Anyone else feeling a bit meh working part-time and raising young kids?

[Chayy]

I have 2 DC, DS age 5 in Yeat R and DD nearly 2.
I work 4 days a week in a semi-stressful although not particularly well paid job (I earn okay, and I'm content with the work so it works for now).

Anyway, I dunno if it's just the winter has felt a million years long, or because my kids are in very different stages and still costing crazy amounts in childcare fees, but I'm just like lacking a bit of get up and go. I'm feeling irritated and not particularly fulfilled.
DH is great and pulls his weight, but feels like we barely talk about anything but the kids and what needs doing, plus how to fit in other family.

Anyone else?

Yes, exactly the same boat! I find planning little things to look forward to helps a lot. Solidarity OP

Yes 😭😭 im permanently tierd. (Doesn't help the toddlers still wake up throughout the night) some days I don't even see DH and it's rushing around from 5am till 10pm where I crash for couple hours till the toddlers up 😂
I get really aggy but I think its overwhelm and exhaustion. I'm pretty sure if I got a good chunk of sleep and actually recharged I'd feel completely different.

I couldnt written this myself too. Winter has seemed to never end and I am sick of the cold weather and nursery bugs/colds. Similar to other posters, my toddler doesnt sleep through at 2 yo so I am pretty tired and grumpy too. I find working 4 days is difficult, work have the expectation and workload of full time but I fall behind on housework / life admin!

Yes. Mine are almost exactly the same ages and I also work 4 days a week. Similarly, my work is stressful and requires a lot of thought but only pays well-ish. The kind of amount that does make it worth working despite nursery fees but it's not enough to be able to outsource much to help us. My toddler was an absolute menace last night. Half term and I'm off with the 5 year old. Got so many half finished projects around the house but I'm sitting here nursing a lemsip (thanks nursery) and feeling guilty that the TV is on again.

Yes absolutely. 4 year old and almost two year old. I have a precious day off by myself today and I’m going back to bed. Porridge still plastered all over the kitchen but that’s insurmountable right now.

Thanks all.

@BumpedmyElbow this totally resonates with me, earning enough to go to work but not enough to feel any big benefit given childcare is so high.
I've had a letter from the nursery saying the fees go up again in April. I remember when my DS got his 30 free hours it made a difference of £550 a month. I think when my DD gets her free hours we'll see a diffeeence of maybe £150/200 a month... given we've had the 15 free hours and barely saw a difference.

I hate to be negative and moan, and I'm is usually quite good at getting through. But right now I just CBA with everything!

These are the hard slog years but spring is around the corner and in another 2yrs or so your hard work will be worth it and you'll be benefiting from continuing to work. Do what you need to do to keep going for now, t won't always be this way.

It's a relentless time. Ours are 7 and 3 and I'm only just feeling like I'm coming out of survival mode. We both can do WFH and have enough income to not worry about bills but for a long time it felt like I had nothing to spare emotionally and energy wise.

The three year old is doing his best to be as awkward as possible at the moment which doesn't help

DC2 is going to school this September and it really feels like a turning point. Carving out time to do some serious training (I run) and making that a non-negotiable has also really helped me get through the last few years.

I imagine when DC2 starts school things feel easier. Not dropping them both off in separate places, holidays at the same time, no nappies/pottys, more money, less food mess etc!

I have until sept 27 to get through on that basis - send help!

It’s a horrible phase, but honestly it’s over SO quickly!
Try to embrace this time with your kids before the school system consumes them.

Mine are 4, 2 + 3m.

Normally they are all really good sleepers, but last night we were all awake continuously thanks to yet another a bug from nursery- at 10 days old we were in hospital with the baby for RSV ☹️

DH got up for the older 2, while I fed and soothed the baby. We must have seen every hour- we are exhausted this morning! Decided to have a duvet day infront of the tv with hot ribena for the kids and lots of coffee for us. I hate it when the kids are ill, it gives me such anxiety.

I have an almost 2yr old and 3yr2 month. 3yr old is ok at least half the time. 22 month old is so bloody clingy, doesn't leave me alone for more than 15 mins in an entire day, luckily she still naps, and that 1.5hr nap is when 3yr old has her tv time

I work 3 days a week, my own gardening business. Quieter in Jan & Feb through choice. I used to loads in my quiet time, but this time I revel in 2 days alone, doing some admin work, a fraction of the projects I'd usually do and some pottering. Feels a waste of time, but I get very little break when it's the 4 of us, as at least one if not both kids only want me 80% of the time, rather than their dad.

In another year when youngest is 3 I feel it'll be far nicer. Just got back from holiday and 3yr old was easy to play in kids pool whilst i read a book (whilst toddler napped)!

Yeah I feel the same, I work full time, as does my partner, I have a 3 year old and a 3 month old, I’m due to go back full time in May. I do 2 days at home, 3 in the office which is an hour and a half drive away. I’m the main earner and actually love my job BUT I do feel crapy because as you’ve said I feel like my and my partner hardly see eachother these days, and the time with my kids can sometimes be stressful and tense as I can be burnt out. My spare weekends are spent looking after the 3 month old and doing housework 🙃

Just bringing this one back again, nearly 12 months later and I’m still feeling this. DS is now 6 and in year 1. DD will be 3 in the summer, still working 4 days a week although I did drop 1 hour a day so now do 26 hours a week instead of 30. The drop in hours felt great at the time, last spring, but now I feel I want to drop them even more 😂
Not hugely enjoying my job. I work in finance and a new kid has come into the team, he’s studying to become chartered and it always gives me a pang of envy that I chose to be a mum instead of continuing studying. I feel worried he will become senior to me at this rate and feeling like I want to run away and work somewhere else but at the same time I don’t have the energy for that right now, it’s easier to stay put.

I also keep counting down the months until DD starts school which will be Sep 27. I know that’s ages away and I will actually be sad when she starts school, the end of an era type thing, but I’ll welcome the fact I can drop them both off and pick them up in ONE PLACE!

Anyway, if anyone else fancies a moan be my guest :-)