Anyone else find this parenting lark incredibly hard work?

[luckywinner]

I am really struggling at the moment. I have had sick children on and off since Christmas. My dc, 7, 6 and one are beautiful amazing children. But I am really finding things a real slog. I have really hurt my back so that makes things trickier than it should. I take medication at night which means if I don't get a big chunk of unbroken sleep I feel wrecked. I have come to the conclusion that I suck at being selfless. I crave time to do all the things I want to do without someone scrabbling at my legs. I don't mean exciting things either. More things like load the dishwasher without stopping one year old climbing in. I have a huge list of odd jobs I want to do. One year old goes to nursery two days a week so I can work but that taste of freedom has got me wanting more!

Anyone else desperate to be utterly selfish and claim their lives back? Ok rant over.

[BertieBotts]

I loved DS being a baby, loved the newborn period etc. Probably because it was an excuse to stay in bed Once he wanted more entertaining I have found it harder.

It bugs me because I love all the child development stuff, I love having silly little conversations with him, I love doing "activities" etc. Hate the endless repeating games of lego (beyond building the models the first time) or trains, cars etc which are always exactly the same. When he gets whiny over something I thought would be fun I want to throttle him. He doesn't understand the concept of personal space and I have to really fight the urge to launch him across the room. I even instilled a "calm down corner" which I put myself in sometimes when I need space! Need DP to help me instil that concept a bit more I think. That's another thing, I like all the theories of gentle discipline and autonomous education etc but I'm utterly shit at actually doing it. I'd love to be a man and have the nice family etc just for 2 hours every weekday and weekends and never be alone with the children apart from rarely

I'm an extrovert and really crave adult interaction to make me feel sane, but DP is an introvert and is usually exhausted after socialising all day at work and being with DS and just wants quiet time in the evenings!

[luckywinner]

I constantly wish I was the man so I could enjoy that commute, the lunch hours, the walking in when the dc are fed, watered and are in bed. Also, it seems it's always us who organises the logistics, the routine etc. god whinge whinge.

[mummy2benji]

Have also had sick children (ds 4, and dd 5 months) on and off since Christmas. Finding it hard going right now too - I just long to have 1) a little bit of time to myself, 2) time to have a nice long shower, not a high speed 30 second rinse while one child wails and the other child wanders in to announce "I need a poo" then plonks himself down on the loo, 3) time to load the dishwasher / do the backlog of laundry (I'm not convinced my laundry basket has a bottom - I've never seen it) / do the vacuuming. I try to console myself with the fact that my kids won't be hyper-allergic to loads of things as I don't have a pristine house.

[loveisagirlnameddaisy]

Yes, yes, yes. Especially at the idea of taking yourself off to a hotel somewhere. I work two days a week in london (so I have to take the train to work and no-one really knows where I am at any given time) - I was fantasising the other day about booking a day off work but not telling anyone and going to a day spa. I know I won't have the guts to do it and lie about it, but it was still a nice daydream...

[luckywinner]

Loveis I think that is a fabulous idea. My devious plan today is instead of going to my tap dance class, which tbh I only go 50% of the time, I am going to window shop round Westfield.

[KittyMcAllister]

I'm so glad it's not just me! I actually love getting the bus to work, enjoy the alone time with my music on etc - never thought such moments would be so precious! I do do things with my little ones (age 3.5 & 1.5) but done days I just wish I could muster a little more enthusiasm and less boredom/resentment...I also know that I will desperately miss that physical aspect of child-rearing when they're older and don't want to know me. I can't win!

[fairylightsinthespring]

god, its bizarre how sometimes a thread is just EXACTLY what you've been thinking all day! I usually work 3 days (teacher) and DH is too so in the holidays we're all together (Kids are 3.5 and 1.11) but he is away this week so I am getting a taste of SAHM life and I want to die. I am counting the hours and desperately planning activites and ringing anyone I can think of who might be free to come and help me fill the hours. I have been much more shouty with DS than usual over his annoying habits and general "threeness". I have two more days and then on Saturday I am actually cashing the voucher I got from the DCs as a xmas present for a day in the house by myself I have no idea what people mean when they say they don;t remember life without kids - I remember exactly what it was like to have a lie in, not have to tiptoe around the house, set the boiler to come on when you want, not when it won't wake the DCs, have a hot cup of tea all the way to the bottom, not be randomly assaulted and headbutted on a daily basis.... love them, but sometimes....

[luckywinner]

Grrrrrrr the cold tea thing. God that pisses me off. Dh now stuck at work so my dream of wandering around Westfield has turned into battling the spilling pile of washing while watching the dust tumble weeds that I haven't been able to hoover roll across the floor.

Fairy I love the idea of a voucher. I am going to plant that one firmly in dh's head.

Mummy2benji, you are in good company there, I am a complete slattern with housework. Could possible stretch to having a cleaner but then that would mess up my childcare budget and there is no way I am losing that.

I long to be one of those parents who 'do' stuff with their kids rather than cobble it together each day. Even my ds said to me before bed, 'would it be ok tomorrow if we got a bit of fresh air,'. oops.

[BeaWheesht]

You're not alone. Kids or me have been ill almost continuously since October. I'm knackered.

Kids are 2.5 and 6 and I've been trying to do fun school holiday stuff but what I've wanted to do, today especially, is read a book and eat chocolate. Or even, actually, get on with some decent level of housework without someone needing me for something.

Feel like a shit mum because I've been a Sahm for 6 years so surely I shouldn't have days like this ??? Bleurgh.

[Zatopek]

I just really wanted a poo in peace this morning. (DP was in bed). DD2 followed me up then DD1 said she was coming too. They stood around my ankles tearing off loo roll for me and fighting over it too.

Is there no privacy or dignity left once you have kids?

The other day it was the tampons they were fighting over as I was trying to explain what they were for. They ended up using the "unused" applicators as toy lipsticks.

[mummy2benji]

Oh yes, cold cups of tea and coffee! I always end up microwaving mine to rewarm them (coffee not tea - microwaved tea eugh) and still don't find the time to drink the whole cup. Grrrrrr.

lucky ds1 actually picked up something in the living room the other day and asked "what is this, Mummy?" It was a dust tumbleweed. My surprise was due to the fact that he wasn't more familiar with the substance that coats our floor.

[mummy2benji]

Oh and zatopek - no, no privacy left at all. I was having one of my speedy 30 second showers the other morning when ds1 (4) wandered in, sat down on the toilet and proceeded to start pooing, then looked at me appraisingly and announced "Mummy, you have hair on your bottom. I didn't know that. How silly!" Words fail me.

[BeaWheesht]

Yes to personal space issues - I regularly have 2 kids and a dog in the bathroom with me. Just piss bloody off!

My friends had her first baby tonight - in honour of this thread I'm just off to order her a thermal mug

[luckywinner]

Morning all drained ladies. Oh the night has run into the day with demands. Here we go again.

[tungthai]

Just read this thread and I feel so relieved. I honestly thought it was just me who felt like this.

With ds1 I found the baby bit a breeze and then hit a brick wall between 9 months - 2.5 and started enjoying him when he would sit still for 5 minutes. Ds2 is almost 3 and I'm still waiting for it to get easier. It's relentless, I find having 2 children 10 times harder than just having 1. Ds1 and I just seem to argue all the time and I don't have any control over them at all.

I only enjoy being a parent when they are in bed and the guilt of feeling like this is horrendous.

I have a relative who seems to rejoice in everything her dc does even when he is being a complete PITA. He will be wrecking the joint and demanding a drink for the 20th time in 5 minutes and she has a genuine smile on her face.

[ceebeegeebies]

Morning

Don't want to make all you other ladies but I have manufactured my own 'me-time' this morning

I am on holiday this week, DS2 is at nursery (he always goes, even when either me or DH are off with DS1) and I had booked DS1 in to the school holiday club for the morning (and tomorrow morning)

I haven't told some of my friends as they are the 'earth mother' type and would be horrified that I was at home and had put both DC into childcare but I am guessing you will all understand.

Am watching the final Big Reunion now, am going to the gym shortly...lovely!

In fact DS1 sulked this morning when I told him i was picking him up at lunchtime as he wants to stay at holiday club all day...I missed a trick there!!

[luckywinner]

Tungthai, promise you are not on your own. As one of my like-minded friends said, 'I love my children most when they are asleep'.

I really struggle with the sacrifices made to have children, which seem to be more mine than dh.

However, if it makes you feel a tiny bit better, at swimming class the other day when I was trying to get older dc ready for lesson whilst trying to stop the baby from licking the floor, another mum asked me how I seemed so calm amongst such chaos. So it seems I fake in control rather well, when it feels like hurricane katrina in my head.

Cee, I am soooooooooo jealous of gym time, and I loathe the gym! Good engineering on your behalf. And stuff the earth mothers. Enjoy huge cup of tea afterwards.

Now off to squeeze in a quick shower whilst baby asleep and other two are lego-ing.

[ceebeegeebies]

Does anyone else have FB feeds full of comments from other mums about how wonderful it is during the school hols, so much planned, dreading them going back to school, photos of crafty/baking stuff that they have done?

Doesn't make me feel worse about the fact that I have sent DS1 to holiday club...honest

[BertieBotts]

DP and I had a conversation last night because I was doing my whole "I'm so shit at everything" cycle thing and I feel much better Looking forward to being able to work properly when we move to Germany in the summer.

[Sioda]

Oh god yes it's awful. I don't know where to start. Sick baby, sick me, non sleeping baby, teething baby, grumpy baby. Wants to walk all the time but hysterics when falls so have to hover holding on to her collar. All. Day. Long. For months now. Feel like death and my back is broken. My few babysitters all have bad backs so aren't much help plus only mummy or daddy will do most of the time (or granny who lives too far away).

Off work sick and DP (SAHD) here too and even with two fof us it's still awful. Napped for ten minutes this morning then woke up just as we were nodding off hoping we'd get a nap too. The tantrums have started already too. Don't want to even think about how much worse they'll get. Should have hobbled in to work, it's much easier, but then would have felt guilty for not helping DP when she's like this. Had to drive for half an hour at 11pm last night to get her to sleep when everything else failed. Am so exhausted this may not even make much sense. Feel like am never ever going to get a life back - just work, baby, housework. Repeat. They've gone to meet a friend for lunch and it's absolutely glorious sitting in the house alone even if I am ignoring all the work that needs doing and lunch that needs eating.

[lifesobeautiful]

I often fantasise about running away to Thailand and spending all day sipping cocktails and reading books on the beach - on my OWN!! Sigh...I can but dream! Zatopek your post actually made me laugh out loud!!! Where's the dignity!!! And yes - boo hiss to earth mothers who crow on about how much they love every second of every minute. I've got two words for them - and the first begins with F!

[gourd]

Yes, think you generally do find it hard work if you are any good at it. Parents who dont actually care very much probably find it a lot less exhausting/stressful.

[fairylightsinthespring]

My present for any new mum is a thermal mug with a lid and at least two packets of biscuits I find I can cope with a LOT if I manage a couple of decent cups of tea. Also, there are some days when it all goes right, no-one poos in the swimming pool or at soft play, everyone eats their dinner, we don't have the tv on for 8 hours, and I get to the end and think 'well, this is ok", then there are other days when all of the above happens (or doesn't, in the case of dinner) and you just want to kill someone. Sometimes I can shrug and smile and deal with the rubbish days and other times I stamp around and shout which of course just makes it worse. Mumsnet mantra no 1 "its a phase"!

[plummyjam]

I've only got one DD aged 8 weeks but already finding it mega hard work. If I'm ever feeling overwhelmed though, I just take her out for a walk. I live in a mainly Jewish area where many women have large families often with small age gaps - a typical sight is mum with tiny baby in pushchair with 2,3 or even 4 other small children in tow.

To see so many other mums working harder than I am tends to steel my resolve and mentally I tell myself to "man up"!

[plummyjam]

Whoops smiley ended up in wrong place should have been at end