Any other exhausted parents?

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Posted: 11/19/2012 9:39:52 AM EDT

Don't get me wrong I love my kids but talk about not having free time for anything and a constant feeling of exhaustion. Is it bad that I look forward to going to work sometimes?

Posted: 11/19/2012 9:45:46 AM EDT

[#1]

Quoted:

Don't get me wrong I love my kids but talk about not having free time for anything and a constant feeling of exhaustion. Is it bad that I look forward to going to work sometimes?

Try being the stay at home dad to a 9 month old who is just figuring out how to crawl and manipulate people

Posted: 11/19/2012 9:52:35 AM EDT

[#2]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Don't get me wrong I love my kids but talk about not having free time for anything and a constant feeling of exhaustion. Is it bad that I look forward to going to work sometimes?

Try being the stay at home dad to a 9 month old who is just figuring out how to crawl and manipulate people

Both of ours starting walking around 8 months... talk about no rest!

They will keep me young or put me in an early grave.

Odds are about even as to which at the moment.

Posted: 11/19/2012 9:55:41 AM EDT

[#3]

I'd say that's pretty normal.

Posted: 11/19/2012 9:57:51 AM EDT

[#4]

only 21, so nope. Making me have second thoughts about kiddo's lol

Posted: 11/19/2012 9:58:02 AM EDT

[#5]

Worth it.

Posted: 11/19/2012 9:58:48 AM EDT

[#6]

Start Exercising, it helps!

Posted: 11/19/2012 9:59:31 AM EDT

[#7]

same here, wouldnt trade it though.

Posted: 11/19/2012 9:59:50 AM EDT

[#8]

My wife is in her twenties and stays at home while I go to work.

Feels great, man.

I'm not even sure what she named them.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:02:15 AM EDT

[#9]

You are no longer living for yourself. Get used to it.

Also........that doesn't mean it is a BAD thing.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:03:31 AM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
My wife is in her twenties and stays at home while I go to work.

Feels great, man.

I'm not even sure what she named them.

Are you sure they're hers?

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:04:22 AM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Don't get me wrong I love my kids but talk about not having free time for anything and a constant feeling of exhaustion. Is it bad that I look forward to going to work sometimes?

Try being the stay at home dad to a 9 month old who is just figuring out how to crawl and manipulate people

actually, I can't begin to express how easy that sounds

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:06:43 AM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
You are no longer living for yourself. Get used to it.

Also........that doesn't mean it is a BAD thing.

This right here. Friends of ours had 2 sets of twins, 3 years apart. You'll make it!

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:07:50 AM EDT

[#13]

Single dad here. It has it's rewards.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:10:37 AM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
My wife is in her twenties and stays at home while I go to work.

Feels great, man.

I'm not even sure what she named them.

fucking funny

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:10:49 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:

Quoted:
You are no longer living for yourself. Get used to it.

Also........that doesn't mean it is a BAD thing.

This right here. Friends of ours had 2 sets of twins, 3 years apart. You'll make it!

Damn, I thought my cousin had it bad with one set of triplets.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:12:31 AM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:

Quoted:
My wife is in her twenties and stays at home while I go to work.

Feels great, man.

I'm not even sure what she named them.

Are you sure they're hers?

You mean his?

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:14:00 AM EDT

[#17]

You'll figure it out. My first was pretty easy. Was afraid of everything and never got into anything. The second is the opposite. I had BCU (Baby Containment Unit) toy that the kid would play in. I would set it with the door up to the wall and stick the baby in. This would buy me about 15 - 20 minutes of peace before she figured it out and escaped.

Nice thing about babies is you don't have to be too careful about what's on TV when their around. My peace is the 1 or 2 hours after they go to bed that I can do what I want....except for leaving the house, obviously.

Oh...and you really can't drink when you're home alone with the kids. Brother in law found out the hard way. Friday night, kids are in bed and he sits down and cracks open a beer. Five beers later the 4-yr-old gets out of bed to use the bathroom. Slips and cracks her head on the bathtub. He got unpleasant interview at the ER with a bleeding, injuried child, alcohol on his breath at 11pm.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:14:33 AM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:

Don't get me wrong I love my kids but talk about not having free time for anything and a constant feeling of exhaustion. Is it bad that I look forward to going to work sometimes?

It's hard work doing it right, but remember that these kids will pick out your nursing home when you return to diapers and soft food.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:17:05 AM EDT

[#19]

LOL... I'm waiting on number 7 to make his/her debut, and that could happen any hour/day now. Exhausted? Oh my, yes. Worth it? Definitely. I am still up at least 4 out of 7 nights with somebody needing to either have their bed changed (peed the bed) or go to the bathroom (no idea why they feel the need to tell me they have to pee at 3 AM), or somebody calling out "Dadda!!!" when they have a bad dream, or just yelling out in general because they woke up scared for some reason (only the 2 little ones do that anymore)... and usually a hug and a kiss calms them down so they can go back to sleep.

I don't figure I'll have a full 7 nights of sleep a week again for at LEAST another 5 years, so I just make due with what I can get... which is unfortunately a couple of "naps" each night that last between 3 and 4 hours long with a 1/2 hr to 1 hr in the middle where I'm awake and desperately trying to get back to sleep.

I know the feeling, you're talking about, though... it's sometimes frustrating to be pulled in so many different directions. But, overall, I wouldn't trade it for anything. I get a lot of joy out of my kids.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:17:38 AM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
Don't get me wrong I love my kids but talk about not having free time for anything and a constant feeling of exhaustion. Is it bad that I look forward to going to work sometimes?

Work is a vacation at times. Kids can drain the energy right out of you.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:18:07 AM EDT

[#21]

Having seen the movie "Tangled" 6 times in the last week, I could go for some physical exhaustion.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:20:08 AM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:

Having seen the movie "Tangled" 6 times in the last week, I could go for some physical exhaustion.

I have Toy Story memorized. Tangled only six times in a week? Lightweight.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:20:12 AM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:
Don't get me wrong I love my kids but talk about not having free time for anything and a constant feeling of exhaustion. Is it bad that I look forward to going to work sometimes?

I'm there. Nothing is easy now. Every single event has to involve shouting, multiple bodily fluids, spilled juice, a change of clothes, a bath, punishment and mopping the floor. It's exhausting, frustrating and unending and there is no remedy. I've got one in the Terrible Twos and a high-maintenance first grader. All my stuff is sticky, broken, lost or all three. I shit listening to a running commentary of the same goddamn Power Rangers video every morning. My house is an obstacle course - I weave around all the toys and junk strewn around the house.

My wife and I joke that if we get divorced, it will be the first time ever that the custody fight is for who escapes without the kids.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:20:29 AM EDT

[#24]

Mine is a teenager now but I remember those days.

On the one hand, having kids when young sucks. On the other hand, not being old and having to chase after little ones is pretty awesome.

OP, it gets better. It really does.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:21:55 AM EDT

[#25]

Thought I was in the clear as my kid is 8 and very independent. Then the darkness came, My wife's sister and demon spawn child came to stay while the SiL goes through a divorce and gets back on her feet. That kid, I believe, has never had any parenting in her 2 years of life. Has no respect for her mother and the mother has no backbone either. It would be easier to brake a wild mustang then to get this kid to behave. Up at 4 am, no matter what time she goes to bed, spits food out anywhere, torments the dog, tried to kill the dog, shrieks for no reason, will sneak markers and mark shit up at 4am..... All this destruction from a tiny little girl, a mother that goes what can I do. And most likely will be months before they move, I want my life back, I hate going home.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:22:32 AM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:
Don't get me wrong I love my kids but talk about not having free time for anything and a constant feeling of exhaustion. Is it bad that I look forward to going to work sometimes?

I can sympathize brother.

4 1/2 yo girl , 1 yo boy, wife and I both work fulltime, I've been working 6 or 7 days a week and the SO is getting her Master's online during the week. Most of the time I don't know what day it is.

But how else could I wake up at 7am on Sunday with a slap to the head from the 1 yo and not 10 seconds later the girl comes blasting past my room shouting "Yee haw" while riding her wooden pony. Sometimes you just have to laugh at the situation.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:22:44 AM EDT

[#27]

Quoted:
I'd say that's pretty normal.

Ya same here. In another 8 months round 2 starts.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:23:34 AM EDT

[#28]

No one made you become a parent......

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:26:40 AM EDT

[#29]

Quoted:

Quoted:
My wife is in her twenties and stays at home while I go to work.

Feels great, man.

I'm not even sure what she named them.

fucking funny

Honest to goodness LOL.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:31:00 AM EDT

[#30]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Don't get me wrong I love my kids but talk about not having free time for anything and a constant feeling of exhaustion. Is it bad that I look forward to going to work sometimes?

Try being the stay at home dad to a 9 month old who is just figuring out how to crawl and manipulate people

actually, I can't begin to express how easy that sounds

No shit. That one can't even talk yet. Get back to us in 10 years.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:32:05 AM EDT

[#31]

Quoted:
Don't get me wrong I love my kids but talk about not having free time for anything and a constant feeling of exhaustion. Is it bad that I look forward to going to work sometimes?

Normal. But it's all worth it.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:34:11 AM EDT

[#32]

Rough crowd. Parenthood is funny that way. No money or no time for one's self is a common theme. The amount I put into the college fund makes me weep inside. That's lot of hookers and blow

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:35:34 AM EDT

[#33]

Just remember, it can always be worse :)

For instance, I've spent the last six months taking care of a wife who was in and out of surgery, a newborn baby, and a 3 year-old boy whose only form of communication is screaming, while trying to fit a full-day of work in where I can(at home with said distractions and duties).

And there are people with harder jobs than mine :)

But yeah, I'm exhausted.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:35:53 AM EDT

[#34]

A good friend of mine has two kids. Last night we all went to see Lincoln. They had to leave right after the movie to go get the kids. My observations tell me that kids pretty much take all your time and energy. My friend gets his "me time" in after they go to bed which is why he usually stays up until 2 or 3 in the morning. They are eight and three, the two of them.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:37:51 AM EDT

[#35]

I'm 44. My wife is 41 and 8 months pregnant. She's still running 4 miles a day. I try to get mine in every other day.

This will be our third child. We have a 6 year old son and a 5 year old adopted daughter from Poland. They're both heavily into gymnastics. Our days are full, but I wouldn't say we're exhausted.

We do have a housekeeper and my wife works from home, so that helps.

Since I love showing them off, here's our Xmas card from last year:

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:38:58 AM EDT

[#36]

Single guy no kids. Imagine having nobody to come home to.

Just kidding, it's really awesome being able to do whatever you want and have no strings.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:39:21 AM EDT

[#37]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Having seen the movie "Tangled" 6 times in the last week, I could go for some physical exhaustion.

I have Toy Story memorized. Tangled only six times in a week? Lightweight.

*insert any Disney/Pixar movie*

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:41:27 AM EDT

[#38]

I'm 41 and have a 7yr old and a 6mo old. So yes, I get it. My poor wife has even a better understanding.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:42:18 AM EDT

[#39]

I'd like to read Goodnight Moon for the elevenbazillionth time.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:42:56 AM EDT

[#40]

Quoted:
Don't get me wrong I love my kids but talk about not having free time for anything and a constant feeling of exhaustion. Is it bad that I look forward to going to work sometimes?

I am guessing your child is very young. Your free time isn't necessarily gone forever, just perhaps suspended for a while. At this point life isn't necessarily about you anymore, and your time and your perception of the quality of your life as you see it. It is about a little one.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:48:02 AM EDT

[#41]

In 7 days my Youngest Moves Out

Woo Hoo

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:52:28 AM EDT

[#42]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Having seen the movie "Tangled" 6 times in the last week, I could go for some physical exhaustion.

I have Toy Story memorized. Tangled only six times in a week? Lightweight.

http://youtu.be/0z0OLqqfmk0

*insert any Disney/Pixar movie*

I am Legend

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:55:23 AM EDT

[#43]

I don't know how you people do it.

My Neighbor is a widow and has 4 kids ranging in age from 6 to 12. She is always gone with them doing some kind activity/sport for one of them.

If they get home by 8:00 on a weeknight that is doing good.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:57:06 AM EDT

[#44]

I have a 2 1/2 year old and an 11 month old. I am wore out all the time. I couldn't love them any more, but that doesn't mean they don't take a ton of energy to take care of.

We just travelled on an 8 hour each way car trip with them, not the easiest drive ever.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:58:58 AM EDT

[#45]

I have twin boys. I learned early that parenting is only part of the equation as far as the behavior of your kids go. I always said if we only had "J" I would think I was the best parent in the world and if we only had "W" I would think I was the worst parent in the world. Kids are kids and have their own free will (as much as I wish it would submit to my will).

Now that they are a little older (9 years old) they take turns being the trouble maker.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:59:25 AM EDT

[#46]

Quoted:
I'd say that's pretty normal.

Yes it is.

Posted: 11/19/2012 10:59:28 AM EDT

[#47]

Single, stay-at-home-dad with three 5 year old kids here. I don't remember what it's like to feel rested and refreshed. There are days I wish I could just "clock out" and get away for a weekend, but that's not going to happen anytime soon.

I still wouldn't trade it for anything, though. Still the best "job" I've ever had.