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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

30 Something and a little lost

3 replies

Alio90 · 18/02/2025 13:18

Hello!

This is my first post on MN and I wasn’t sure where to post, because as the title states, I’m a little lost.

I am nearly 35, recently married and we have a blended family. I have 2 children and my husband has 3, they range from 9-21. It’s a busy house hold and I work full time, Husband has recently increased his hours. We are ok for money, nothing flash but comfortable.

My previous relationship was complicated, my ex was extremely money focused and we were more than comfortable, but it caused a lot of conflict and has left me paranoid about money, I stress about things that might happen and I worry hopelessly about putting money aside.

Right now I feel a bit lost, my workplace is having a restructure and although I think I’m fairly safe it’s no guarantee. At home I feel like I’m just living the days, cleaning, commuting, parenting on repeat. I feel frumpy, heavy & just generally not the bubbly person I once was. I’ve recently been diagnosed is scoliosis and that makes me feel old. My hormones are all over the show and I’m sure that’s a massive part of why I feel the way I do.

Im left thinking is this just an age thing, is this just a blip in life or am genuienly struggling with something I can’t put my finger on. I love my husband, I love our kids, I enjoy my job, but all come with challenges. My husband and I parent very differently which can cause conflict, I feel like a bit of a peacekeeper. Our children are great kids, but an adult child in the house I find challenging when it comes to not helping out and not staying in bed until 3pm in what quite frankly is a dump of a bedroom. My job is challenging and stressful but to anyone would be the ‘dream job’ so I feel I should always be grateful. I’ve not always felt ‘attractive’ and my now husband boosted my confidence so much when we met but I feel like I’m now just slipping backward.

I’ve recently been looking into childhood trauma, and I think this is a huge part of how I’m feeling. I lost my dad as a teenager, in our home and had to try and unsuccessfully rescusitate him - I thought I had dealt with this growing up but I’m paranoid now that the person I am today and the ways I soemtimes feel are because of this deepest rooted trauma.

Apologies this post is all over the show. I don’t really know what I’m looking for. Maybe for some reassurance that soemtimes in life we go though a blip and I’ll come back out the otherside.

OP posts:
DaisyChain505 · 18/02/2025 13:24

Blended families are harddddd work! The eldest child should 100% be pulling their weight with chores etc and should be paying some form of rent or be moving out!

You should definitely get yourself some therapy if money allows. Childhood trauma can leak into our everyday lives in so many ways that we aren’t even aware of.

Can you find small changes in your day to day life to help you feel a little better within yourself. Taking your lunch break out in the nearest park? Starting swimming a few times a week?

Alio90 · 18/02/2025 13:53

DaisyChain505 · 18/02/2025 13:24

Blended families are harddddd work! The eldest child should 100% be pulling their weight with chores etc and should be paying some form of rent or be moving out!

You should definitely get yourself some therapy if money allows. Childhood trauma can leak into our everyday lives in so many ways that we aren’t even aware of.

Can you find small changes in your day to day life to help you feel a little better within yourself. Taking your lunch break out in the nearest park? Starting swimming a few times a week?

Thank you for your reply 😊

I definitely feel like it’s leaking into my life. My husband also lost his first wife when their children were young so I think we both have trauma that we are trying to navigate separately, as do the kids. Sometimes it’s just all a bit overwhelming despite the fact day to day everyone copes remarkably well.

I think I’m exhausted from the million different dynamics. Being a wife, a mother, a step mother, an ex, a manager, a peacekeeper, a cleaner, an organiser etc the list just goes on and on! If I put all my efforts into one another feels like it falls short. My only ‘downtime’ is scrolling on the internet (ironically here I am posting!) but then the whole screen time causes it’s own issues. My DH I think feels a bit abandoned if I sit and read on my phone. I’m a bit of a news geek and can get lost in a rabbit hole on line for ages but it switches my brain off from everything else!

I absolutely need to make some
changes, for myself. I need to find something else to do and swimming would be a great shout - I just need to fit it into my life and make some time for me I think.

OP posts:
BigDahliaFan · 18/02/2025 14:15

It'll get better as the kids get older - though that will bring its own challenges. But you both need to be on the same page. So time out for you but also time out for the two of you.

Blending families doesn't always work - so don't beat yourself up if it doesn't. Work out what is best for you and your kids.

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