How exhausted is normal as a parent?

[Lanitrying]

I am so tired and irritable like 85% of the time, I feel like I’m not enjoying stuff with my children though I am trying. We had a beach day today and honestly getting them buckled up in the car was a relief, I felt run ragged and ready to cry my eyes out. I feel like something can’t be right, I’m at an incredibly beautiful beach and watching the ferry coming in and the beautiful coloured seaweed with my beautiful children. Admittedly my daughter who’s not quite 2 still wakes up anywhere between 1-5 times a night. I also have an extremely energetic 5 year old who is having trouble with listening with what I’m asking/ or rather doing what I’ve asked when I’ve asked. I feel like my best is never good enough, and although I get a bit of support from in-laws, it’s rare I’m ever able to switch off. I live a long way away from my immediate family so I don’t get help there. My partner is very helpful although he works full time and sometimes picks up a bit extra.

Im not depressed but do suffer with anxiety and am waiting for an ADHD referral though I am confident I definitely do have it.

Do other parents feel this way? I feel like such an awful mum

Parenting is exhausting unless you have a nanny, a housekeeper, cook and cleaner, a PA and a gardener + can afford a swanky gym membership. On top of this you will need regular solo breaks away and eating out to be a fairly normal activity. Life is not all social media-friendly. I always say I love mine the most when they are sleeping

85%? So still 15% left to be exhausted then. Come back when you are at 100%!

Hard relate

Sleep deprivation is a bitch.

Also: perhaps consider getting your iron/ferritin levels checked. And compare them with actual good iron levels (not just what the NHS reckons is adequate). I spent years of early parenthood feeling tired enough to die, and only later realised I'd been massively iron deficient.