DS1 is becoming a real nightmare. He's always been...erm...spirited would be one word for it, since the day he was born, but at the moment I'm really starting to struggle with him.
I had DS2 7 weeks ago, and admittedly I am spending a lot of time breastfeeding him, and he's in a sling for most of the time, but I've tried to make it so that DS1 doesn't feel left out. Thing is, when I'm feeding it leaves me a bit trapped (have tried in a sling but not quite got the hang yet.) Just this week, DS1 has torn up a library book,thrown things at his brother, repeatedly throws his food at mealtimes and puts feet on the table and is getting increasingly destructive. Just tonight he's sat on the floor and seriously booted his bedroom door to the point that it's nearly broken off its hinges.
I've tried distraction, bribery with sticker charts, ignoring the bad, praising the good,having a naughty step, but I'm getting to my wit's end - and I'm even more limited now that he's not the only one. I'm starting to really dislike being around him sometimes, which is an awful thing to admit, but I'm really struggling to the point I'm wondering if I've actually got PND. I lose my rag with him, then I hate myself, and I know I'm letting him down as a mother. I get no help or support from family, and whilst I know he needs to be outside running off energy every day we're sometimes struggling to all get ready and leave the house these days. Even if we do, and we go to the park, I'm constantly on edge, because it's always full of glass, shit and stray dogs - and he can, and does run away incredibly fast. The park is surrounded by busy roads, so even there he can't have the free reign he needs. We have no garden, and even soft play is off the agenda, because I can't chase him up the equipment with a baby strapped on.
I know I sound really woe is me, and I'm trying to take the odd moment and appreciate it, but life isn't any fun, I feel perpetually guilty - like I'm trapped. I can't go back to work so this is my life, but I'm just not very good at it.
What I really need to know, is how can I make life easier with DS1? How can we discipline him effectively when everything we're trying isn't working? I'm also choosing my battles, but there's things that he's doing that he really needs not to!
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26m DS becoming a horror, feel completely powerless . What can we do?
8 replies
bohemianbint · 12/10/2008 19:06
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