A mum has been praised online after she admitted she finds parenting tough - and even sometimes 'dreads the day'.
Of course, parenting is perhaps one of the most challenging things a person can experience in their life - and this perhaps isn't talked about enough online.
Social media can be guilty of sugar-coating parenting and masking the true realities of what it's like raising children - but one brave mum has decided to speak out about these realities.
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Taking to Twitter, writer and mum Alice reached out to her followers by asking: "God I'm finding being a parent to a two-year-old tough going this week to the point where I dread the day starting.
"Please tell me this is normal."
And it didn't take long for fellow parents to reach out to Alice and reassure her that how she was feeling was, indeed, perfectly normal.
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One parent said: "Idk who needs to hear this, but being a parent isn’t supposed to make you happy. It’s a duty, like going to war. Of course there are happy times, but never expect parenting small children to be fun. You just have to get through it."
And another added: "Totally normal. But it makes you feel sad. This too shall pass. Sending solidarity and patience."
Among the comments of reassurance was also some advice, with one mum pointing out how 2-year-olds can be especially hard to manage: "I've found 2 hard at times. They're developing personality and opinions but, depending on communication skills, don't have the tools to tell you about them."
The mum added: "We've got a speech delay too which is intensely frustrating on all sides. Patience and deep breaths seem to be the thing."
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Praise also came flooding in for Alice, with one Twitter user commenting: "You’ve got this - be proud of your honesty," and another saying: "It's the tiredness and demands. You care. You're doing a great job!"
Alice soon responded to the kind words she received, saying: "Really appreciating all the solidarity. So heartening."
But she also added: "What isn't helpful is advice/suggestions or being told that it only get's worse. We do nursery, playgroups, go to the park all the time etc and I have loads of mum friends and a very supportive/ hands-on partner who gets home from work at 4.
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"We are lucky but it's still bloody hard work much of the time."
This just goes to show how tough parenting really is, and you truly aren't alone if you're feeling overwhelmed and exhausted."
If you're experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone
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