Anonymous
11/16/2025 09:48
Subject: I feel both overwhelmed/overstimulated and also lonely/bored at the same time
Tweens and up in sports all eat two dinners, very common for there to be an after school dinner and a post-practice dinner. These dinners are large meals. Have you never fed a growing teen boy who does intensive sports? They eat like Michael Phelps.
Anonymous
11/16/2025 09:40
Subject: Re:I feel both overwhelmed/overstimulated and also lonely/bored at the same time
Anonymous wrote:I'm starting to feel this too, OP. My kids are 16 and 13 and while I still shuttle them around all over, I don't stay for practices - that was a time I'd get to connect with other parents. And I'm not playing games with them (not often, anyway), not reading to them, not playing with them. At the same time, I've lost touch with the elementary crowd of parents/neighbors.
I work full time, but I think it's time, as others have suggested, for me to get some extrovert hobbies. I already do a lot of solitary hobbies like reading, puzzles, solo walks/hikes, play piano, but I'm not getting much adult interaction outside work. I think that's the missing piece.
OP here - yes this is pretty much all true for me. Most of my interactions/connections just used to happen from life. Like chatting in the front yard with neighbors while we watched the kids play.
Anonymous
11/16/2025 09:09
Subject: Re:I feel both overwhelmed/overstimulated and also lonely/bored at the same time
It’s time for you to get hobbies and close female relationships so you can coast into empty nest without losing yourself.
Anonymous
11/16/2025 09:02
Subject: Re:I feel both overwhelmed/overstimulated and also lonely/bored at the same time
I'm starting to feel this too, OP. My kids are 16 and 13 and while I still shuttle them around all over, I don't stay for practices - that was a time I'd get to connect with other parents. And I'm not playing games with them (not often, anyway), not reading to them, not playing with them. At the same time, I've lost touch with the elementary crowd of parents/neighbors.
I work full time, but I think it's time, as others have suggested, for me to get some extrovert hobbies. I already do a lot of solitary hobbies like reading, puzzles, solo walks/hikes, play piano, but I'm not getting much adult interaction outside work. I think that's the missing piece.
I work full time, but I think it's time, as others have suggested, for me to get some extrovert hobbies. I already do a lot of solitary hobbies like reading, puzzles, solo walks/hikes, play piano, but I'm not getting much adult interaction outside work. I think that's the missing piece.
Anonymous
11/16/2025 08:47
Subject: I feel both overwhelmed/overstimulated and also lonely/bored at the same time
You need to carve out some time for yourself.
Have that husband and those kids start assisting themselves w some of their own tasks less you.
Anonymous
11/16/2025 08:42
Subject: I feel both overwhelmed/overstimulated and also lonely/bored at the same time
Anonymous wrote:[img]Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yes. I feel like all I do is make food all day-breakfast, pack lunches, first dinners, second dinners and drive people places.
wtf are you cooking two dinners?
DP here. You’ve never served 4:30 dinner and 9pm dinner? No athletes?
No sport is more important than not having dinner together as a family. It just isn’t. Your kid is highly unlikely to be playing that sport in college so why kill yourself for it?
I consider myself pretty family oriented but this is nuts to me? We miss/move dinner for all kinds of things. It’s important for us to be together and connect, it’s not important to me that it be at 7pm dinner.
I didn’t write that either. Your family time at dinner or breakfast or whatever should take precedence over sports. Most kids in sports and other activities don’t eat together. Thiago go go culture is toxic.
Anonymous
11/16/2025 08:41
Subject: I feel both overwhelmed/overstimulated and also lonely/bored at the same time
I was feeling the same way (and I am also a teacher in a role that does not require a lot of extra work at home) I have a younger teen who does not drive but we live close to activities and shops. He is expected to help on occasion (ride his bike to store to grab things) My husband also works a lot but stepped up a few years ago to do more errands and driving when he can. I think the engagement made him happier.
Here are the changes I made:
Saturday morning workout class, I get up early and go, it's a nice group of people and I enjoy chit chatting.
Getting a new certification, it gave me a new cohort of friends, I enjoy the work and having extra tasks has forced me to budget my time better.
I batch cook as much as I can so that the week is less hectic
Try to have one busy day (Saturday-Sports, errands) and one more relaxing day (Sunday) in the weekend.
tldr: engage in some new learning/something physical, let your family take on more
Here are the changes I made:
Saturday morning workout class, I get up early and go, it's a nice group of people and I enjoy chit chatting.
Getting a new certification, it gave me a new cohort of friends, I enjoy the work and having extra tasks has forced me to budget my time better.
I batch cook as much as I can so that the week is less hectic
Try to have one busy day (Saturday-Sports, errands) and one more relaxing day (Sunday) in the weekend.
tldr: engage in some new learning/something physical, let your family take on more
Anonymous
11/16/2025 08:24
Subject: I feel both overwhelmed/overstimulated and also lonely/bored at the same time
Anonymous wrote:[img]Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yes. I feel like all I do is make food all day-breakfast, pack lunches, first dinners, second dinners and drive people places.
wtf are you cooking two dinners?
DP here. You’ve never served 4:30 dinner and 9pm dinner? No athletes?
“Family Dinner Above All Else” Pp is from another time. Kids both play sports competitively because they love it. They are good, but not amazing and doubt they will play in college. That said, practices are late afternoon or evening so, like OP, I too spend a lot of time in the car and putting first and second dinner on the table (or wrapping it up to eat in the car).
Op—I’ve gotten into a good rhythm where at one kids practices I walk with a couple moms. At another, I listen to podcasts or books and knit/cross stitch in the car. Sometimes I run errands so I don’t have to do as much of that on the weekends. I fully feel the overstimulated yet lonely/bored, but I know this is a phase that I will miss when they are in college (oldest is already there). Also—I have some of the best conversations with my kids in the car riding to/from activities and that honestly is worth it’s weight in gold.
Anonymous
11/16/2025 07:38
Subject: I feel both overwhelmed/overstimulated and also lonely/bored at the same time
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I consider myself pretty family oriented but this is nuts to me? We miss/move dinner for all kinds of things. It’s important for us to be together and connect, it’s not important to me that it be at 7pm dinner.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yes. I feel like all I do is make food all day-breakfast, pack lunches, first dinners, second dinners and drive people places.
wtf are you cooking two dinners?
DP here. You’ve never served 4:30 dinner and 9pm dinner? No athletes?
No sport is more important than not having dinner together as a family. It just isn’t. Your kid is highly unlikely to be playing that sport in college so why kill yourself for it?
I consider myself pretty family oriented but this is nuts to me? We miss/move dinner for all kinds of things. It’s important for us to be together and connect, it’s not important to me that it be at 7pm dinner.
Anonymous
11/16/2025 07:37
Subject: I feel both overwhelmed/overstimulated and also lonely/bored at the same time
You need a hike. A hike is both restorative and stimulating.
I mean you need time for yourself and meaningful pursuits and a lot of things that can’t be fixed in an afternoon, but if an afternoon is all you have? Try a hike. Then maybe nap in your car before you go home, lol.
I mean you need time for yourself and meaningful pursuits and a lot of things that can’t be fixed in an afternoon, but if an afternoon is all you have? Try a hike. Then maybe nap in your car before you go home, lol.
Anonymous
11/16/2025 07:36
Subject: Re:I feel both overwhelmed/overstimulated and also lonely/bored at the same time
Your teens should be made stay taking care of themselves at this point. Making their lunches, laundry, room/bathroom cleaning. If not, that’s on you.
Anonymous
11/16/2025 07:34
Subject: I feel both overwhelmed/overstimulated and also lonely/bored at the same time
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yes. I feel like all I do is make food all day-breakfast, pack lunches, first dinners, second dinners and drive people places.
wtf are you cooking two dinners?
DP here. You’ve never served 4:30 dinner and 9pm dinner? No athletes?
No sport is more important than not having dinner together as a family. It just isn’t. Your kid is highly unlikely to be playing that sport in college so why kill yourself for it?
Anonymous
11/15/2025 18:28
Subject: I feel both overwhelmed/overstimulated and also lonely/bored at the same time
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yes. I feel like all I do is make food all day-breakfast, pack lunches, first dinners, second dinners and drive people places.
wtf are you cooking two dinners?
DP here. You’ve never served 4:30 dinner and 9pm dinner? No athletes?
Anonymous
11/15/2025 18:06
Subject: I feel both overwhelmed/overstimulated and also lonely/bored at the same time
Anonymous wrote:Yes. I feel like all I do is make food all day-breakfast, pack lunches, first dinners, second dinners and drive people places.
wtf are you cooking two dinners?
Anonymous
11/15/2025 18:06
Subject: I feel both overwhelmed/overstimulated and also lonely/bored at the same time
Anonymous wrote:Yes. I feel like all I do is make food all day-breakfast, pack lunches, first dinners, second dinners and drive people places.
How old are your kids?
If they are older than six, they can pour themselves their own bowl of cereal for breakfast.
If they are older than eight, they can pack their own lunches.