Do you ever feel guilty for needing a break from your children?

[Wajeehakamran]

I love my children, but some days I honestly just want an hour where nobody needs anything from me.
Between school, meals, housework, work and all the little things children constantly need, I sometimes feel completely drained. Then I feel guilty for even wanting some time alone.
Do other parents feel like this too? How do you manage to get some proper time for yourself without feeling guilty about it?

Frequent practice!

No I don’t feel guilty, because I think it’s a pretty normal feeling! Just as i need a break from work now and again, I need a break from house chores and kids from time to time.

Doesn’t mean I don’t love my kids, I love them very much, but when the were younger I found them absolutely exhausting!

It's cognitive overload! I make sure I get out at least once a week without any of the family with me. Otherwise they would literally drive me up the walls 😬

Nope

I don't feel guilty for feeling like this.
If I could, I would have a regular break from my dc, work, cleaning, cooking etc.

But as a SP of dc I rarely get time to myself.

No, never! It does you both good to have a little break.

Never.
As my mother says You have your own life too.

Nope. Our 12yo is away for a few days with his GDPs. DH and I are really enjoying only having to worry about work and the cat.

Not in the slightest. I fuck off to the spa or go see my friends.

Nope - she has 2 parents and he sure as hell doesn't feel guilty so neither do l!

God no. I went back to work at four and five months each time. No help. It was the only break we got.

I do feel guilty, and I know many mums in RL feel guilty too. It's just on MN where mothers never seem to feel guilty.
You can still take time off for yourself though, even if you feel guilty. It's normal to need a break because life with kids is very demanding.

No, this is very normal and you should definitely take breaks from them.
Look at it from the perspective of if you get time to relax it will actually make you a better parent the rest of the time

I don’t feel guilty at all. I can’t think of anyone in the world or any job I wouldn’t need a break from eventually! Add in the caring responsibilities and it makes perfect sense that you’d want a break from them.

Nope, there isn't a human on this earth I don't need a break from and my child is no different!! I feel like my brain overheats if i don't get alone time, i'm also a lone parent so it's tough in the summer holidays but I survive by staying up way later than I should and regretting it the next day.

Nope.

No, it has been important to me since I had dc1, to do something each week where I was just 'me' and not work me or 'dcs' Mum'.

I think it is very healthy for the dc to realise you are not just 'Mum' too.

The only times I feel guilty are when my SEN DDs are struggling and need me to help them regulate. But because they're struggling I need time away too. Sometimes this means they don't sleep or their behaviour is challenging, and they're upset with me too.

I don't feel guilty but then I work pt hours so I get a break when they're at school/nursery and that was always part of our family plan. I would go mad if I worked 5 days for all the time they're at school. I don't like to have a break from them at weekends or evenings though as I already feel that it's enough to have those school hours to myself, and we have activities planned which would be cut short if I went off and did my own thing. But that's less about guilt and more not wanting to miss out.