I hate Sundays

[mistymirror]

I've always hated Sundays. Ever since I was a little girl I would just get this really heavy, sad feeling on a Sunday and I wondered if anyone else did/does?
I used to spend my weekends with my Dad as a child and he would take me home on a Sunday where I would cry because I missed him so much in the week so I'm not sure if this feeling has just stayed with me deep down and now Sundays are tainted for me. But I'm in my 30s now, married with children and there's no need for me to hate this day so much but I still do. Sunday is like a January for me. Anyone else feel the same or do I need therapy? 🙈

I am sure your childhood did have a large influence on how you feel about Sundays now op, and therapy is always an option, but I would first try and instigate some changes that turn the emotion of sadness in to action .

Two things op;

• structure

AND

• doing something with the dc that YOU enjoy!

I found that weekends with dc went a lot better if they followed a plan, usually involving getting out of the house reasonably early on at least one of the mornings, and putting the dc in a sports class, or going for an interesting walk, and then coming home to lunch is much more enjoyable. And then everyone is far more likely to chill. A family tidy up hour is also good.

And I realised far too late that every single weekend was attuned to my dcs’ choices and I was a much better mother if my choices were allowed a little daylight on Sundays! So I used to drag my dcs’ horse-riding and they used to complain mildly on the way but always ended up enjoying it when actually there!

Is there something you would really like to do op that you enjoy and you are missing? Can you weave it in to a family activity?

The alternative is that you and your dh each give each other a couple of child-free hours on Sundays when you are alone to pursue your own interests.

If you work all week and your weekends become totally child focused; where is there any room for you? Mothers need to recharge too! Take the opportunity with both hands op because I realised too late that if you don’t, no one will offer it to you! And your children will benefit from having a re-energised mum.

I love Sundays. No pressure, no rushing, no stress. Just the freedom to wake up whenever we like and do whatever we like.

Reading your update about feeling lonely op, could you get a regular baby-sitter for a couple of hours on a Sunday morning or afternoon which would allow you and your dh to reconnect a bit?

I've always hated Sundays simply because the next day is Monday and I can't help feeling sad about it. I even preferred Fridays at school coz Saturday was coming!
Sundays with a period are particularly bad.

I hated sundays as a child. We had to have a roast dinner even when it was really hot. My granddad would create arguments. He had to be right about everything. He would get moody if someone expressed a different opinion.

I cannot remember how I felt about Sundays as a child, I love them now, especially now that DS1 with SEN a learning difficulties is slightly more independent. I don’t fell guilty about going out for a run in the morning, taking my time cooking something nice, watching a film, or just chilling listening or watching my favourite podcasts!

I think you need to start organising something you are really looking forward to exclusively on Sundays for a while, even if it's something small. If it were me that would be some "me" time with coffee and a newspaper, or getting my nails done, or an exercise class, or meeting a friend. That may or may not be viable depending on your parenting situation, but try to carve out something - anything - for you, and over time it will become something to look forward to.

Sunday has become my favourite day of the week over the last few years - the kids activities of Saturday are done, the visiting friends or housework is usually complete on Friday evening and Saturday.

we do have a semi structured day, up and out - ds1 swims at 8:30, home to dh making bacon buns and coffee then we head out somehwere.

home by 1/2ish for late lunch and then wind down time; catch up on Saturday night tv (gladiators yay) grocery delivery arrives and then kids help prep for the week. (They’re 9 and 5) often a card or board game, dh has gone out now to play tennis - boys are watching a movie and I’m reading mn with a hot cup of tea. I like the chill, the no pressure day, it’s all about us and our little family unit on a Sunday.

Don't like them either OP and you don't need therapy. I'm quite ancient so I remember Sunday being the day when everything was shut. Worse than that was the thought of going back to work on Monday, so Sunday was always counting down the hours and minutes. You could never really relax. A Sunday lunch was nice. Favourite day is probably Wednesday.

Yes, it was wasn't it, especially because Jimmy Savile invaded our kitchen every Sunday ....

@MrsMoastyToasty

It's like that where I live now (not the UK) and very little to do on a Sunday, but I quite like it as it's a forced day of rest.

I love Sundays but have a very similar feeling about Saturdays? I have no idea why. It makes me feel sort on edge and empty? Sounds strange I know

Sundays as a child were the worst! Grandstand and songs of praise, being told off constantly for messing around but not having anything to do. I didn't realise that other people also felt this way!

I do sometimes feel that emptiness creeping back in. I have a DC now so I'm trying to break the cycle in a lot of ways. I probably need to start naking more of an effort to make them special.

It's Antiques Roadshow theme for me! Meant school the next day and another anxious week in the classroom and worse the playground.

Not diagnosed (in late 50s) but I'm sure I'm autistic.

Sunday is my favourite day of the week! I always get up early and go for a walk & for a coffee. It’s much quieter than Saturdays.

If I want to go shopping I go at opening on Sunday, it’s much calmer and I can actually enjoy it and use the changing rooms without queuing.

I make sure the sheets are fresh and laundry done by Friday/Saturday, so Sunday is just for relaxing, we go for a meal out or get a takeaway. I always have a bath and do all of my self care, foot mask etc. I definitely see Sunday as my ‘me’ day ☺️

I used to feel exactly the same OP, until I reduced my hours, and now I don’t work on Mondays. So by Sunday evening I’m very happy and relaxed at the thought of having a day to myself the next day!

Aw I love Sundays but I can see why many of you don’t.

as a child I looked forward to Sundays because that was my day where I helped at my local riding stables, then after picking picked up at half five it was home for a bath, tea, antiques roadshow, songs of praise, chronicles of narnia/the borrowers/five children and it or whatever then reading in bed. I just found it a huge comfort, same routine etc, life wasn’t always great for me then.

even as an adult, it’s always been a quieter day for me (usually), it was my day to spend with my dc, then getting ready for the week ahead.

these days I try and have some time to myself, either crafting or going out. My kids are all nearly grown so it’s a bit easier.

the loneliness aspect that pp’s have mentioned does resonate a little with me though, I am on my own now, dc don’t want to do anything with me and all about me on Sundays everyone’s in couples or with their young children and even though people say oh you must go out by yourself and go to these places or to the pictures/theartre/country parks/country houses, in reality very few people actually are by themselves and then you either feel like an intruder or really self conscious. I find that feeling even worse in spring and summer

My friend grew up in a place where Sundays were taken very seriously. No activity except church, no gardening, no social gatherings, no sport, no shops, definitely no pub. Even the children's playground was locked up.

After a Saturday night with a sick bug her mother once did a load of washing and hung it out on the Sunday to dry and to smell fresh. Two elders from the kirk came round to have stern words.

She has moved far away and is free of the stranglehold of an austere religion.

I love Sundays myself, there are always fun or interesting things to do.

Same where I live. I don’t mind.

I remember as a kid there would always be the eastenders omnibus on tv and sometimes a Sunday roast and then between 4pm and 7pm I'd be in my room listening to the top 40 charts trying to record my favourite song on to a tape 🤣

I remember they moved the eastenders omnibus to a different day and that felt so wrong haha

@likerocksfalling

I do think it means it's a mad rush to get everything done on a Saturday and traffic is bad but I do like a lazy Sunday. (Though when I visit the uk I forget things are open and I can go shopping!)

I love Sundays and have a nice set up. But I can't travel Sunday evening as takes me back to leaving for boarding

It sometimes is, especially if you forget to buy wine and they close at two on Saturdays and that’s it for the weekend. 😂 You get used to it though.

Yes - agree. Maybe hate is too strong but it has a sort of heavy sad feel.
for me it was associated with going back to school and homework and nothing being open (no Sunday trading) and bad TV - religious boring tv for a child.

I think you can get something so ingrained in you by repetition as a child the feeling sticks.

I don't like Sundays either; somehow they epitomise all the sadness in my life. My mum died when I was a child and it was incredibly sad and lonely. Somehow, Sundays seemed worse than the other days. Perhaps it was because it seemed that everyone was having a happy family day. Then when I had my child, I became a single parent soon after. Sundays reinforced the intense loneliness of single parenthood; all around me seemed to be full of couples with babies/young children/GPs.
Now, my adult child has gone completely off the rails and we are estranged.
Sundays seem to magnify that sadness too. I look forward to Mondays as it is the start of the new week and in the deepest part of my heart, I allow a ray of hope to flicker