Not coping with half term :(

[ChitterChatter1987]

It is mentally draining the hell out of me.
This cold/wet/dull weather is so depressing for starters.
2 badly behaved kids 4&8 nearly 9 (especially eldest who gets an obvious kick out of being disrespectful to get a reaction and thinks it's funny)
I am 28wks pregnant and youngest was up at 6am so we can't go out anywhere much as I just don't have the energy today.
It is a shame as I always try to look forward to the holidays but all they do is argue, fight, don't listen until i get angry, and I end up just wishing they were back at school and nursery so I could have a break.
I do try spend some time playing with them, but when I feel tired/overstimulated/annoyed I just retreat to my phone to escape.
We have no network of support other than my mum who is in her mid 70s and struggles to cope with them together, which just causes me more stress so I try to limit her having them both.
We used to use a holiday childminder but eldest is too old now for that.
I love them both to bits, but just sometimes resent how challenging they are and feel like it's never ending pushing my buttons, pestering, and arguing (eldest has issues at school too so if i'm not dealing with it first hand in the holidays/weekends i'm having to deal with it second hand in term time)
Does anyone else have such a difficult time? Feels like mine are especially badly behaved to be honest.....

You have my sympathy. I can remember those days, thankfully I’m out the other side now.

When you say the eldest had problems at School, is there a chance that the poor behaviour at home is dopamine chasing?

Thankyou! I'm not sure....possibly as I do think she has ADHD (she is diagnosed with ASD but has always presented more ADHD) but both us and school feel like we don't know when she is purposefully misbehaving and when it is symptomatic of SEN.
She just seems so purposeful with it alot of the time and seems to enjoy winding people up and pushing them to the limit to see how they react.
Went to the doctors this afternoon about a sleep clinic referral and both kids were awfully behaved running around the room, being loud, trying to touch things, fighting etc. He said he will put a note on her record to hopefully help with ADHD diagnosis process as we are looking at getting back on the pathway for that.
Not cause I want to medicate her, but because I just feel it would be a better fit for her diagnosis wise.
Youngest can be hard behaviour wise at home lashing out angrily at sister, whinging, not listening etc, but is apparently completely fine at nursery and childminders so possibly might be just influence of her sister....alot of her behaviours are copying older DD or angry responses from having her buttons pushed by her!
When 1-1 neither's behaviour is too bad, especially eldest, but get them together and it's hell.

Reading this has helped me so much. I am in a similar boat, 36 weeks pregnant with a 2 year old and 4 year old. I have had the day from hell. No support, too tired to leave the house. I was up at 5am with the 4 year old this morning and only got about 5 hours sleep last night. Feel like a crap parent today.

I hope it helps you to know you are not alone.

Definitely read up on dopamine chasing then. Both of mine are now diagnosed with ADHD but at that age they weren’t and I truly sympathise.

You can do sone things, like try to get them to eat a high protein breakfast, getting her to exercise as often as you can.

You’ve mentioned sleep, is she currently on Melatonin?

Aww bless you, i'm pleased it has been helpful- sending solidarity and a big hug!
Parenting is so bloody hard especially with tiredness and pregnancy hormones in the mix!

Do you have a partner around much? I have a DH who is supportive, which i know i am lucky to have, but he is out at work all weekdays 7.30-5 and doesn't have much annual leave wheras i have more and work part time, so I have the kids alot more.He is home now and after me ending up crying because i'm so stressed he has taken over doing the bedtime routine so I can have a break.I worry sometimes about bringing a baby into what recently feels like a very conflictual and chaotic home, as although he will be very much loved by us all i just worry about the impact of being around so much stress!

Really hope we can both get a better night's sleep and have better days tomorrow! 😫🥱🤞

Thanks, i will! Yes i don't think it's helped that we haven't got out anywhere much for exercise this week...she is like a coiled spring sometimes.Tomorrow we are going to a soft play so hopefully that might help.
She isn't on melatonin at the moment- her sleep is really up and down- once asleep she will be fine but alot of the time her bedtime is 8-8.30 but sleep time is 9.30-10pm.She does go through patches where she has a good spell and it might be more like 9-9.15, but then it always goes back again.

Melatonin doesn’t work fkr everyone but I think in your case it’s worth trying. My DD was chronically tired and the slow release tablets really helped.

I have the same worries. My partner is also supportive but also works and I do most of the childcare. I think 2 children whilst pregnant is just a lot, even with a supportive partner! We've reached the weekend anyway!

It is for sure!
Yes go us! 👍 I hope your friday was better? I got the kids out to the soft play and a chocolate making experience, and we had a much better day and enjoyed each others company. And today husband was home so took them to the park whilst I went for coffee with a friend which was nice :)