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.

I have a 7 year old ds who is constantly needing close supervision due to SEN.
And an 8 month baby who never sleeps more than 2-3 hours at a time...I'm aware that's not normal, I'll seek advice after the new year.
I'm so exhausted and broken...
But I love them dearly. And time goes by so fast so I want to soak up every moment.
I'm fortunate to have a small gathering this year as I just don't have the energy to socialise with lots of people right now with the way I feel. A solid 6 hours of sleep would be a wonderful gift.
Sometimes I really feel like I'm failing as a parent because I'm so tired and grumpy I am on auto pilot, like I'm watching myself do the most basic tasks.

I feel you OP. I’ve a 2 year old and a nearly 1 year old and fuck me, nothing has ever felt less like a holiday

I think being up every 2-3 hours at 8 months old is normal for a lot of babies. It was for both of mine. If that makes you feel better!

Yep. Today we’ve: delivered to horse riding, collected from a sleepover, made cookies, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, tried and failed at origami, collected a parent from hospital, prepped the gravy, emptied the dishwasher twice, showered everyone, iced the cookies. And that’s only half of it.

Worth it though.

It does a bit, thank you. My first was so easy with sleep and bedtime that this has come as a bit of a shock.
When did yours start to settle properly? Mine gets almost inconsolable during sleep cycles. I end up spending a lot of time cuddling him until he calms down. I really don't know what I am doing wrong i hate seeing him so distraught.

My 9,11 and 12yos fight the whole fucking time. With us and each other.

Sorry everyone,I remember the young years as gorgeous. I expected the work then, I thought it would be easier by now...

I'm having a great time with my 4 year old but we're not hosting so I can just focus on us. Although he is way too excited so he's falling asleep later than usual and my evenings have shrunk.

Same here, my teen is not speaking to me today, I know it's not easy for them but the relentless resistance is so exhausting....

I agree with getting them out like pups in the morning….this is how I survived covid!

And also why all inclusive holidays aren’t great but a needed so you actually get a break from something otherwise it’s just parenting in a different location.

Honestly, what on earth were you expecting ? Surely this should not be a surprise unless you come from another planet?

Well yes. That's what it like though! Soon enough they'll be more self sufficient and soon after not want you in the same room as them and you'll look back at this time with nostalgia.

Yup. That’s why this year we aren’t hosting. It’s tiring enough as it is

Cut all the corners!!!!!

Try and keep things as simple as possible.

Delegate anything you can. Shelve your pride and ask for help.

Let them play in their pjs all day

Sandwich, fruit and yogurt is an ok lunch. If the weather is dry, go out and eat it sat on a bench. Saves cleaning. Take a flask

In my view the teenage years are far far harder!!!!!

The worry, stress and sleepless nights with teenagers can be exhausting!

Taking my 4 year old doesn't make much difference. It seems to give him more energy!

My new favourite game is visiting his hair salon. I sit on the floor for half an hour while he brushes my hair and chats about all his customers. I even get to look at my phone while he disappears to find more 'equipment' and to check on his new customers who are nearly here now mummy! Bliss.

I’m a single parent. I’m physically disabled (as in severe chronic pain and I cannot walk far) and my son has severe adhd and autism so it’s a horrible mix as I cannot keep up with him. I can’t take him out due to my disablity and if he runs off into roads (without fail he does), I physically cannot run after him so it’s safer to stay home. But I’m in a flat with no garden so he runs riot and destroys everything indoors. It’s an exhausting existence. It’s now half 12 and he’s still not asleep. Last night was 1.15 in the morning and he never sleeps earlier than 11pm. I’m exhausted.

I cannot imagine how people cope with more than one child, I’m one of five and I have no idea how my mum done it!

Everyone can you tell you it’s tiring till they are blue in the face … but you just don’t understand till you have kids how overwhelming and overstimulating it all is

Yes. 🙌 have a 2yo.

I had barely registered the run up to Christmas with work and childcare. There is no time to do anything and my house is so much messier than I want it to be 😭 Just finished wrapping all gifts after a 3h session earlier tonight.

I enjoy Christmas build up the most and feel a bit sad it has passed me by a bit this year.

The teenage years (I have daughters) have nearly broken me. And a more stoic single parent you couldn't meet.

Just sayin'

Do they? You'll have to let my 2yo know because he hadn't received that particular memo yet 😂

Well they’re small enough to be picked up and taken or put where you want them. You’re the boss!

Those ages are hard! They still need so much supervision and input from adults. My son was like the bloody duracell bunny at that age!
Definitely agree with take them out to a park/field or go swimming if you can - you need to tire them out.

It will get better- my son is 11 now and it's so much easier. For me, the holidays are more peaceful because we don't have to dash off to swimming 3 times a week (club swimmer). He is much more independent- can get his own breakfast/drinks/snacks etc. Understands if I need to do a job etc.

Only thing for me is the amount of food he consumes 🤯🤯

With hosting- lower your expectations, just do what you can. Chances are, no one will notice what you haven't done.

Good luck!

As someone who couldn't have children, I read these threads and think I dodged a bullet. Christmas is sometimes a time when I think of what might have been. I read all this and think of my nice peaceful Christmas and feel much better.
I would have hated it.

Definitely this! I was a single Mum to my 2 and working f/t. My mantra was a walk or water. Luckily I live by the sea so it was often both but if we were stuck inside they’d go into the bath with plastic cups, whisks, a colander and loads of plastic bottles ( I saved them up). Chuck a bit of shampoo in each one and get them making ‘potions’. I spent many long rainy afternoons drinking a cuppa on the bathroom floor, whilst they had 2 hour baths! You’re in the trenches now but it gets easier I promise!

I used to go straight from exhausted, narky, hyper teenagers to exhausted, whiny, hyper small children. Felt like I was on the verge of a breakdown for years.

They are now teens.

If I didn't lure them out of their rooms with fancy chocolate and Xmas films, I wouldn't see them at all. Although one of them is going to do my eyelashes for me, if I do her nails!