for thinking friends without kids shouldnt be allowed to use the word exhausted?

[guineagents]

just got this thought from a response I read in another post and TOTALLY agreed with!

My DP says I am unreasonable for finding it nigh on impossible to bite my tongue when friends without kids go on about how "exhausted" they are!

Yes they work hard. Yes they have different priorities. And yes it was me who chose to have kids.. but exhausted?? Come on!

They sleep til 11. They get to read papers all the way through. They "potter" about and have pub lunches and quiet adult drinks to "relax" after a hard week

Jealous? Me? {wink}

Definately jealous....you cannot have the monopoly on exhaustion

yabu
my db who is 51 and gets up at 5.30 fopr work and gets home at about 6.30 is allowed to be exhauseted

yabu were you never exhausted before your DC came along? fwiw, I've found that exhaution(sp) has taken on a new meaning since having DS but it doesn't mean you can't be exhausted without them. I'm never really exhausted tbh, just tired, all the time...

You're a martyr. Have a medal.

I have to say, I?m less exhausted now I have DC than when I didn?t! I used to work 12 hour shifts, and did 6 shifts on and 4 shifts off - working nights really took it out of me, and probably really set me up very well for being a Mum. I remember Christmases where I couldn?t keep my eyes open past 2pm (those that I didn?t work, that is) and spending my first day off in every set of shifts in bed, trying to catch up on the sleep I hadn?t had. Changed jobs to ?normal? hours, and since had my DS and DD, and nope - much less exhausted now than I was then! Soz!

I agree It's not fair and probably selfish of me to to think I have the monopoly on exhaustion {blush}

I still think for me though I never knew what exhausted was til I had kids!

I sort of agree with you, but you have to bite your tongue

My DH gets up to go to work at 4am every weekday morning. He also works 2 nights (one week night and one weekend night) - he?s exhausted. I stay at home with our son, and I?m not!
:0

YABU.

But....I sort of agree with you. Childfree people droning on about how tired they are (unless they are caring for an elderly relative) really take the biscuit. Well done for biting your tongue.

I've just finished a year's teacher training. Aside from the holidays, which were spent doing assignments, I was often putting in 12-14 hour days. Up at 6, never in bed before midnight, and a very intense day while the kids were in school.

I don't have kids so I couldn't possible comment, but a fellow student (who DID have children) said she found teacher training tougher than having her two kids.

backs away slowly

"I don't have kids so I couldn't possible comment, but a fellow student (who DID have children) said she found teacher training tougher than having her two kids."

She was just humouring you.

my mil once told me i didn't know the meaning of the word tired. weirdo

No need to hide!! I know what u mean. When I was training as a clinical psychologist the days were longs and commuting was hell and I was exhausted then too. Guess for me its more the mental exhaustion wiv kids, the feeling that yr heads gonna plop off yr shoulders if u get asked the same q one more time or cant have just 1 wee in peace!

Oh, you must know her then, CrackFox?

We actually had the conversation about it at several points through the year. I don't see any reason why she'd lie.

Are you a teacher, CrackFox?

Unless you have family or help which can give you regular breaks from childcare, parenting is a pretty relentless 7-day week toil.

Whereas most jobs, however taxing, usually allow you a break on weekends or a day or two a week to catch up.

I think that is what the OP means when she says her childless friends sleep till 11 and read papers.

Not a teacher but I have lots of good friends that are.

Well, then with all due respect, we're as ignorant as one another as to the reality of each situation.

When I was a student, I had to prop my eyelids open with my fingers in the 9am lectures to stop myself falling asleep. Vaguely remember using the words knackered and exhausted at the time.

Then I had a baby. Sleepless nights, breastfeeding, blah blah. Definately mentioned being exhausted a few times.

Then I had a toddler and a baby. Sleepless nights, breastfeeding, energetic 2 year old to entertain. ...I was soooo knackered!

Now I have a very energetic toddler and a four year old in hospital having cancer treatment. Sleepless nights, top up feeds through a gastrostomy, medicines at midnight, medicines at 6am, 7.30am hospital appointments - now I know what exhausted feels like! Ah... I miss my student days!

It's all relative.

I'm exhausted.
I'm a teacher, with two children and one with SN and he's doing GCSEs.

A student teacher. Not an undergraudate. VERY different prospect.

I think you win sleep-deprived top-trumps, though, FD.

For fun, and hyperbolic reasons.

lol. The stupid thing is, tonight she is in hospital with DH, DD2 is in bed, and yet I am still sat on the sofa witht he laptop instead of getting an early night for once! Gah! Must. Go. To. Bed!