This is probably a bit of a stupid post because, really, your life isn't mine. But I feel knackered and under so much pressure I can't see my way out of it at the moment. I need a holiday, but I can't really see a way of getting one as it's not just a holiday from work I need, its from the husband and kids too! ? Seriously, though I am wondering whether I am being a wimp under normal life pressure, or whether I need to do anything about it.
I feel the need to work in an interesting career that not only stimulates me and uses my professional skills but also provides long term monetary opportunities to fund the sort of lifestyle I want for me and my family.
Related to the above, I feel the need to bring in a decent wage so that I am contributing to the family finances equally (in terms of hours worked, rather than money earned)
I feel the need to be not just a good enough mother, but a brilliant, inspirational one. I fail miserably several times a day ? I wish I could be happy with being "good enough"
I feel the need to have tidy, well behaved children
I feel the need to have a fashionable and tidy home
I feel the need to cook healthy food from scratch
I feel the need to have lots of friends
I feel the need to be a good relative, to phone my family regularly and help them out wherever I can
I feel the need to be able to dispense interesting, topical conversation at will
I feel the need to be slim and attractive
I feel the need to have a positive, youthful outlook and not be too cynical (I often fail at this too ?)
I feel the need to want sex all the time
I feel the need to wear make up and be interested in fashion
I feel the need to be a good neighbour and a friendly member of our community
I feel the need to care about issues that should make me mad
I feel the need to be my husband's soul mate at all times and nothing less
I am sure I could think of many more. I am also sure that my husband has very few of the expectations above of himself. Whether this is personality, or the result of society's expectations or both, I am not sure.
The reality? I am overwrought, knackered and tetchy. I get resentful from spending the vast majority of my time sorting out things on other people's behalf. I don't always wear make up, have hairy armpits, haven't had sex in ages, am barely speaking to my husband and am deeply, deeply cynical ? My work is suffering, my self esteem too, my house is a tip and, bloody hell, it feels like only me is going through this ?
Does society expect too much of women, or do we expect too much of ourselves? Are expectation of men / husbands / fathers as extreme?