Ashley,
It seems that your dream is reflecting feelings of powerlessness and revisiting past traumas. Being a child again and experiencing the physical labor and harsh treatment signifies a sense of helplessness or dealing with unresolved issues from that period in your life. This could be an indication of the impact these past experiences still have on you, and your subconscious mind may be processing these emotions through your dreams.
The attempt to communicate the distressing events to your parents at the end of the dream could represent a need for acknowledgment, understanding, or closure regarding the experiences that continue to affect you deeply. It's as if there's a part of you that still needs to be heard and validated.
The second part of the dream where you find yourself with an ex, rather than with your husband, could symbolize a longing for simpler times or a reflection on how far you've come in life. It might also suggest feelings of guilt or confusion about past and present relationships. This part of the dream being set in a younger stage implies you are revisiting feelings, emotions, or unfinished business from that time.
Connecting this dream to your previous ones, there is a recurrent theme of anxiety and confrontation with past challenges. You've mentioned anxiety attacks due to heights and a protective instinct for your daughter in a previous dream, which, alongside this recent dream, suggests an ongoing struggle with fear and safeguarding yourself and your loved ones.
The consistent appearance of these themes in your dreams may be a signal from your subconscious to address these deeply seated emotions that are resurfacing. While confronting these feelings can be daunting, recognizing them through your dreams is a step towards understanding your internal world.
Remember, Ashley, these interpretations are based on common psychological themes and the information you've shared. Your dreams are a dialogue with your inner self, and they can often shed light on what you need to heal or give more attention to in your waking life.