A woman has told of her regret at becoming a mother after missing her ‘old life’ which was once full of alone time and ‘watching Netflix’.
The new mum of a 10-month-old baby took to British parenting forum Mumsnet to lament that she couldn’t ‘shake the feeling’ of regret even though her little one is ‘lovely, sweet and ‘independent’.
Sharing more insight into her prior ‘peaceful’ life, she woman added that she was much happier alone when she could work from home, have dinners and travel.
The mother-of-one said she doesn’t like parenting because she fears the ‘constant sense of responsibility’ as well as always having to entertain someone else and be ‘alert’.
Other parents sympathised with her state of mind, adding that ‘it will get better’.
An anonymous woman has told of her regret at becoming a mother after missing her ‘old life’ which was once full of alone time and ‘watching Netflix ‘ (Stock image)
She explained: ‘My baby is ten months old. I love her more than anything in the world.
‘I constantly worry about something bad happening to her. She is a lovely, bright, happy, sweet, and quite an independent child.
‘But I just can’t shake the feeling that I regret having her. I just want to go back to my old life. I had a quiet, peaceful, unexciting life, and that’s what I like.
‘I’m a very introverted, self-contained person and I was always happy just being by myself, working from home, watching Netflix in the evenings, enjoying nature, having dinner out now and again. Maybe a holiday once in a while’.
The woman seemed despondent over the fact that these privileges were ‘obviously all gone now’.
Being new to parenthood, she urged fellow parents to reveal their experiences and let her know if things would ever improve.
She continued: ‘I don’t like parenting. I think it’s mainly the constant sense of responsibility, constantly having to entertain a baby, never being able to just sit and relax and do nothing all day, always having to be on alert.
‘I know having an older child will bring its own difficulties, but I’m wondering if I’ll enjoy it more once I can reason with her a bit and she can entertain herself more?
The new mum of a 10-month-old baby took to Mumsnet to lament that she couldn’t ‘shake the feeling’ of regret even though her little one was ‘lovely’, ‘sweet’ and ‘independent’
‘Or will I always regret the loss of my old life? Wondering what other people have found.
‘I’ve read a few things from people with older children who still find it very hard and regret it! But maybe it’s because people find different things difficult.’
Almost 200 comments poured in, as other mothers kindly consoled the poster.
One person commented: ‘I’d like to say it gets easier as they get older, however both of mine are disabled.
‘Had one healthy child that randomly developed a very serious disease at seven years old and now I can never switch off.
The woman sought solace in the opinions of other parents, as many sympathised with her state of mind, adding that ‘it will get better’
‘It’s all part of parenting, you learn to take it in your stride as they get older that said they do get better at entertaining themselves’.
‘It gets better!’ stated another.
They continued: ‘I found the baby age mind numbing because you are constantly on alert but never really doing anything you want to.
‘Once you don’t have to watch every single thing they do, and they actually want to do quite fun things with you, it definitely gets better.
‘Don’t get me wrong, long boozy brunches are a thing of the past, but you get much more of yourself back once they get to school age.’
Saying babies are ‘awful’, while also agreeing that things would get easier, a third added: ‘It will get better. Ignore anyone who relishes in telling you otherwise, babies are awful.
‘It gets much easier when you can communicate with them two ways. It won’t be like this forever, I promise.’
A fourth added: ‘Someone told me once they hit two it suddenly becomes easier and I have definitely found that.’
Meanwhile one person explained: ‘I don’t think it’s so much the baby as the grieving for your old life.
‘I felt all those things you do and I was an older mum who liked my lazy ass ways.
‘When I had my second, my baby was just as tricky on paper, but I was no longer grieving my old life so it’s way easier.’