Do you enjoy being a Mum?

[moovinon]

I do love being a Mum and I wouldn't want to change it etc, but sometimes it is SO stressful.

I have 2 girls, aged 1 & 3. Every single morning is a battle trying to get my 3 year old dressed for school, to brush her teeth, to brush her hair, to make sure she doesn't take all of her toys to school. All this with my 1 year old screaming to be picked up. I feel stressed about 80% of the day. I go to work after the morning battle, then get whinged at all the way home from nursery, make dinner and tidy the house, put everyone to bed and then it's 8/830 and I have an hour and a half to watch telly.

I was thinking do I actually enjoy being a mum. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I love it, but on the whole maybe I don't really enjoy it a lot of the time.

How does everyone else feel?

Yes I love it but when mine were that age I am only realising now how tough it was - dh worked away too and did no housework obviously. Also I worked 5 or 6 days a week but home earlier than usual. So it's only now both of mine can dress themselves etc it's OK.

Also have two under 3 and relentless is the word! Despite co-parenting equally, there just aren't enough hours to do everything else adequately (me time, us time, cleaning, wishlist jobs, cooking). So it feels like a forever hamster wheel whilst being behind on everything. It can feel overwhelming at times, but overall, I do enjoy the parenting part. It would just be so much easier with some childcare to get the other bits done! No money to spare for this though, or family etc.

Not wishing the time away, but I am hopeful it gets easier. Nice to read the other comments of people in the same boat!

No, but I'm only a couple of years in. I'm hoping it gets easier. There are moments of delight and I get satisfaction from seeing her develop her own personality.

I'm not sure it's something to 'enjoy' or not, a bit like I wouldn't say I enjoy being a daughter or a sister - it's just something I am. For me, being a parent is another relationship rather than an activity to be enjoyed.

I have a 15 month and 5 year old. I'd forgotten how exhausting the toddler stage is... I've found it easier since being back at work. Still exhausting to get everyone up and out in the mornings and to bed at night but I enjoy feeling like myself during the day. And the bigger gap makes a difference I think... 5 is so much easier... she can dress herself, brush her own teeth, put her own suncream on, feed herself without me having to clean the walls afterwards, find her own shoes etc etc... it helps to know it's all a phase! ❤️❤️

There's a few 'i don't like being a mum' threads knocking around, and I think it speaks volumes about the myth that parents but particularly mothers, are expected to be full of happiness and gratitude the whole time.
There's so much pressure to be enjoying every second, that it compounds what are really normal feelings (who enjoys clearing up food from the floor? Who enjoys playing Lego for three hours?) and makes us feel so much worse.
I don't know the answer but I wish mothers (and society) were allowed to just acknowledge that this gig isnt particularly enjoyable- but it needs doing, just like lots of other tedious tasks. My husband has a much more pragmatic approach than I do- loves our son hugely but makes no secret of the fact that he finds a lot of the work tedious. But I never feel allowed to say that to other people, in case they think I'm ungrateful or not loving enough.

I love being a Mum, I am one of those nauseating saps who has thoroughly cherished and enjoyed every stage and cries about them getting older. I think it's because I had a rotten childhood with a horrible mother, so motherhood being a good thing was new to me.

Mine are 16 and 18, and honestly they need you just as much as toddlers. They exhaust and frustrate you and keep you up at night just as much as toddlers as well! They are hilarious, fascinating and adorable, though.

I do, but it doesnt really get easier, more the focus moves from physically draining to mentally draining as they get older. However I do love having deep conversations with my teen about all sorts. I am both excited and nervous to see how my relationship with the younger ones will develop. I hope it will be as close and accepting as it is with the eldest

I loved being a mum before my kids started school.
They were always with me so I had nothing to worry about.

When they started school /playing out I realised how anxious I was if they were out of my sight.

School holidays I found stressfull trying to find places to take them keep them entertained.

Hated going to birthday parties,football matches and having the play dates and sleepovers.

Much prefer it now they are older and drive and just sort themselves out

I love my 2yo more than anything in this universe but I hate the parenting part. It's stressful, it's tiring and you compromise a lot from yourself. Just like you and many parents on here op, come 8pm, I have 1-2 hours to myself where I tip toe around the house not to wake them up while cleaning or putting away stuff which isn't exactly a time well spent for myself.

I love my children with all my heart but I find it relentless and exhausting and I rarely ever get a minute to myself.

Overall I like being a mum but there are days I feel a bit wrung out with it all. Definitely know I'm stopping at the number I have, feel I'm at the limit of what I can cope with drudge wise.

Much more now but they are almost 8 & 10, I have to say that I didn't enjoy the toddler years!