Do you believe taking care of kids are more mentally tiring, than physically tiring?

Question

...so i am a new mom. and i realize that taking care of a young child is more mentally tiring than physically..

i could work a 10 hour day and still come home and have energy to clean the house up..make dinner..and take care of my kid..

but when i do nothing BUT take care of my kid for 10 hours..it feels like i really don't have energy to do anything else at all...

if u are a mother..do u feel this way?

i don't believe fathers have experienced this..b/c they really don't take care of kids as much as moms do..

Answer 1

In my experience it was more physically exhausting when my children were young and more mentally exhausting when they became teens. My youngest recently turned 14 and she is in (what I feel are) the most difficult years for both of us........13 to 16. At this point it is more worry, and you just pray that what you have instilled in them has sunk in enough to get them through these years. I am pretty tired already........they change with the seasons at this point in their life. It is also the beginning of the "end" because before we know it she will be off to college and on her own.....scary and sad at the same time.

Answer 2

Even though my boys are older it is more physically tiring for me as i have them my mom and hubby to look after... my hubby helps around the house alot but it seems we are never getting much accomplished for anything... my mom now has hospice in and they help with her some but there are days i am running on empty all the time...

Answer 3

Well with one child i would agree.  But i have a 4 and a half year old a 3 and a half year old and a almost one month old.  And to be honest it is equally physically and mentally tiring..  But i love my kids so really at the end of the day its worth it.  I am just glad i have a schedule that they follow.  So when they go to bed at night i have a couple hours to myself to unwind.  And to be fair to men there are dads out there who do take care of there kids as much as moms do.  I know some stay at home fathers who cook and clean and take care of the kids while the mom works.  While this is not traditional its the choice the family made.  I am a stay at home mom.  And when i had my first and second child it was nothing compared to having 3 thats for sure.  But like i said i love my kids its all worth it!  Also tho i think as a mom even if you do not have the energy you tough it up and do it anyways.  Because as a parent you do what you have to do to take care of your family you know?

Answer 4

OMG YES!!!

Answer 5

More mentally tired.  I work all day and I come home mentally tired, not physically tired.  Then to take care of my kids.  Yes, mentally draining.

Answer 6

In the beginning, yes. I think the majority moms are hit with a HUGE reality check when they have their first. Babies go from being viewed these cute little simple things to a WHOLE lot of work. You lose your mind sometimes.

With time, it does get easier, as you get use to it. During the school year, I teach and take care of my kids, the house etc, go to bed at 11pm and wake up at 5am with no issues. During the summer when I'm not working and my kids are in camp programs on and off, I'm mentally DRAINED by the end of the day. I spent my whole day hearing, "Mom!", Barney tapes, musical toys, children's voices etc. I LOVE my kids to death but I couldn't be a stay at home mom and be sane. Just wouldn't work for me....tried. My husband will come home from work early on Friday and say, "Hey hun, want to go out and see an 7 o'clock movie?" and my answer is, "Eh, how 'bout you stay with the kids for a bit and I go by myself."

Best Wishes =] and congrats!

Answer 7

Firstly, don't generalise about Dads! My partner works evenings so spends nearly as much time with the kids as I do and then goes and does a full day!

Anyway, back to your question - I think it is a bit of both for me. I find it tiring to constantly tidy up all day, but I also find it very mentally challenging, too, especially when one (or both!) of my children are being a little difficult. All in all though, I think that motherhood is the hardest job I have ever had - it challenges me in ways that I have never been challenged before (and I have had some pretty stressful jobs in my time!).

Answer 8

Yes.....yes and yes.  What I found is that if I actually tried to sneak in projects while at home with the little ones, it goes by faster and doesn't wear me out as much!  Kids are school aged now, but back then.....it was draining on all fronts.

Answer 9

I think that it is very mentally exhausting.  Physically as well depending on age and running around with them.

But young children your trying to keep them occupied mentally and thinking on their level all day, no "adult" contact is mentally tiring.  Might help having play dates with other moms or nannies.  That way while the kids play together you can actually sit down and let your mind function like a adult instead of a kid and a adult at the same time.  

Hope this helps... not a mom... but a nanny... and I will feel more mentally exhausted after caring for kids than a 5 mile backpacking hike.... (i'm a camper person) lol.  Because though your prob not physically cramping and hurting like after exercise your so mentally tired your body doesn't want to do anything.

Exercise might help "relax" your mind and make you physically tired so your all around exhausted :-D