Does anyone else feel overwhelmed?

Question

We have a 2yr old and a baby on the way. We both work full time. I never feel like I do anything well enough, like the house is never clean enough etc, etc. I don't even really care if I have any friends outside of work, because I just want to come home and spend all my free time with my daughter. It never feels like there are enough hours in a day. Do other families feel the same?

Answer 1

Yup, normal. And your priorities are perfect, too. Your time with your kids is much more important than a clean house. Eventually they will be in school, the pressure will lessen, and you'll feel back in control a bit. It goes by SOOOOO quickly, so do try to enjoy your little ones as much as you can. The only thing that can help a bit is to try to keep your life as organized as you can, by keeping a calendar of what you need to do on a daily basis. That way you can sleep well at night knowing that your responsibilities are written down and you won't overlook any of the major things.

Answer 2

Yes, yes & yes!!!! Some days I work all day (at home) and feel like I get NOTHING done because the messes are made faster than I can clean them up alone. I have a 16 year old, two 6 year olds, two 3 year olds, a 17 month old & an 8 month old (biological, adopted & foster children). Sometimes at the end of the day when I think about everything I did it doesn't seem possible that I did all those things because my house sure doesn't look like it! GOOD LUCK!

Answer 3

I hear what your saying...I have a 10 year old daughter, 15 month old son and 6 months pregnant with another boy..... my husband is a paramedic and is gone either 12 hour shifts or 24 hour shifts. I work full-time from my home office but it's still overwhelming at times. I just try not to let everything bother me and if I can keep at least one room clean in our house I feel better (as silly as that sounds). I think also having the kids on a schedule seems to help too.....

Answer 4

Absolutely. I didn't work for 7 years, since my kids came along. Last year I started working at my daughter's preschool and about 2 months into it, I started getting really testy, anxious, grumpy and so emotional. One morning I nearly lost it on my daughter because she wouldn't let me do her hair. I was so overwhelmed with everything. I worked all day with little kids and then when I got home I had no patience left for my own. I had no desire to clean my house, do laundry, anything. I was a complete mess. While it was nice to have that little extra income coming in, it wasn't worth my sanity. So I quit and haven't looked back since. The preschool keeps me around to help when someone is out, but for the most part, I'm home and much less stressed. Honey, you are NOT alone!! Hang in there and congrats on your new baby.

Answer 5

congrat's on the new baby, but I can understand your question. I have 3 kids 2 boys and a girl 16,13, and my girl is almost 4. She alone keeps me busy. With all the stuff I do around here, well I feel overwhelmed all the time. But first you have to take care of yourself and trust me I go through it all the time. right now between yall's job, baby on the way, the house will be there when you feel like doing it. Trust me, alot of times I just want to hide, but it don't aways work that way. My husband works all the time and I take care of everything here. I keep saying I wish there was 2 of me some time. I hope that I helped alittle. Take care of yourself and the baby

Answer 6

I know I do! When I get home from work, I don`t want to socialize with anyone BUT my family. I am just too exhausted to have to talk to "other" people! You know as a parent I think you will always feel like you could do more. More cleaning more playing more teaching more reading....and it never quite seems enough, does it? But you know what? It IS enough. Whatever you can do, is enough. Don`t sweat the small stuff, have a sense of humor about it.

Answer 7

I feel your pain! I only have one child but she is 5 years old, just started school and Girl Scouts. I work all day, go to Scout meetings with her and then come home to cook, try to clean up (with little success) and then attempt to get a few hours sleep before I have to get up and do it all over again.

I wonder how our parents and grandparents did it? Geez I know I was an active kid and my mother always had time to be a part of my activities and once we got home, the house was clean, dinner cooked and laundry done. (maybe the "housecleaning fairy" is on strike for our generation?

Answer 8

I have 2 children too and my husband and I work full-time. We spend nearly 10 hours a day woking, then rushing home to spend time, care and teach my kids. BUT I actually enjoy this roles and wouldn't want anything else. My life now revolved around my family and I don't really have much time or energy for friends OUTSIDE working hours. But when I'm working, I enjoy having my friends and collegues around me. It's like I'm doing two roles at diiferent times but it works fine for me.

Answer 9

Of course!
That's what being the mommy of a toddler and pregnant is supposed to feel like! Things will settle down as your children age. I am glad you are choosing to spend your free time with your daughter rather than socialize with friends, since these are years you can never get back.

Answer 10

Yes, definitely, don't feel bad. I "get" to stay home, but my husband works 2 jobs. My 3 children and I get to see him 1 night a week, that's all, not even weekends. No matter what the situation, we all get stressed and don't feel "good enough" at times. Just love your family, the rest ultimately, means nothing.