Stay-at-home mommy burn out

I am definitely feeling the SAHM burn out!  My situation is different than yours though.  I have young kids, 3 and 2.  I feel like we are in a rut of a sort.  We get up, have breakfast, play, have lunch, they take a nap & sometimes I do too if I am tried, they get up, watch a kid show, have supper, play, go to bed.  uggg  So boring!  I know I need to make the changes that will make us all happier.  Luckily I just got a job on Saturdays, so that is really starting to help with my mental attitude.  And I am sleeping better since getting my CPAP, so my energy level is increasing.  I am also starting to workout during nap.  At first I thought we would be able to do so much this summer with me not working, but I have a hard time managing the kids at the park by myself, so we don't do that.  The 2 year old would run off if I am not constantly chasing after her, so it's hard to keep track of both of them by myself.  I have joined a Mommy group in my area, and I keep seeing activities, but I just don't ever take the plunge and actually do them.  I don't know what my problem is about not doing those things.  Tomorrow we are getting together with my friend though, so at least that is something different for a change.
 

I do, every couple of months. Taking care of kids, house, hubby and pets leaves me little to no time for me. I can go so long taking care of everyone else then I need to take care of me. I never get the craving to go back to work outside of the house though. Today I cheated and hung out in the nursery at church instead of teaching the preschool class. I really needed another adult to talk to so the kids just played.  I have been babysitting a 1 and 2 yr old since around 8 Fri morning. They finally go home tonight around 7. Today the 2 yr old is not only homesick but not feelign well. The baby has been pretty clingy and had a temp on and off. Hubby has been home but hiding out in the bedroom since he hurt his back  and has been on muscle relaxers and pain meds keeping him knocked out. I was starving for a grown up to talk to! That is one of hte biggest downfalls of being a SAHM. Not enough grown up conversation. My working friends can't understand how I can spend so much time online or how I can hang out in a forum. For me it is often the only adult conversation I get. In some ways it is better because a conversation can last all day yet you don't have to be sitting at the computer the whole day. You can come and go in conversations. I usually do a chore, sit a little, do a chore, sit a little etc so I am not left with hours of boredom. Plus some days I hurt so much it is the best way to cope instead of doing everything at once and killing myself. 

I'm with ya, I am having total SAHM burn out these days. I have been looking for a job to get me out of the house but no luck yet. It has gotten bad enough that when my toddlers start arguing I visibly shudder. My dh says it looks like I get the chills or something. Now winter isn't to far away and I know it will get worse but trying to take steps to help with the burn out. Hope things get better for you soon.

I'm on major mommy burn out right now. Just yesterday when dh got home from his lessons, the only thing I could say was "I just can't do this anymore".

 

This happens every summer, dh is off school and focuses 100% on our business and summer is our high season. He works 7 days a week and my life is the same every single day for 2.5 months. It's like that movie Groundhog Day, I never know what day it is and the monotony is awful. If there is a day where he does not work at all, it means we are out of town, on a day trip or have some sort of obligation. 

 

I think this summer is particularly maddening because our business is doing really well so dh has even longer days and is juggling more employees (which is great and I totally appreciate that) and ds's transitional K was 5 days a week, so it's the first summer after experiencing full time school and that's an adjustment for all of us. I think this is also one of those times where the age difference with the my kids shows, being 6 and 2.5 they are interested in different activities. We go to the pool and the park and just play outside, but I'm feeling challenged to find bigger activities that both of them can do (not too young for ds, but dd is capable of sitting through)

 

It doesn't matter if I'm burned out, such is life and I know it will get better in a few weeks when dh is back on his school schedule, ds starts K and dd starts her pre-preschool classes. It really helps to work out and do some fun projects. And I'm not unhappy or angry, just ready for some change.

 

When both of my kids are in school, I am really hoping to find a job within the district that puts me on the same schedule as the kids. I really want to be able to work, but with dh's crazy work schedule I need to be available to keep family life running smoothly.

 

ETA: And I have been staying way too late at night simply because finally no one is talking to me and my brain desperately needs the break

Edited by liamsmom - 8/5/12 at 12:40pm

That's one reason I will be the first to tell you that I am not a good sahm. I tried it and did not enjoy it.

I can see how hard that must be, but I am glad you know how lucky you are to be in a position that a SAHM role is possible.

I have never felt mommy burn out. Even before my divorce and we home schooled, but we always had outside activities. A daily walk, play dates, homeschool coop, visits with my parents, library, park, etc.

I am dealing with the opposite right now. Since the divorce, the girls HAVE to go to their dad's every other weekend, they don't want to go and they cry every single time they go. It is the worst feeling in the world. To make them go when they don't want to. Now I feel the need to be home with them as much as possible. I can pay my bills on my child support, but barely. I actually talked to the girls about it and we chose for me to take the summer off with them, even if money would be tight. Even spending the summer together, it never feels like enough time anymore.

That is so me lately!!!  I love being mama, mommy, and mummy.... LOL all three call me different things and I want to just scream GO ASK YOUR FATHER, and ha, he's away again!