Really struggling

[toomanylols]

Hi ladies,

Single parent with s 3 year old and 18month old. So f-ing exhausted all the time. Just feel like I could sleep for 2 weeks. I work part time (just 2 days a week) just so I can spend more time with kids, but I am considering going back full time. I find it such hard work. Every day I'm not working I wake thinking what will I do for the day. How will I entertain them. How will I get through the day. It's become the most monotonous ground hog day type of life. I sometimes dread what we'll do for the next 5 days. I don't have much help from family and the dad is useless. I love my kids so much but I feel like I've given my whole life to them. I never have any time to myself. My daughter sleeps with me. They are great kids but I'm just struggling.

Bless you - they are at young ages which is challenging and with little family help I'm not surprised you are finding it hard!

I know what you mean about entertaining them - I am a teacher so currently on 6 week hols with my 4 year old son. He's a good kid but needs entertaining and it does get hard to keep coming up with things to do!

Do you have any friends with kids who you could meet up with - perhaps in the park so the kids can play and you have adult company?

Where do the kids go while you work? Can they go for an extra day or even half day so you get a break? Or a local teen wanting some extra money?

I'll pop back with more in a bit!

When they’re young it’s really difficult. It’ll get easier when they’re older and they can play together.
I have two DS. One aged 8 and one 3.5. They played happily for a whole hour this morning while I got on with other things. This time last year I didn’t have that and was exhausted at the end of every summer holiday day.
Perhaps, when they do watch TV, make sure you make the most of your down time. Take some time for yourself to do something you enjoy like reading a book, drawing, whatever. I find that if I just go on my phone when I have a break the time is sucked away from me and I end up with a headache.
I also find it really helpful planning outings for the morning. If I wait until the afternoon, sometimes everything goes wrong and we just end up staying in.

Thanks girls. I do try plan trips out but my little man suffers with his chest a lot and a lot of the time he is sick and we have to stay in which can really be tough. It's like waking up in a little bit of fog, same shit different day, getting up exhausted, getting them dressed, turning on to, breakfast then wondering what to do. Getting ready to leave. Then trying to keep them busy for most of the day and looking forward to bedtime. I know this is essentially what every person done but I don't know what's wrong with me anymore. I'm always tired. I feel like I could sleep forever

Hi, I understand how you feel. Aside from needing to break the monotony- are you cold/itchy and dry? Get your thyroid checked maybe. You've described how I feel and it turns out mine was underactive. I still feel burnt out but it's not quite so foggy and physically dreadful these days.