My god, being a parent is so fucking exhausting !!

[exhausta]

Christmas holiday you say ?What is a holiday when you're a parent ??

It's so bloody exhausting.

When they're at school, you have to get up at the crack of dawn, make sure they're ready and get them to school and yourself to work.

In your hard earned holiday, they wake you up at the crack of dawn anyway, then you spend all day cleaning up after them and cooking.

It's exhausting even trying to keep up with it all.

There's just never a break !

Mine are 5 next month and 2 and a half.

Tomorrow we are hosting family whilst also needing to manage the kids while prepping for guests etc.

Can EVERYONE relate ?

The kids are also just bored and frustrated.

Treat them like puppies. Up and out first thing for a run around - day always goes smoother. Doesn’t help with the non stop food prep though 😫

Exhausting yes. We don’t know how we’re going to entertain them for the next two weeks! Mine are 5 and just turned 3. Year on year seems to get easier though.

Hang on in there, in 10 years time you won't see them before lunch😂

The early years are tough - it gets easier

Make sure your kids have jobs to do year round from a fairly young age to contribute to running the home so they're used to helping out

Can so relate, there's something to be said about there being a stay at home parent. At least that parent gets a break during school hours and can get on with tasks that are hard to do with children in tow. Then you'd both have energy for them in the holidays.

modern days of both parents working just doesn't work I don't think. Feels like we're all drowning and there's more pressure from society to do more make "core memories" etc on that pressure mainly comes from social media but still. Exhausting!!!!

It's less physically tiring but much harder emotionally with teens in my view. I think it just gets hard in different ways.

I loved it when it was half term!
so much easier when they’re home!
We definitely used to count days the weeks til the holidays

So true!!

You wait until they are teenagers and just hide in their rooms- we joke the only way to get them out and check they are still alive is to turn off the wifi! 😂

YANBU at all. I remember feeling murderous a few years ago when colleagues were talking about their lovely "breaks".

Mine are 6 and 4 now and it's much easier than a few years ago if that's any use.

Yes, 100% relatable.

I know this is an awful thing to say, but we've actually had a relatively easy day, because younger DC is under the weather and has spent the whole day lying on the sofa. There haven't been any squabbles and older DC has actually managed to show a bit of concern.

I don't think we've ever had such a peaceful day.

Absolutely agree..Hard physical outdoor exercise.

A GP I knew who had a large family of his own {4 children} used to keep a tiny pair of wellies in his surgery and when a mother came in stressed out with her young child/rens behaviour, he'd say get them out and about for a good run around in the open air.

My son had so much energy he'd be climbing the walls if not given a couple of good outings a day...just like young pups!

Same! DS has had the perfect seasonal illness – bit sleepy and calm, even after calpol, wanted a long nap and to play quietly, but crucially wasn’t complaining of feeling grotty so I don’t feel guilty. Got loads of christmas prep done and it was his birthday so lots of exciting new toys to occupy them all and add some structure to the day.

I have one 10yr old and genuinely we have a lovely peaceful time together. Plus she lets me sleep in till whenever I want!

Agreed. Mine are teenagers now but it’s still relentless. Horrendous when you get unwell too and you’ve still got to try to keep everything going while feeling like you are falling apart at the seams. I think the only way it is made easier is having a really decent partner who has your back and loves you - or failing that, a very supportive family/network around to help. It’s tough. And no one really warns you as it looks mean to tell someone how hard it all is before they embark on it.

It is! We adopted DS and he arrived at nearly 3, fully formed with likes, dislikes and ideas about how things ought to be. I was completely shell shocked for the first few months!

As others have said, give it 10 years and you will have Kevin and Perry and never see them unless it's the back of their head as they are stood surveying the contents of the fridge and grunting despondently.

🤣

Mine is 13 - took her to a brilliant show at the weekend and all she could say was "what time does it finish?" So bloody ungrateful.

Mine are also 5 and 2. And yes, exhausting. So tired all the time.

Totally relate to the difficulties of hands on parenting young children whilst also meal prepping and planning for hosting etc.

But the PP who don't know how they're going to entertain toddlers and preschoolers....how bizarre. This is the age where a child led walk to the park for a winter picnic is the stuff of magic! So much free imaginative stuff to do.

Those ages are exhausting! Mine are 8 and 6 now and I've realised the last week how much nicer the holidays are now! I'm actually really enjoying family time.

(Probably helps that they take themselves downstairs and do their own breakfast now and pop the telly on, so DH and I are rarely up before 8.30. Makes such a difference!)

In 10 years time you'll be pissed of because you need to go and the feckers are still under their duvets/in the shower/eating a second breakfast/on their game.

I took my 12 year old sister to a show and she was the same! Just whinging because I told her she couldn't go on her phone. So rude and ungrateful 😔 must have spent over 100£ on tickets, food, transport etc and it was somewhere she said she wanted to go!

Sorry, but I couldn't help but grin at this
Hope your wee one feels better soon ... and I know what you mean!

Was going to suggest this too. Park early in the morning and give them a good run round! My ds is a teen now but when he was little, I'd still make sure he had a park trip on Christmas day, same as every day!

I have a 5 and 3 year old and feel exactly the same.

Yep! She has been told in no uncertain terms that next year, we won't be doing anything like it. Plus l cut her phone off for the rest of the day!