For starters to all of you. I actually started to reply when you had no replies Santosha and obviously got sidetracked lol.

My youngest is now 2.5, and tbh I feel exactly like you wrote some days. It used to be every day. My DH works away permanently so it's just me against the world. Those days however are getting fewer. I am able to find more peace more often. I wouldn't say I even get more sleep, but after 8.5 years my DNA has adapted lol. My youngest is my most adventurous and confident which is scary, but she is also the most exposed child I have. All those little bits have been around forever to her and the novelties wore off quickly. I feel more confident (either that or I'm better at faking it lol).
I'm getting more independence as they do. 12 months ago I felt like that independence was never ever going to happen.

Those with older kids I heard the other day about a family with 3 older kids and everyone had things on and the family was tied up nearly every afternoon and weekend so the parents decided the family would take a one year sabbatical. So the kids took part in activities through school but all after school and weekend activities were stopped for the year. The parents also took the year of from all extra commitments. Interesting idea.

What do you all think?
I did that for about the last year. When dd1 was little I felt like we needed to try 'all the things', when really, if they don't love something, is there really a point to continue? I have very much limited. We only go out one arvo. I limit it to 1 play date. They do weekend stuff. Everyone gets downtime. Much better. And I only have small town travel. I can't imagine how bad it is in a big city....