Have two kids under 5, promotion at work that's more demanding, wife just started a new job. I'm stretched thin and honestly having some dark thoughts about it all. Getting maybe 5 hours of sleep a night. Anyone been through a period like this? How did you manage? I know I need to talk to someone but not sure where to start.
That's a lot of moving pieces. With four kids I learned pretty quick that you can't do everything at max capacity. Something gives. Better to be honest about limitations now than crash in three months.
This is exactly where I'm at right now. Two under 5, wife's new job, and I'm stretched thin. The stress is real. Have you tried blocking off some non negotiable family time or is that impossible with the new promotion?
Two under five plus a demanding promotion and your wife starting a new job? That's a lot of moving parts at once. Have you and your wife had a chance to sit down and actually talk through priorities? Sometimes you gotta let something give for a bit.
You might need to talk to your wife about whether this promotion is worth it right now. Sometimes the money isn't worth your mental health or your marriage. Just being real.
Real question: is the promotion worth it right now? I know that sounds crazy but sometimes the timing just isn't there. Two under five is already peak chaos even without adding more work stress on top.
That's the sandwich that breaks you. I was there a couple years ago and honestly I had to talk to someone about it. No shame in reaching out to a therapist or counselor if it gets too heavy. The stress compounds fast with young kids.
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Two under 5 plus a promotion sounds like too much at once. I've been there with the stress and honestly something's gotta give. Can you negotiate the promotion timeline or do you need it for money right now?