Is it normal to feel unhappy about being a stay at home parent?

Oh, GOD, yes! More stay-at-home parents feel that way than you would believe, especially when dealing with kids as young as yours. You need some space and time in which to be you -- not Mommy, not wife, not daughter, just yourself -- to regain your equilibrium.

No matter how much you love your family, you were an individual long before you were a part of it. When you have a lot of demands on your time that eat away at that sense of self, of course you feel like you're going a little nuts. You aren't; you've just lost touch with yourself. See if you can get your parents or his to take the kids for a night or two.

I don't have kids, but plenty of my friends do. I'm older and so are they, but they went through really rough times during some of the pre-school years. They got vastly happier when they had some time to themselves during the day. This will get easier, I think, when all four of your kids are in school and you have a few hours to be you and not Mommy or wife/girlfriend all the time.

Good luck, and you aren't at all crazy.

It's normal. You need to get out of the house and reconnect with yourself, take classes, get a part time job, what have you. It's difficult to remain sane when you're entire life has little to do with you. You're probably all about your kids and never get any time you be you instead of "Mom". This is a common challenge and it's why many stay at home parents are very active in the community or in school - when you neglect yourself, you lose your self.

im not trying to make you feel better or give you that same old, keep on trucking bullshit. don't waste your time on a man who thinks he works harder than you do. you got 4 kids, you don't need another kid to take of!

Yeah i feel you. But from what you say i would be lucky to have you as a mom, actually my mom is as strong as you are herself. I hate her sometimes but ill love her regardless for all the sacrifices she made for me, good and or bad. A man that can't do chores around the house i want to say isn't worth your time, but I'm sure he's more than just that.

You have a right to nag, you do enough and still you have shit loads left to do. In my opinion, as a man, he has no excuses. Women bear children, the least us men can do is try to match that strength.

Excuse me, may I have a sandwich?

Whilst children are very hard work never forget you are doing the hardest job in the world with no annual leave or tea breaks. I resent the fact that mother hood is not seen as a job. Cherish these most important moments with your children. it's the best time of your life when your children are young. Be grateful as well that you are able to be a stay at home mum as a lot of working mums would love to have the choice or indeed single mums who are forced to work by the government. I have always worked through choice. However I do understand that an outside job can be as good as a rest. xx

I am a mother of 3, and my partner left me when the youngest was 5 months old when he left. I am having to go and find a job and it breaks my heart to have to leave them with a childminder instead of looking after them myself, as me and my partner agreed before we had kids. They have no more contact with him as he decided he wanted to be single and not have the responsibility anymore, so I have done it on my own with no ones help for 4 years. Make the most of being able to look after your kids yourself and seeing all their "firsts" even if it is tough. You can't get those years back.

I don't know what to tell you except you are the world and the sun and the stars to 4 people motherhood is the most naturla thing in the world.

you've got 4 kids and a boyfriend? Is your boyfriend not at home to help out in some way or another? You could maybe use a nanny, otherwise you sure are a champ for holding down a house of 4 children on your own. I don't care for men who expect to be treated like a king

im a stay at home mom of 1 an i am losing it i cant imagin having 4

i would go crazy too! your not worthless you part in your home is very crucial i think you should find a part time job and a babysitter and i think you will be happier !!

You can feel happy or unhappy about anything you choose.