How do I rediscover the joys of parenting?! (bit long)

[oaktree]

I have 2 gorgeous kids that I love more than anything but the monotony & sameness of our everyday lives is dragging me down. we do preschool, swimming, soft play etc but I find I wake up each morning & think 'how long to bedtime?' they are both very good & there are no behaviour issues. I find that even playing trains/drawing or whatever is driving me mad with boredom & frustration!!
All i can see is this stretching before me for another year at least until DD starts school. I really don't weant to wish their time away as I said they are beautiful but I'm really not enjoying life at the moment.
any ideas?

Do you go out as a family with the kids' Dad as well? I like family fun much more when I am not the only parent!

Oaktree, I know exactly how you feel! I count the hours to bedtime, not because my DC's are problematic, but just that I also find the things they like sooooooooooo boring!

I've been a full time SAHM for 4 years now and with DS who is my second child I find the park, soft play etc etc so tedious and boring and I have also got another year til DS starts preschool. DD has started reception but is mornings only til January. I find myself constantly working out how long til DS starts school, (3 years )

Sometimes I think about going back to work, but I want to put my DC's into childcare (just a personal preferance).

I do get the odd break from the kids, but it's only a couple of hours every now and then, I need more!!!

Don't know what the answer is, I do go to toddler groups etc, have some friends locally but I still find it all sooooo boring especially when it's just me and the kids.

Ooops, don't want to put DC's into childcare!

Try and make a win win out of the day...dont feel guilty that you are bored...I have 4 love them to bits but cant stand playing imaginative games/board games etc...but I like being out..in the woods etc...not necessarily a park...standing by the slide........ boooriing...take them shopping do what you enjoy..only go to parks with a nice cafe ...also try and do stuff with other adults...get the kids all together to play...think children get more from other kids than loads of adult directed activities...Hope this helps

oaktree, are you me??? i feel the same, but we love them to peices and wouldnt have it any other way, would we?

knakered, thanks for the suggestion but I like reading, meeting my friends for a chat/meal, going to the cinema, but any of those are impossible to do with the kids!

Doing stuff with other adults is definately much less boring but not always possible.

Of course I love my DC's to bits, but to be honest I would have it another way if I could, I'l love to have someone come and take them to the park/out for me a couple of times a week just so i could have a breather/some me time.

How old is your youngest?

Mine are 4 and 2.5 and I've started trying to encourage them to play a bit more without me so that I can do something else (have started knitting).

oaktree, oneplus, you need need need YOU time, it's so important. Me and DH both work full time and kids are at nursery, so i guess i have me time for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week (but he is only down the corridor so we in each others pockets), we don't have any family locally so don't have on tap baby sitters for evenings.

Anyway about a year ago i went into meltdown, i wasn't getting 'time off', yes i worked, but i was either working or doing kids - i had no time to soak in a bath, no time to paint my nails, no time to go shopping (without a buggy), no time to 'do lunch', and I walked out on my DH for a few days (with the kids, i didn't go completely AWOL!).

After that we put together a routine to allow each of us time alone, time together and time as a family. He does rugby training tues thurs, i go out with friends/swim/go late night shopping on a mon, weds and fri. Saturday morning he gets up with kids and i lay in as long as i want, sunday morning vice versa. Sunday day we go out as a family, saturday he plays rugby in a league so i do stuff with the kids.

I am now much more stable and enjoy the time i do have with the kids WAY more.