Does anyone else feel like they're constantly on guard?

[zozozoo]

As in when I'm alone with the children I can't just shut my eyes and maybe fall asleep for ten minutes cos there's no one around to take care of things if necessary - to take over guard duty so to speak!

Do you mean at night? I used to feel like this when my DC were small, I did sleep, but it was to the extent that I used to sleep on the sofa downstairs most nights (didn't help that my room was right up in the attic, so I couldn't hear a thing once I was up there). As they got older, I didn't worry so much.

No not so much at night more in general. Maybe just feeling the weight of responsibility... Glad you managed to worry less as yours got older :)