Do all mums like being with their kids 24/7?

[MaxwellCat]

I am a lone parent so my kids are with me all the time. With the summer holidays coming up I'm not going to lie I'm kind of dreading 24/7 for 6 weeks alone with no break. We don't live in an area where kids play out so they need constant entertaining and if they don't they get bored they will argue and wind each other up. I'm exhausted on weekends never mind 6 weeks, don't get me wrong I like being with my children but 6 weeks non stop without a break I'm dreading it. When I speak to other parents all I get is how much they love it and how they are looking forward to it so am I just an awful parent not enjoying being with my children 24/7? Do all mums like being with their kids every minute of the day? I must admit it seems to only be women I see saying this.

Ohm no. She drives me crazy on day 1 😂
But it’s parenting you don’t love it all the time but you love it every day.
I do let her watch TV, play with the tablet if I need a break. Plus you can’t go on entertaining your kids all the time,
they need to learn how to be bored, how to fend for themselves a bit.

No.

I am not a single parent but DH is exceptionally busy in the Spring (agriculture).

I tend to go to the library a great deal for at least 3-4 hours to get peace. DC are reading, colouring, on the library computers, etc. I usually do online admin stuff on a library computer or read myself. Mine are now old enough to swim without a parent so that's another drop off for an hour's peace.

I don't have any family support with mine, I love it when they're at school. I love the weekends with them.

The school holidays especially the 6 weeks holidays... hell no. I need a break after a week. 😂

Yeah the thing with being bored is they end up bickering and arguing it’s relentless

God no. I was in tears today because I need a real break & some time alone. I haven't had more than two hours off since my youngest was born seven years ago. They're in school but I don't have free time then either! I've no support or family/ friends childcare & DS is autistic so can't leave him with strangers.

It's made worse because I've a friend who doesn't work, her MIL has the kids at least 50% of the time & just had them for two weeks so friend & DH could have a child free two week holiday. I confided that I a desperately needed a break & she said.... 'me too!!'

So opinions and perspectives are obviously different.

All day, every day? With my kids? No thanks. My 5yo is never quiet and has boundless energy, I literally threw her through the school gate on Tuesday! I've already booked her holiday club places for over the summer. I've also got a 2yo, luckily for me nursery is all year round.

We do a mix of staying at home and activities and both my two are pretty good with getting on with it if I've got things to do but it's the never getting to switch off until bedtime and always being the person "in charge".

It’s hard work. I’m a single parent and currently work part time and love my days off - although I do other volunteer work on some of those days. Since they’ve got older it’s easier. The younger 10 year old can go out and play with friends but still hassles me that’s she’s bored if there is no one to play with her. Eldest is a teen and autistic so often puts headphones on and watchers her own screen - sometimes in the same room as me and sometimes in her own room. She doesn’t go out with friends. I do book her into school holiday activities which she enjoys. I’m a teacher so have all the school holidays off with them. Their dad is meant to do EOW and share the holidays but in reality rarely sees them. He works a zero hour contract type job so no work and no pay and he struggles with money. His work sometimes takes him away weekends too so for example the last time they stayed with him was 6 or so weeks ago.

Even when they were toddlers I couldn’t be cooped up with just them. We went out most days to toddler groups of all kinds so they and I could mix and get s breather.

I also carry the entire mental load of their lives. Their dad has no clue about their clubs, parent evenings, school plays and assemblies, when they need new clothes, deciding what to eat wtc. It’s exhausting.

Omg you definitely are not a bad parent! I only have one and I struggle when she's home full time parenting is effing hard!!

Are there any wee groups you could maybe get them into for some of the time that would give you a bit of a break?

Also check out that app Peanut as funny as it is its like tinder for parents.. you meet mummy's in your area that are into the same things/have kids the same age etc could give you some support over the summer break.

I think your question should be ‘Are there any parents at all who like being with their kids 24/7?

However much you love someone, whether it’s your kids, your partner, your best friend- even your newborn baby, everyone needs alone time. It’s not selfish to want it, it’s a basic human need.

God no. I’m with the baby 24/7 at the moment – sling naps, breastfeeding, cosleeping – and any time I can palm him off on someone else the four year old pops up. Going slowly insaaaaaaane.

Everyone needs alone time, quiet time, a balance of things that isn’t just about fulfilling your kids’ desire for snacks and entertainment. Kids can be boring! And needy! Parents aren’t robots!

Nope

I love my kids to bits but absolutely not! Mine are in this horrible stage of fighting and arguing like cat and dog. It brings me to tears some days. Especially when it's finally bedtime and the 6 year old calls down about random shit for at least an hour. Parenting is hard!! But it's Friday and I can finally have an alcoholic drink

Nope I’m the opposite. I love having my kids around me, either at home or out and about. Mine are older now, I have one of to uni in Oct, but I felt the same when they were younger. I actually worry about what I’ll do when all 3 of my kids will have left home and it’s just me and hubby!

You are absolutely normal!I definitely needed time off from my children even when they were babies. They went to nursery for a couple of mornings when they were toddlers so I had a few hours a week me time!
I personally don't think it's good for anyone being together 24/7 .
OP do you have any friends that you could share child time with so you both get time to yourselves?

Hell no! We wouldn't all survive! Love em to bits but absence makes the heart grow fonder.