Need Perspective - I Think I’m Doing This All Wrong

I’ve been wanting to pose this question for a while now and last few days is escalated to a point where I really need some perspective. I feel like I’m going about this all wrong despite trying my best with everything I have to do. I work full-time and have two little ones at home and my husband also works full-time. I could really get into it, so instead, please read these highlights below: • I feel badly when my kids need to stay in their play area while I work. They have the whole run of the living room which is a pretty big space, and I rearranged their toys and clean things up every night so that they have a fresh place to go into to enjoy each day. We also have either Miss Rachel or Sesame Street going on so they get to watch whatever makes them happy. I also make sure to read them throughout my workday and get down there and play with them during the workday. I also try to get them down for naps on my own. Again comments as well my husband and I are both working. • I’ve had a pretty rough work week this week because a project I’ve been working on, that I’ve been communicating about for months, finally got the attention of people who decided they wanted to be involved and instead of asking to be involved they tried to throw me under the bus by saying that I’ve never communicated about this project whenever I have been. I have my receipts, but no one‘s reading them and managers are making up their own narratives and I’m in a position where I feel like I can’t say anything. • So, with that energy, I’m trying not to bring that into my family life. But I insisted communication with my husband last night. Let him know that I’m feeling overwhelmed. That I can’t start work late to do breakfast in the morning, pause to feed them lunch and then try to put them down for naps in the afternoon while he either does his full workday at his leisure or plays games. I also make dinner with a recipe and he says it isn’t what he wanted and would rather have a hot dog. I’m also trying to work with my kids and their food allergies and give them cooked meals at every meal time and they just throw it on the floor. So that equals a dirty kitchen, me feeling stressed out, and feeling guilty about not being able to interact with my kids as much as I think I need to. The response from my husband was that he hates my job and thinks that I’m trying to do too much with the kids. And now because I’ve been in a mood where I wasn’t happy happy fun time girl, he is now more silent and distant. I just feel like I’m trying to put 100% into every aspect of my life and I keep coming up short. The kids seem like they’re always crying, my husband seems annoyed with me, and people at work are not listening to me either. Maybe I’m just going about this all wrong. This isn’t a clear question and answer post, but clearly I just needed someplace or someone to talk to.
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Tbh firstly u doing more than u can handle! U need to take it easy before u get burn out. Ur husband not helping much with that attitude of his! U need to set boundaries at work and also home too- I feel u both need to work together to have that balance!

I am living with my father right now and my partner is working and living in his own apt. I don’t know if we will live together again at this point. We shall see. I found myself trying to do the same and felt the same way. I decided to stop working and just focusing on my mental health as it was to a point where I wasn’t able to work full time anyways. I got pregnant last June and due in March. I have the ability to stay at home with this baby too so I am gonna do that. My then 5 year old will start school in the fall. I want to spend the first 2 years with new little boy and then work again or go back to school for a year or two. I am on assistance like food stamps to help us out and my kids and I have Medicaid insurance. It works for me and my family. I felt like I was always doing things half assed even when trying my best while I was trying to juggle work/kids/home. It really caused a lot of mental health issues for me. I am now off all mental health meds and feeling wonderful.

I know it may not be an option to not work but maybe you could consider doing something else for a bit while the kids are little? Where you’re only working part time? I don’t really have much to add but I hope you can figure out something where you feel youre having time to the kid, husband and home and self too.

Is it possible to put the kids in daycare? It will cost a lot for the first few years, but at least it will take some of the burden away. You will also have mom guilt for a while, but it will get better.

You are doing a great job in a very difficult situation. Basically doing 2 jobs at once. Your husband has to step up and take over some home responsibilities. From my experience, my husband said he didn't want to help because "I do too much" and he can't replicate the tasks and the kids would be upset it's different than how I do things. It took some time but I let go of routines and expectations (feel less stress about food getting on the floor, him not cleaning as thoroughly, and kids not eating as healthy when he cooks.) I simply assigned us shifts and he can handle it however he likes and I basically do not interfere at all at that time. He's gotten more confident doing tasks and it freed me up. However this life is constantly changing, Now his work is more stressful and he's reverted back to not doing any home responsibilities. I hope you can talk to your husband and he's more supportive!

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