Does lockdown make you feel like a crap parent?

[Januaryblue2020]

Have one ds (2.5) and never feel like I've done a good job at the end of the day now, ever. I used to have some days where I felt that went well, we had nice moments, but now I feel like every day is a blur of being in the same two rooms and the same park, half arsing it the whole time. I feel like I can't enjoy my son at the moment, I can't muster any enthusiasm. I'm letting so much slide that I never thought I would but I just feel exhausted by it all, which makes me feel guilty, which makes me feel worse etc.
Is anyone else feeling this way? Weekends are the worst because theres no work to distract me

Yep!! My 5 and 2 year old have had ridiculous amounts of TV time over the last few months. It's just so hard to summon the energy to do more. We have good days and not so good days, it's all just so relentless.

Yes!!! I dread the weekends. Things will get better soon :)

Yes I know exactly how you feel, DD is 2.5 I feel like this most days at the moment. Groundhog Day. I feel guilty about not being happy singing enthusiastic parent all the time and also annoyed because if it weren't for lockdown I'd really enjoy doing things with her at this age, the world is a discovery for her and trips out, socialising would be lovely. I feel robbed of her toddler-hood (whilst also I'm here for every second of it...) if that makes sense. Because yes, same 2 rooms, park-ed to death, and lots of misbehaving because she's bored. Just about to start a thread on that...!

Anyway it's not you, it's lockdown. X

Ah thanks. The groundhog Day is something else now... At least different stuff happened in groundhog Day!
Watched six hours of TV today and counting...

I've found my people. Single mum to 2.5 year old twins and I feel like the worst mum in the world right now. Exhausted, short tempered and absolutely crushed with mum guilt

Yes. DD8 has lived on her tablet, I've shouted more than I ever thought I would and because I work FT she's not completed all her home schooling work (although she has done most).

Thank God she's back in tomorrow.

I've always prided myself in being a loving caring mum so yes the Christmas lockdown has made me feel shit. Having the routine and structure and simply the difference of my oldest having to go to school has breathed new life into me and my mental health is starting to recover.

It's not just you OP

Yes. I am bored to tears of sitting in the house with them and it makes me feel bad.

I hate taking them both out by myself because if we go to the park, theyre crowded and the pram wheels get muddy, and if we stick to pavements the 3yo gets bored and fed up.

There's far too much screen time going on.

DD (3) has had more TV than I'd ever thought imaginable and the floodgates on snacking have well and truly opened. But, if I'm being totally honest, pre-pandemic we did a lot - packed weekly rota of activities here, visits there etc. And I'm actually proud of myself for getting through the past year with next to none of these (wonderful) props. I'm still miles from being the always-attentive, crafty, tuned in child-led type but I think we've broadly gotten through the year well.

It's hard to explain really - I feel crap day to day a lot, but I look back at the year and think, you know what, we've done ok.

Yes. I am depressed, I barely look after myself and my house, and having DS to look after is very hard. Every day I'm not at work just stretches out in an endless roll of playing, feeding, nappy changing and lots of TV.

I feel like shit tbh.

We aim to get the kids out at least once, ideally twice at weekends, but it doesn't always happen. Since we got back from a walk they've been watching TV. We just need to get through the next few weeks. Things will get better. Don't be too hard on yourslef.

Well, I am making sure my children are still taking part in a wide range of activities. There’s tv, Switch, iPads.....

Honestly, they spend time in the garden and we usually head out to NT grounds for a walk but apart from that they’re basically on screens. I no longer have the energy to try and keep them off. In a few more weeks there will be more things to do. We just need to make it through til then.

Yes - I feel the same - far too much tv and far too many 'treats' (food and toys/books) just to keep me entertained too!!

Yeah. Mainly because only child, so no potential for mixing. Been facetiming her mate playing online games.
Tbh, apart from homeschooling all she's done is online...... Building houses or playing with her mate.
Occasionally making brownies.

Omg thank you for making this post 😭😭😭

I've been feeling this way for such a long time now. Just constant guilt and feeling like I'm doing it all wrong.

Absolutely! Because the options are so limited and everything such an effort!

As soon as we mention walk the kids start acting like I am force feeding them sprouts or something!

Feel like she's changed so much since march 😞

God YES! It seems I covered up my shit parenting with the various activities I arrange for the kids to do. I constantly feel guilty and irritated and on the edge of tears/losing my temper. This then triggers the guilt again.

My eldest kids spent all of the lockdown glued to their computers doing school work. As soon as the school day ended one would be on the Xbox, breaking only to feed (40000009 times a day). By 8:30, that means about 11 hours at a screen. I tried to encourage different activities but at that time, gaming was the only chance to catch up with friends. So I then felt guilty about trying to reduce screen time.
Teenagers seem to be bedroom dwellers anyway (I don't ever remember being like that, maybe it's just mine 🤷🏼‍♀️). I try to get them outside doing different walks or whatever and they're miserable, hence the irritation. I leave them at home and take the youngest out. I feel guilty for not spending time with the older ones. Honestly, I was so grateful for the reopening of schools so that they had some sort of exercise/fresh air/socialisation. At least now I don't have to try and force activities on them.
I thought I'd be much more patient as I get older but I'm not. I hear my exasperation in the way my pre schooler talks and it breaks my heart. I really don't know what to do anymore. This last year has broken me in ways I never could have imagined.

The screen time here is off the charts and has been for quite some time. But soon the weather will be better, things will be open, although this has been a long time now, it's not forever.

Yep so I've already booked two forest school mornings, an Easter trail at Raby Castle and an Easter Egg Hunt at a large park near us....

Next to book is our local fun farm as they are advertising tickets for reopening...

I'm finding the more I have to look forward too the better so going to book a few more things next week