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End of my rope.

17 replies

pablomax3045 · 27/07/2019 21:00

Hello all,
well... as the subject states, I am at the end of my rope and simply do not know what to do.

My wife and I tried for a few years to have a child. Getting pregnant was never an issue. It usually happened the first month we tried. However, there were always issues.
With our first, our doctor told us we must end it in the 3rd trimester due to an extremely rare genetic issue. The child had zero chance to live and was rapidly deforming and if we let it go to term, it would likely kill my wife.
That was hard on us both, but mainly on her. She wanted at grave, which I didnt agree with, but kept it to myself since she thought it is what she needed. She visited it nearly every day for almost a year.
The next try resulted in a miscarriage.
The 3rd time was, seeming totally normal and healthy. A boy! We had both always wanted a girl, but healthy was healthy and all that mattered.
The day came, and indeed, via c-section our DS was healthy and beautiful. There were however.. complications.
I won't go into the details, but since that day, my son and I are alone.

We actually had moved to the continent and I could hardly speak the language. My wife was fluent, so took care of the "life details".
I was lucky enough to have some of her friends help me to understand how the things worked and manage them more or less on my own now.
We had already planned that I would take a year off for the little one as my wife had an extremely high paying job. I had not really wanted to, but it was her dream job and she loved it.. so.. suck it up buttercup. Not to say I made didnt make enough for us to live fine.. she was just on another level. Though, with most things in life she was on another level compared to me.
My DS son has just turned 10 months. He just took his first steps and is a complete one baby terrorist organization . He excels at mischief.
My niece is staying with me from the states as an Au Pair. I go to language school half the day, study, do some construction on our 120 year old house for a bit any then take over watching my boy.
Here's the thing.
I hate it.
I would give up everything to go back to how things were before. I love my son, but I would give him back to have her again with me. I know it makes me a terrible person, but it's how it is.
He just takes everything from me. All that I have left.
3 times a night, like clock-work he wakes screaming. I pick him up, I sing to him and normally he is back to sleep in 5-10 minutes. Sometimes it takes me an hour or 2 though.
I want to scream at him "GO BACK TO SLEEP A$$HOLE!", but I don't. Though, only because I know it will keep him awake longer. And I am so tired. Not just my body, but my mind, my soul.
Sometimes he melts my heart. I wave bye bye in the morning and he blows me a kiss instead. (my niece taught him that) When I come home, he goes insane. His big black eyes so happy and blonde hair flopping about. (Amazing as my wife was Chinese by birth)
But other times, he drives me to the limit. I sometime have to put him in his crib and go outside and have a smoke because I literally cannot take another moment without losing it. (was never a smoker before)

I feel perhaps I was not cut out to be a father. Certainly not one alone.
I just don't know how much longer I can continue like this. I am so tired. My DS has no mummy and I have no wife. It was never supposed to be like this. We waited until later in life so we could give our child every advantage.... now... I am not sure I have enough to offer.
Does it ever get easier?

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Aworldofmyown · 27/07/2019 21:13

Most parents feel like this from time to time without all the trauma you've suffered.
Babies are not particularly rewarding but as they get bigger you do really start to feel that the work is all worth it - it doesn't necessarily get easier they just turn into proper little people.

Aworldofmyown · 27/07/2019 21:16

Are you in a position to move back home? Maybe near family?

pablomax3045 · 27/07/2019 21:20

Sadly not. I do not have much family anymore and my wife's family is all in China. My father just passed last month and my mother is older and certainly not in a place to emotionally to take on helping me.

Plus, my work is here and it's stable and a company I have worked for going on 15 years. Though, not in this location.

Being a parent is not the greatest experience.

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Aworldofmyown · 27/07/2019 21:24

It wiil get better. You're grieving and having to deal with a new baby.
Is there people you can talk too?

Mishappening · 27/07/2019 21:38

I do not know any parent who has not had these thoughts at some time. It is not ideal, for sure, but it is real life.

When you get to the end of your tether you put a distance between you - and that is the right thing to do as long as you know your son is safe. I once locked all my children in the garden, having made sure it was safe, as I knew they were safer paying together out there than they might have been in my company at that moment.

I am not trying to minimise how you are feeling - and strongly advise that if the negative feelings get out of hand you seek help - but the myth of the perfect parent is to be firmly rejected. none of us can do more than our best.

You have so much to contend with, and there is nothing worse than sleep deprivation.

Aria999 · 28/07/2019 04:11

I am so sorry for your loss. Don't beat yourself up, your situation is incredibly hard so it's not surprising you're at the end of your rope.

Can you afford a bit more help? A sleep consultant for example? You're trying to grieve and be a single parent all at the same time. I can't imagine anything harder.

rightsideofherstory · 28/07/2019 05:28

Im so terribly sorry for you and your son.

blackcat86 · 28/07/2019 05:35

Could your niece take on some of the night wakes? Sleep deprivation made me feel so down and resentful that it was hard to see a way through. I also found the little ones sleep programme really helpful. We couldn't afford a sleep consultant but it helped at a fraction of the cost.

Tomasinaa · 28/07/2019 06:11

Have you seen a doctor or therapist, have you considered if you are depressed? Talking and possibly medication may help you here. Remember everything with babies is a phase and his sleep will improve.
You need some nights with out interruption though to recover, so maybe your niece could help.
Im so sorry for your loss, and I hope you can start to feel better soon. Your son loves you and you are the absolute world to him, it's a hard burden to carry but there's a person there who loves you with his whole heart and completely unconditionally. I can't imagine how hard it must be to parent alone in these circumstances but I am sure you are doing your very best by him.

Limpshade · 28/07/2019 06:37

Please don't beat yourself up about this. Sometimes I want to yell at my baby when she won't sleep either. And I have a husband. And someone to help me in the house. And I speak the language.

You are dealing with a great deal - grief, isolation - on top of new parenthood. It's no wonder you feel overwhelmed.

I wonder if you have considered therapy? We are expats and my husband's company here has an English speaking therapist on site that he is entitled to a number of sessions with for free. Is there someone similar that you could access?

Thegracefuloctopus · 28/07/2019 06:37

My lord, and I thought I had it tough. You will get through this, and sooner than you know, you and your son will be a team, mates and terrorising parks together! But it's so bloody hard to see that now. I have felt everything you are describing in relation to your son, my son is the same age. This will improve.
I would recommend seeing a gp. PND is not just for mothers. Both me and DH suffered with it.
How old is your niece? Can you explain some feelings to her?
I have no other advice for you other than 'this too shall pass'.
Your son will be so proud of you in the future. This will be difficult but there are things you will be excelling at without realising it. He wakes at night, your soothing gets him back down within 10 minutes. You are his safe place, how amazing is that! I send you so many hugs and wishes

isitfridayyet1 · 28/07/2019 07:11

Your story brought a tear to my eye. Sounds like you are doing your very best OP. Maybe it would be good to try to make friends with local parents who have children if a similar age. This would give you an outlet to discuss some of your emotions surrounding parenting and make you feel less alone?

Have you tried to join any local groups? I understand this can be difficult whilst working but maybe you could search online.

Also a night nanny who's used to working with babies may be able to get your baby into a routine that improves his sleep pattern?

Pineapplefish · 28/07/2019 07:17

These feelings are normal, OP. Wanting to shout at him to just GO BACK TO FUCKING SLEEP is something we all want to do at some point. And it's much harder for you because you have no one to share the burden with. I promise you that it will get easier Flowers

pablomax3045 · 28/07/2019 07:17

Thanks for the kind words. I have thought of hiring another live in helper, but I am not too keen on having someone whom we don't know being here alone with Henry. I have heard some horror stories there.
He let me sleep for 11 hours last night, so today is looking up!

Of course, that means he will have more energy for pulling every possible thing he can reach to the floor.
Nothing to do but carry on. I guess I just needed to vent a bit of frustration with how things are at the moment. It is often easier in the company of strangers.

OP posts:
pablomax3045 · 28/07/2019 07:30

Yeah, hopefully once my language skills improve I can join some groups or something.
Our village is somewhat small, so I doubt there are too many here locally.

OP posts:
shutthedamndoor · 28/07/2019 07:30

Very glad to hear that you got some sleep! I think everything you're feeling is utterly normal and understandable. I've definitely had those 'shut the fuck up' moments.
It sounds like you're a really good father, and your wife would be proud of you both.
In terms of getting help... how about having people to meet with face to face?
Are you on all your local Facebook groups? I've found them invaluable when moving to new places. There's usually a mum/baby group, and I have found most of them to be really helpful (also to dads).
Keep posting here too, tell us about Henry, this is a pretty great place at 4am when you need an open ear.

thetoddleratemyhomework · 29/07/2019 12:17

I am so sorry for your loss.

I also want to say that I found the older baby stage truly awful. I am not a born entertainer and my daughter was very easily frustrated at that age and went through a bit of a sleep regression that nearly finished me off. It got a lot better once she was walking and then again now she is talking. She is now 20 months and I genuinely enjoy spending time with her (though obviously not all the time!) - the process of helping her to learn words, read together, teach her things is lovely. I feel that I can really see the cogs whirring.

Things will get better. Try to look after yourself and get some social time with other adults and go easy on yourself.

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