Meeting old friends; mourning past life?

[Beakysmum]

I met some good friends from university days yesterday. We meet 2-3 times a year, none of them have children yet. (My ds is 21m)

Am I alone in enjoying seeing them, but coming away feeling entirely flat that I am no longer the person I once was? They are all v good with ds, but I just feel fat, and hugely tired. I don't have the energy I once did to be fun and I feel boring despite making a real effort to keep my own interests going, going out to work etc. Am I mildly depressed or just mourning the loss of who I was?

I think if none of them have children yet then that is a completely normal reaction - a grass is always greener scenario. You never know though, some of them may be envying you your son/life?! Perhaps next time you meet up with these friends you could get DP/someone to look after your LO so that you can have some 'you' time with them?

your son is still little in my experience you do suddenly start to become yourself again

You're not alone, but yes you might be mildly depressed as well. Small children are horribly draining, aren't they - and one looks at one's friends and thinks oh my god there went my life...

Huge sympathies. It does get better...

Thanks for that everyone. It does help to think grass is always greener wherever you are at....

And great idea to leave ds with dh so I can go alone. Why didn't I think of that?! (actually we usually meet in half term as they are teachers, but we met yesterday so dh could go too.) BUT think I will suggest meeting Sats and go BY MYSELF!!!