Every Sunday night I'm stressed about the week ahead. Work stuff yeah but mostly worried if I'm doing enough for my kids during the week. Like am I checked out too much? Do they feel neglected? Then Monday comes and work is crazy and I can't even think about it. Then Friday rolls around and I'm so tired I'm not even fun to be around. Just venting but this cycle is exhausting man.
The worry about doing it right is the worst part. I have a whole week of work stress but that stuff doesn't keep me up at night like parenting decisions do.
Honestly the best thing I did was accept that nobody has it figured out. I stopped trying to be perfect and started just showing up and doing my best. That helped with the Sunday scaries more than anything else.
The parenting worry hits harder than any work deadline. Sunday evening I'm thinking about whether I'm handling stuff right, if the kids are okay, if I'm failing at something I can't even identify yet. It's constant.
Sunday scaries are so real. For me it's less about my actual work performance and more about whether I'll have enough patience for the week, you know? Like am I gonna be the dad I want to be or just stressed and short-tempered.
What usually helps you settle your mind on Sunday? I try to do something low key with my kids Sunday afternoon to remind myself why I'm working so hard.
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Sunday nights used to just be about work stress for me. Now I'm running through a mental checklist of whether I'm doing enough with the kids, if I'm missing stuff, if my schedule is working. It's a different kind of anxiety.
You're not alone in that. The work stress I can handle but the 'am I good enough' question about parenting? That's what keeps me up on Sunday nights. Some weeks I feel like I've got it. Other weeks I feel like I'm barely holding it together.