Before I start this post I want to make it clear that I love being a mum. I know how lucky I am and I wouldn't swap it for anything. Some days being a mum is hard, it's just totally overwhelming and I feel like this, and I'm sure that many of you can relate.
Last night I wanted to give up parenting. By 7pm I'd had enough. I was defeated. I felt deflated, useless and worn down.Β I was so demoralised I wanted to shout I QUIT and curl up in bed.
I'm not a depressed person normally. I think I'm quite stoic and upbeat but genuinely the kids wear me down some days. YesterdayΒ was a combination of terrible toddler tantrums and pre-teen moodiness. I spent the day trying to entertain a lively, strong willed toddler. He spent an hour on a playdate shouting at his friend and making the other child cry, several times. Then when I tried to pop into a shop he ran amok and it was all I could do to stop him running into the traffic in the road because heaven forbid he actually hold my hand. Buying lunch in Asda was such a monumental effort I seriously questioned whether to feed him at all. Playgroup in the afternoon was another disaster because of course he can't share a single toy and if someone comes anywhere near them he batters them with a baby walker. I can't pop to the shops, chat to my friends or do anything for myself. It's totally and utterly draining.
The afternoon brought the school run where I wrestled with the overtired and very grumpy toddler, trying to save him from running into the road once again. Pushchairs are a no go because they involve a knee to the stomach to be able to prise him in and the screaming writhing effort he makes trying to get out is just as bad as wrestling him in my arms.
The dinner that I made was met with scorn - of course they can't eat it, the pasta was a different shape than usual, it might kill them. But of course they bleat mercilessly for dessert. Once again I found myself scraping food into the bin and wondering why I bothered cooking at all, I may as well just empty the ingredients into the bin at the start and save the effort and whinging.
I then suggested to my eldest that she do her homework after dinner instead of watching YouTube on repeat. Bearing in mind she'd probably watched 3 hours of it already today over breakfast and dinner. So off she went to 'fake' her homework - using the answer sheet to fill in the blanks. It was blindingly obvious because no one can work out 16 x 243 with no working out. I wondered what I had done to herΒ to deserve being lied to like this. How she could look me in the face and think I was stupid enough to fall for it. What level of disrespect must she have for me?
My head was spinning from my awful day and I just thoughtΒ to myself, I don't want to do this anymore. Stop the ride I want to get off! So I delegated the little one's bath time to my husband and decided to leave my eldest to it. I quietly informed her that I'd had enough and was going to bed. If she wasn't playing the game then I wasn't either. This of course meant no one was going to take her to football class and she spent the next 30 minutes sobbing loudly at the top of her voice about how awfulΒ her life is (which in all honesty is what I wanted to do!)
If I look back on the day, I wonder what I could have done differently? Why is my son such an absolute terror at times? Should I fight to control him or would leaving him to run amok be easier? Should I stop taking him out with other children? Should I send him to nursery an extra 2 days a week to make my life easier?
I never know what to do about mealtimes, which are always horrid. Should I let them just eat the junk they crave so badly? Or should I carry on the battle over eating healthily. Should I pander to their pasta shape requests?
Should I nag my eldest to do her homework? Should she be punished for not doing it by not going to football or is that cruel? Now she's 10 I find myself doing things for her I don't think I should have to - like nagging her to wash and brush her teeth and hair. Her room is a pit I find myself tidying everyday because it's exhausting nagging her to do it. Should I just leave her to it now? If she doesn't want to brush her teeth then that's her choice?
My head is spinning with these questions. I'm constantly questioning myself, am I doing the right thing, am I approaching this the right way. I'm a mum and there is NEVER a day off. There's no chance to breathe and link and recuperate. Weekends don't exist to me, they are just an extension of the week. There is no reprieve, no rest and no gratitude for what I do. Sometimes I want to just stop the ride and get off but of course I can't. If I was feeling in a more positive mood I might say that today is a new day, another chance. But really it will probably be a case of same sh*t, different day; the ride trundlesΒ on and there is no escape.
Did this post resonate with you? Feel free to share with your friends or Pin it for later...
Bear and Cardigan
I nodded all the way through this, it could have been about me especially when mine were young or the disaster that Tots clubs can be. My daughter at 4yrs old told me I was ruining her life (honest, hands on hips and everything!) I throw more food away than is ever eaten.
My grandson is usually very laid back at Tots and when other children take toys he's playing with he usually just finds something else, but this week he cried every time a child came near, he even told me to go and take a toy back that a baby had taken from him. Last week my friend messaged me after her horrible morning "so glad you were at tots today, it was a nightmare.....I couldn't take him out as I couldn't carry him screaming and kicking.....".
You are doing a fab job, parenting is hard and no, there are no days off xxx Hugs and kisses
We Made This Life
Aw thanks so much. It's so hard some days when they just won't play nice. My girls were never like it so it's difficult for me to get my head around!
Sue Freeman
No day off ever (ever, ever, ever ... ad infinitum) and that's what we unwittingly and lovingly signed up for when our blasted hormones kicked in; our darlings don't remember (or care about) the details (I promise) but we grown-ups carry the guilt forever (should we have done this .. or omg that? it must be our fault, ffs, surely Nature would dictate otherwise? we should surely know instinctively?); we didn't interview for this most important job in our lives forever and there was absolutely no job spec to consider; I was told by my youngest that I'd ruined his life when he was an early teenager, because, well, because I'd stood up for him, I think that was it. At school. Amongst his peers. But he hated me, he really did. He truly didn't want his mother ploughing in on his behalf, and at the time I didn't appreciate that. I didn't care about his reaction because there's such a fine line between love and hate and so I carried on regardless, because I love him unconditionally. Btw he's now hugely successful in his chosen career.
We Made This Life
It's lovely to hear your son is very successful now. Hopefully I'll be able to look back in the future and say the same - it all worked out in the end! And yes, those hormones have a lot to answer for!
Trudi Cherry
It's so tough sometimes isn't it. My girls are now 16 & 13 this Thursday! My youngest was an absolute nightmare to take anywhere, she would only play with one particular toy at our Toddler group and would kick off if she couldn't have it. She hated the buggy but wouldn't hold my hand or tolerate reins so I feel your pain. Despite now being hormonal on & off, she has turned into a lovely, sweet natured & smiley girl. I wish I had known this when I was trying to cope with her having several tantrums every day!! Take care of yourself x
We Made This Life
There's hope for me yet then! Thanks for sharing, it's nice to know you're not alone sometimes!
RachelSwirl
I totally understand how overwhelming parenting is and can be as a parent myself. I think tomorrow is another day, hopefully far better than today x
We Made This Life
Hopefully! Today has been good at least!
Jo Henley
Oh days like this resonate with me! I went out for a meal today, after taking the boys to the cinema, I very nearly lost my sh*t in public when they all picked their phones up! Luckily, I have perfected 'the look', which actually worked x
We Made This Life
They are sent to drive us wild I think! Mine don't even respond to 'the look' - maybe I need to do it better!!