Struggling so much

[HopefulBeckie]

I have a 3 year old and just turned 7 month old and I am struggling. I am looking after them both during the week on my own until my husband finishes work at 5:30/6pm. So we usually split putting them both to bed. My mom had my toddler overnight & brought him back early afternoon. My husband has gone out with his friend & will be back late tonight. I think I’ve hit my limit. I’m taking a moment whilst my son watches a program & my daughter is asleep but I’m just so exhausted!! I have been catching viruses left right & centre and barely sleeping. I just don’t know how to cope right now as I’m so tempted to just sit him in front of the tv until bedtime. I know he won’t do that as he mostly wants to play together and it’s obviously bad but I’m just so so tired

I'm sorry you're struggling, it's such difficult ages. You say your husbands out today, do you get time off at all? Just do whatever it takes that's easiest to get through the day, if that's lots of TV so be it.

All I can promise you is it does get easier.

Is your baby breastfed, how are they sleeping? My third was a nightmare, he was breastfed and woke every hour for a feed. I followed the baby whisperer sleep routine and within a couple of days he was sleeping so much better and I felt so much better.

Right in the thick of it at that age! Plus its February.

Maybe worth checking bloods to see if iron etc is okay?

A day of TV will do no harm.

About once every 2 months or so I do something without the kids. I pretty much have to bring them everywhere with me. She was breastfed up until Christmas but my supply completely went when I got the flu. Generally she does sleep but it’s just difficult to get her to sleep. One minute she wants to be rocked and then the next put down. It is tough when they wake up every hour to feed. I’m lucky that never happened

I know right! And the weather is so terrible so can’t do much outside. And thank you I’ll get them checked

Start taking some vitamin d, it could also be low at this time of year and can make you feel exhausted. I'd start pushing for a bit more time to yourself. Even going to the supermarket alone I seen as a break back in the day and made sure I went somewhere before or after for a coffee. Is your husband doing his fair share to help?

I wish I could say going shopping alone is a break. It still feels like a chore..just a more peaceful chore 😅
He does help me a lot so I know he needs a break too

those early days are so tough. Be kind to yourself. An evening of tv will not harm the older one - I always justified it to myself that CBeebies was educational!

mine have a similar age gap and it feels relentless right now but it will get better. I’m a decade ahead of you but you’re phase doesn’t last forever.

Have you a community to plug into? Friends? Toddler group? Church?

Childcare swaps were a lifesaver for me. Anyone nearby you can take turns babysitting each other's kids?

Can you try and make watching TV exciting, maybe say how nice it will be to get the duvet on the couch and snuggle watching a film? It's awful being poorly when you have young children to look after, you need to just take whatever rest you can whenever you can.