Is family life with children really one constant rush?

[LivelaughLibby]

Me and DH are TTC and for context, in our mid-thirties. We get plenty of unsolicited advice/ opinion on babies and children generally and I cannot work out if I’m being too sensitive (I probably am).

Most of the comments are “just you wait” type comments but the recurring theme or maybe the topic that has me most worried is the constant rush everyone talks about. The rush to get up, get changed, breakfast sorted and off to nursery/ school then the rush to work, repeat and rinse for collecting after nursery/ school etc.

Is it really that bad? Is life just one big rush? We have such intense jobs that we have made sure our life is as calm and peaceful as we can make it! I’m not sure if that would just continue and filter down to a child/ children or if we are being naive and we need to brace for chaos.

I only have one kid and I think that seems to make a lot of difference! We do one activity a day (swimming, football club, park, trip out etc) and plenty of chill time at home, he entertains himself pretty well now at 3.5 and stick to a good routine for work/nursery days. We don't have a cleaner/grandparent help but split the housework at the weekends when everyone is at home, or I get bits done on my day off.
I don't rush anywhere but my week is set up around his needs which can get tiring at times.

Before children, I NEVER understood people who went for a weekend somewhere close-ish and never left the hotel, like a spa break type. In my head, the point of a weekend away was to go see places, do something different. Surely if you just want to sleep and chill, stay home?! Hahahaha. I completely understand it now.

Completely! I was so tired at one point, I used to dream of being in hospital (for something minor), and getting a full night's sleep! God, the fantasy of room service and not leaving a hotel room for an entire weekend was the stuff of fantasy!
Now my dcs are alittle older, I do like to do activities again, and would get cabin fever, but before that, totally agree! There are still certain things that are just easier to do alone, thankfully when they're at school!

My three dcs are all in their early twenties and I am so relieved that the baby stage / toddler / primary is over
Dh and I have so much more time to actually enjoy life