at 6am and do a 12 hour shift with a 3 hr commute a day - stupid).

The difference is once I got home, I only had to shove a pizza in the oven and crash out in front of the TV and stay up too late again

I think parent tiredness is a whole other level because it's 24/7. You're always 'on' and always have to put the tiny human first. It never stops. I didn't have a house plant to take care of

I mean I don’t have kids but every parent I know has been knackered to a greater or lesser degree. I don’t know how people manage except that you just have too. Why on Earth would anyone exaggerate it? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Bit of a mean post, in my opinion. This is supposed to be a supportive forum not a finger pointing one.

Not sure what this thread is trying to achieve. Obviously being switched on 24/7 for someone who depends on you is going to be exhausting. Doubt any parent is exaggerating.

What do they have to gain from faking tiredness?
Who do you think they get sympathy from?

are you Kemi Badenoch?

Yeah it's weird but someone started a very similar thread the other day.

What's your agenda OP?

I definitely think there's a lot of competitive tiredness which is annoying.

I'm certainly not finding it as soul crushingly exhausting as people made it out to be before I was a mum.

5yo and 2yo and totally fucking permanently knackered. The end.

lol. I had a child who woke 5-8 times a night, EVERY night, for 3 years. I was also ill with an autoimmune disease that makes you tired. Then I was pregnant second time. So yes, I was actually flipping exhausted, to the point of collapse.

I wasn't complaining though, because I was so exhausted I barely could face meeting anybody to complain to!

Everybody is different. If you don't feel that "tired" means to you what it does to others, just count yourself lucky?

Do you have kids 😅🤣

What's it to you? Are you a parent and/or are you pissed off at someone who is a parent?

You may have a point. DD1 was a crap sleeper and 2 kids a full time job as a lone parent was hard work but I wouldn't say I was constantly exhausted. I had them at 20 and 23 so maybe that's why

I don’t know, it’s relative isn’t it. I have 4 kids, single parent albeit my eldest 2 are now adults, but youngest has complex needs and my 23 year old has had a really difficult time recently. Add to that no thyroid, a job as a nurse so yep I am tired!! No idea if that’s more or less than anyone else but it isn’t a competition it’s just parents expressing they are finding things tough at varying degrees

Well it’s subjective isn’t it and every person has different energy levels. Every family has it’s individual things which make life more or less exhausting.

Personally, I’ve felt permanently exhausted for 9 years. 2 kids, 1 with SEN, working f/t in an intense job. Poor sleep, various health issues, very limited family help.

it’s the accumulation of tiredness and the absolute relentlessness which is just unbelievable.