Really dislike parenting

[ToothpasteA]

How do people wake up every day and enjoy this? I don’t want to sound negative but just had to get this out, I really hate parenting. Does anyone else struggle so much with it?

Sorry you’re having a hard time. How old are your kids?

To be honest it does depend on the age of the children. Mine are now teenagers and it is something still challenging but the hard work we put in early on has mostly paid off and we get way for free time now then when they where little.

They are also nice people and I enjoy spending time with them (most of the time).

They are teens, it’s been the worst part by far.

I don’t think anyone enjoys it all of the time?

I don't enjoy lots of it. I love my kids but I don't really enjoy most of looking after them. At the same time I recognise I've had really special moments as a parent that I'll remember forever.

Just here to show solidarity. I agree. Is there a way to resign? Having teenagers is very close to completely breaking me at the moment.

Thank you glad I’m not alone, honestly wish I could resign at this point!

What are you hating about this stage OP?

How relentless it all is, pretty much all of it tbh.

Do they have additional needs? I have a teenager and it’s been the easiest stage by far!

I am on teenager 2 and this is the most challenging thing I have had to cope with. DS was an absolute breeze and we put it all down to our exemplary parenting skills <extremely hollow laugh> Solidarity with you

Only 1 does but they are probably the easiest one, but then I didn’t find the baby/ toddler stage hard like everyone else says is the worst that was the easiest bit for me. Lots of people told me teens were a nightmare tbf

I also enjoyed the small years far more than the teen years OP. Particularly ages 15-17 ... peak arsehole age IME. But they are lovely now in early 20s. It will get better, hang in there.

Thank you; so did I, loved the baby / toddler years

I have teens. I think if you can find a common interest it makes things a lot smoother - you automatically have something in common and something that they like which they see that you “get”. Is there anything like that with you and yours? Theatre, films, football, music maybe?

I agree. I have teens and the last few years have been so difficult. I think I'm crap at parenting and if I knew then what I know now I would not have had kids. of course I love them and would do anything for them but my MH isn't great and all the teenage angst makes it so much worse. I physically feel their emotional pain.

you're not alone

God I’m dreading the teen years. I have a sassy 4yo and a 5 month old who doesn’t sleep, so definitely in a different parenting era to a lot of women on this thread. I look back at my 4yo as a baby and can’t understand why I struggled so much 😂 it’s like they say, every stage has its difficulties. I’m so exhausted at the moment, I’m just so exhausted

Thanks yes I wake up some days I don’t even want to wake up in the morning

Maybe see your GP. I went into menopause at 38 and HRT helped me so much. Ask for FSH levels to be checked. I also take citalopram which helps me hugely.

A lot of drudgery in parenting when they are young and the psychological toll especially when teenagers is enormous. It’s very hard. I didn’t enjoy it, but you do it because you love them (though liking a stroppy, rude teenager is challenging)! Most do come out the other side though and there are times of joy.

I can’t imagine teens being that hard, my mum made out I was awful, I wasn’t I was just struggling with a lot of things, parents had broken up, remarried and all sorts. Bullying and other stuff. I would shut down at home because I was always told to shut up. Maybe there’s something else going on

There’s something more going on here than you’re sharing OP. You need to talk to someone about this.

No there isn’t more going on, we all have stages we like/ dislike; I wouldn’t go on a post about a mum struggling with a toddler and say toddlers aren’t that hard that was my easiest bit! I loved that stage maybe others find different stages easier everyone says teens are nightmares

It was another poster who said that. Not me.

I think a mum saying what you’re saying at any stage of parenthood isn’t the norm. Not wanting to wake up in the morning is a sign that you need to speak to someone. Yes it can be hard, but this is out of the ordinary. You sound like you’re struggling more than a typical up and down moment.

DD2 made my hair start falling out with stress. I’ve no advice save to send you all my best. It’s a thankless task parenting tricky teens. Mine is 18 now and we are emerging from the woods. Hang in there.