I feel so tired and not a good mother at all. Before I had children I had all these ideas needed for good parenting skills: reading to them, no unhealthy foods, no TV for under 2s.. Also, I assumed as I was in my late 20s and sick of tired of clubbing etc, I would definitely be ready for a baby. But in reality, I spend most of my days cleaning, changing nappies, doing cooking while the DS is doing something naughty/dangerous/constantly demanding something and the baby is crying. I hardly ever have time to play with the kids. (Though I try to take them out daily and read to them a bit.) I feel stupid that just because I had my typical middle-class ideals of parenting that would make me a good one. Most days I walk about the flat like zombie, cry a lot (which upsets the DS) and feel like the lack of sleep has destroyed 50% of my brain cells. It is no good suggest to do less cleaning, (as I pretty much do the minimum) or somebody else to help. I remember how tired one can be after long day at the office and my husband doesn't really like housework(he never demands that I do any either so give him a break.) Only FIL and his new wife can do a little bit of baby sitting, no help from anywhere else.