I'd forgotten how hard this is!
He's my third and he is lovely and sweet but he is so determined and so curious.
I spent yesterday unable to do almost anything at all, because he needs me to distract him or play with him constantly and I have a birthday to prepare for as well as various DIY projects that are not getting done, tidying up, even just washing a plate becomes a nightmare as he grabs all the cups and breakable things from the sink (there is a little stool there, I took it away in the end but he got very cross) and I have to keep saying no all the time 
I ended up shouting...awful I know...but what do you DO? Do you just let go of trying to do anything else, give your other children unwrapped presents, leave everything in a tip?
I mean it's normally a tip anyway but he's trying to climb the FRIDGE FFS 
ARGHHHHH
Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.
Behaviour/development
How do people manage with a 2yo and get anything else done?
SophieHatters · 11/06/2015 10:15
Thank you so much. I do feel under pressure. I am on my own and there's no one to help - I have palmed ds off on my mother this morning as yesterday was so desperate. She is bringing him back now and I expect he will go to sleep (phew)
Yesterday he slept on the way back from the school run/supermarket (which was a rush round trying to find birthday cake sort of trip, though we needed so much more, I just couldn't face it) and I had to wake him to go back in the house...still overtired and cross...then after a dreadful few hours having the Crazy Frog and Gummi bear on youtube non stop (I know, I can't stand it but the older ones showed him and he is addicted - only thing he will have on, CBeebies makes him scream 'turn it OFF!!') he finally fell asleep on the boob, meaning I had to then put him in the car, having been unable to bend down and put on my shoes properly, it was hit and miss that we made it to the car and then of course he woke up on the school run after another paltry 20 minute nap
Poor little sod was exhausted.
He does sleep but it is always at the wrong time, and he usually wakes up crying in the morning, I think it's wind but he's been like it since he was born.
I hope it will pass. No idea how I'm going to study let alone go back to work with this going on.
I nearly spat my tea out at 'DIY projects' - no chance with ds in the house, but then I see you've got three children and you're on your own. That's really tough :(
I assume they don't ever go to visit their dad? Are you going to use your free nursery hours when he turns 3? In your position i think i'd be leaving any DIY till then 
I LOVE the stick thing also like the sound of the kinder egg videos - will try and get him hooked on those instead of this Godawful rubbish we're forced to watch atm!
No time with father and that's fine with me, my parents have all of them for a couple of hours on a Saturday which is properly useful. Sometimes I'm too knackered to do anything but at least it is quiet time iyswim.
It will be easier once we have a kitchen which ought to be happening next week, apparently, so roll on that!
Thanks for being so nice.
Yours sounds like mine, Mido - it's so hard when all he wants is to be picked up and carried around, sit on my lap and fiddle with the computer keyboard, or climb my chair or just randomly break stuff
Great ideas about giving him projects. I can see I'm going to have to be proactive and actually think of things for him to do, which I hate doing but it might just solve the problem. That sounds awful doesn't it! I'm just not terribly creative
I will definitely give it a go though. Otherwise yes it is before he wakes and after he goes to sleep, when I pretty much fall asleep myself most nights!
I have an 18 mo old like this and have spent the last few weeks feeling like a really awful mother. Blaming myself that he always seems bored, which of course it is, but I'm also now telling myself that trying to entertain someone from 5.30am-7pm is almost impossible, especially at this age where their comprehension etc is still developing.
I've by no means cracked it - ds climbed the bookcases this morning then biting me when I kept saying no 
- but I just try to stay outdoors lots. Like going to a field where he can just peg it about. We're going to a farm this afternoon. I would love to have a chilled day but it just doesn't work.
Your mention of climbing the fridge made me laugh
I will try the money box thing! I think he would love that 
Hoggle, you have hit the nail on the head - just wanting a 'chilled day' and it not being possible at all! If only they could entertain themselves for ten minutes now and again!
My Mum says what about nursery/preschool, but I think he is too clingy at the moment. I'm allowed 15 hours free but I daren't even try, he is so attached and clingy right now.
Wow Gobbolino - crossed posts with you! I am seriously in awe. You sound super organised, I would have fallen off my trolley by now with such an age gap as you have 
Your Ds sounds lovely and compliant!
Sophie - my DD is very attached and clingy too, always has been, but surprised me when she started at nursery. Was waiting for me at the door this morning impatient to get there just loves it.
All kids are different, obviously, but you might be surprised. Worth a try, anyway.
It's very hard, I'm on my own with 2.9 year old DTS, it drives me nuts sometimes trying to do stuff, it took me 40 minutes to change my bed the other day because they decided to 'help me'.
So you need to find things to distract your DS that involve minimimal or zero involvement on your part. DD is obsessed with the Kinder egg videos on YouTube - I really don't get them but she would watch them for hours if I let her. DS I have discovered has a thing for garden gnomes! Again, really not my thing but I invested in a number of small ones and hide them around the garden, keeps him occupied for ages. I can usually get a fair bit done before anyone notices I'm not around at which point I stick on Sarah and Duck or Hey Dugee and off I go again
I forgot a couple of my favourites - I get them to wash the plants in the garden or if I really need a long break I give them little paint brushes and water and get them 'painting their playhouse
I was coming on here to say give him a few paint brushes and some water and let him paint the outside wall, paving stones whatever if you have a garden.
I have twins. They used to do this for ages at that age. They still like doing it aged 5!
You sound like you're doing well. Don't be so hard on yourself.
I worked 3 days a week when mine were that age but the other 5 days the rule was we just had to be out of the house by 10am. Doesn't matter what. Errands, soft play, park, toddler class, play group. Picnic lunch or sometimes cafe. Home for their nap which was 1-3pm and my saviour.
After that, play at home - toys, water, playdoh. Dinner 5pm. Then maybe out again for a bit before bath. Park etc.
I just think that young children are like puppies and need to be walked at least twice a day
Don’t want to miss threads like this?
Weekly
Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!
Log in to update your newsletter preferences.
You've subscribed!
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.