> At a Glance
> – A mom confessed on Mumsnet that raising two kids feels like “the worst mistake” of her life
> – She loves each child separately but hates managing them together
> – Commenters assure her life will get easier as the children age
> – Why it matters: The post spotlights the rarely voiced struggle of parents who feel overwhelmed by multiple kids
A January 3, 2026 post on the parenting forum Mumsnet titled “I hate my children together” has sparked a wave of discussion after a mother of two revealed she often longs for the simplicity of a one-child household.
The Viral Confession
The anonymous mom, whose children are five and two years old, wrote that she “loves them both so much” yet “hates parenting them both.”
> “I often just think to myself how amazing it would be to just have one.”
She described daily battles over her attention, saying the kids “fight relentlessly” and recounted being “elbowed and jabbed and punched” as they vied for space on her lap.
Why She Feels Trapped
Outings, she claimed, are routinely “ruined because of one of them,” and she envies mothers she sees with a single child who enjoy “freedom” and fewer “ties and limits.”
- Thought things would improve as the kids grew, but now believes they never will
- Younger child behaves “like a different child” when apart from sibling
- Older child also calmer when solo, according to the mom
Community Reactions
Dozens of Mumsnet users offered reassurance, insisting the dynamic typically shifts for the better.
One commenter promised:
> “It is hard with two at these ages… But it will get easier as they get older, I promise!”
Another parent who has four children chimed in:
> “Wouldn’t change a thing! It definitely gets easier.”
A third suggested a mindset shift:
> “I try to be patient in difficult moments. I try to see the world through their eyes.”
Key Takeaways
- The post highlights a seldom-discussed parental emotion: wishing for fewer kids
- Sibling rivalry and attention-seeking peak when children are toddlers and preschoolers
- Many veteran parents report that sibling friction lessens with age
- Online forums provide an outlet for parents to voice guilt without judgment
While the mom currently feels stuck, the chorus of responses underscores a common experience that, for many families, eventually subsides.
