Please tell me it gets easier, or it's just a phase. I'm so tired and frustrated and angry all the time

[groak]

have dcs 2 and 5 and youngest dc seems to have hit the surly 'everything is mine', whining and squabbling with elder dc constantly. Elder dc is now at schood and from the moment i pick up from school, due to the falling out and squabbling I seem to be spending loads of time bollocking them or acting as referee.

I'm fairly god with discipline, but I'm sick of being like a bloody referee. I work pt and I just seem to be meeting an avalance of washing, ironing, tidying up, making tea etc etc. dh works late so he can'rt take over tea, I'm fine with bedtiime routine but I'm so wound up that by bedtime i'm snappy with dc as soon as they start actng up.

IU know to 'pick your battles' ignore what you deem ok to write off rather than constantly telling off, try and focus on positive rather than negatives, sp the prnciples are there but daily life seems so bloody hard, it feels like its wearing me down and I'm not that sort of person.

Weekends are the same, and I'm desperate to meet other people just so i'm not dealing with them by myself. GP's do a lot of childcare while I'm at work so I don't want to rely on them at weekend. Dh is at home but he seems to be just as frustrated by them, I feel like I'm strugglinmg to get tme away from 'everything' and just have silence with no 'tasks' to do.

Am I a failure? Am i a shit mum? I've only got two dcs yet other parents (either those I know or those I see out and about) don't seem to be stressed out and knackered looking? People when you talk to them might have an eye roll and say 'oh yes, dc can be so cheeky' or whatever but I just think why don't people seem to feel as fraught and desperate for a break as me, or am I just building things up out of proportion?

Had a chat with dh tonight who's promised to be tidier and try and help out more. He said I've been so horrendous he was half expecing to be looking for a flat..

I don't think I'm 'low' or depressed, I'm not needing to know if I should go to the GP, i feel happy sometimes, and when I meet freinds, it just feels a hard bloogy trog with dcs in tow.

Sorry for long rant. dc2 due to start nursery soon, do people know if this sounds familiar or if there's light at the end of the tunnel?

Sorry for self indu;gent rant when I know from othr posts you see on MN people have far more shit to deal with than this, and sem to do with better so better than me.

Dh has gone out to get emergency chocolate so apol if i don't post much after this, don't waant him noseying on my thread!

at them thinking bedtime a good time to arrive bearing treats. Unless the maltesers and crisps were for you post bedtime! Is dp back now?
Wish you a good week. Ours had a lovely day today but ds has gone to bed with a temp of 39 Pre calpol. Bless him-all croaky. I must be improving a bit because I am feeling mainly compassionate towards him with a little smidgen of worry about me and how I'll cope! And house a bit tidier.

Oh dear hope he's a bit better now! Hope the calpol has worked. Yes he is back now- just got cbeebies on here a while as frantically cleaning for other grandparents visit. Things seem to go ok until anything extra tips us over a bit! Goind to try being very strict on the schoolrun later no bikes or anything.

Hope cleaning goes well. I'm the same-okay if life is very, very dull but extras do my head in. Like playdates. Dd decided this am that she doesn't want x to come after all this afternoon! Cue chat about etiquette of hospitality and a day trying to make sure no obstacles in the way of friendly behaviour later . How long is the visit? Are they helpful when they come? I end up in credit from the stress of preparing for one set of parents-definitely in debit from the others!!

Hi again they are here till Fri I think- aren't staying here though after last time they are going to stay at a nearby guest house! They are a help and a hindrance. For example going to mind ds2 tomorrow afternoon while I do the schoolrun..sounds good but then they have their own ideas like taking him into town so he an choose a present for his birthday (not letting them it would be a definite nightmare) they don't know that though haven't seen him in ages. Had a very stressful school pick up today as a friend (who have been avoiding due to arranging after school playtimes) and her ds wanted to walk down the road with us, weakly said yes and resulted in all of them wanting to walk holding hands, getting giddy/silly then the older boys leaving the little one out and he getting frenzied, I was very worried he might run out in the road. It was a relief when they went on to be honest, which is a shame as when just had the one we used to be quite friendly! Oh well.. I now whisk them both out the playground with no chance to chat/get involved, it makes me a feel a bit bad but the sense of relief to get them both home is great!