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Preteens

Parenting a preteen can be a minefield. Find support here.

My children are driving me crazy

5 replies

3DSbittersweet · 08/06/2019 19:38

Im a stay at home mum.I have 3 Sons. Age 2, 4 and 6. I literally feel like I'm losing my mind. I feel so much anxiety, I feel so depressed.

I just need to vent , I need to get this out.

I love my children with all my heart and soul ,but sometimes I regret having kids. I feel like I have lost my self.

All I do is clean clean clean clean, laundry os non stop, its constant noise, they argue they fight, I am always screaming , I try time out, taking toys away bribes the lot.

They are so good st times but when they're 3 are together, omg I feel like exploding. I am always taking deep breaths trying to calm down but I end up in tears, inhave no real support, hubby works 12 hour shifts he is always tired, I also have to make sure dinner is cooked, house keeps getting trashed, omg... if I try and steal 5 mins fornmy self i risk broken glass everywhere, i hardly get time to have a bath. Its terrible. I feel like a slave.

I

OP posts:
SeaToSki · 09/06/2019 00:08

When mine were little it was so hard. One thing I found that helped was packing stuff away / locking cupboards or room doors so that the rooms they were allowed in were pretty bomb proof, the less you have to worry about being broken, the better.

Then I had firm rules about bedtime. They all had to goto bed at 7 pm so that I had some time to pull the house back together, and then I had some time to relax for me before I went to bed.

Is there anything you could change to make your life a little easier?

mrwalkensir · 09/06/2019 00:19

I had 7, 4, 2 at one point and it is bloomin hard. When you look at what you would have to pay/earn for what you are providing in childcare, housework etc, you should then remind yourself that you would be high rate tax payer - you're an invisible upper bracket earner!. It won't be much better for a few years, but realise you are very much entitled to putting your feet up for two hours when youngest gets to pre-school age. It will get better. xxx (suspect from what you're saying that they'll get on pretty well)

snitzelvoncrumb · 09/06/2019 00:59

Sending a big hug and 🍷
I felt like this most of the time a while ago. I have made a few changes that help me. No point cleaning up twice, I let the kids play and make mess as long as it's cleaned up before bed. Anything left out goes in the bin. I don't do endless laundry anymore, the kids can wear after school clothes a few times. Saying no has been the biggest one for me, getting to lots of activities and looking after toddlers while there is too much for me, so I have learnt it's ok to say no to stuff.
Give yourself an annual leave day.
Make dinner the day before and so as little as possible. Sit and watch a movie, you need a break!!!!!!

tostaky · 19/06/2019 07:07

I had 3 boys under 3.5 (youngest is now 7).
I feel your pain. What helped me:

  • go to bed at the same time they do, wake up early at least 1.5 hours earlier than they will so i can have a relaxing coffee and get on with some admin, food cooking, planning, whatever. That meant no more TV for me. Tbh i dont miss it and still wake up earlier nowadays and go to bed roughly at the same time as they do.
  • buy a cooker with a timer. So whenever i had 5 minutes i could prep something and time it so when came dinner time: something was already cooked.
  • have a cleaner once a week (i know i am lucky)
  • accept not to have a tidy house
  • take the boys out in the morning and in the afternoon, wear them out. Someone said that boys are like dogs, i agree. Then need to be walked (cycle, football, swimming, etc..) until they are worned out.
  • we bought a massive trampoline for £60 on gumtree. Best investment ever!
Good luck. It won't get easier so make some changes now!!!
4cheekymonkey · 29/06/2019 21:50

I feel your pain. That was me a couple of years ago then things got suddenly easy and I felt that the last 2-3 years just slipped away and I couldn't remember/ enjoy my 3rd child's first couple of years and now I'm here (like an idiot) as we decided to have another baby and I'm now here with a 9,7,5, 1 year old and pulling my hair out as they are so much hard work! So no advice here bit I felt things just got easy sudently and you might feel that too soon X

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