To not want to pick ds up from nursery?

Well … yes. Lots of us did but I’m not sure you’ve quite read the room 😬

It's been a while, but I always loved picking my little one up from nursery and hearing all about her day!

I’d be starting to question things like adhd if there was really nothing in the varied programme that that would hold their attention.

I used to find that part of the day a real slog (single parent) me having been to work and child having been to nursery/school. It sometimes felt like climbing a metaphorical mountain range, what with hopefully catching up with their day, getting tea cooked, served and cleared up and then do all the bed time routine and preparation for the next day. I did find that the bath and bedtime story was the best bit, things calmed down and it felt like special time.

It's sad that little kids need to regulate. Something wrong, somewhere.

Children ARE hard work and some more than others.. My first was like yours, so much energy! My advice to you would be go to the playground/park and let him run around for an hour. Sometimes you find nice mums to chat with as well. Then home having a long bath before telly/dinner. They got so much energy and really need to run it off...

I simply don't agree. CBeebies has a broad range and variety of programming. It's extremely rare to find a young child who doesn't like any of it. What about Hey Duggee?

Collect at the time meant to or 5mins before. Not 2hrs before

Why torture yourself

Do you have a trampoline at home ? Godsend in all weathers

Boys are like dogs - need lots of exercise

How do they find him at nursery op? It may all be going well and picking him up early is just giving you both a hard couple of hours.

Oh, and I used to pick him up from nursery at the latest possible time (7pm)!

You need help, but you haven't got the support network or the extra cash. It's a miserable way to live, because you obviously want to be a good parent, but you're on your own with all the stress and mess. I wish there was a solution.
My husband was taken critically ill when mine were pre school. It was a nightmare. I just existed. That was a long time ago now, and we got through it, but it's tough.

I think its the drudergy of the tea , bath , book , play whilst they're whiney. I've always hated the hours between 3 and 6.
I even do on weekend's too

I've only just understood you collect hours early.

Why would you do that? You are paying for the service and part of that is to allow you to do the things you need to do. Including relaxing.

They are much better off having structured activity and learning there than watching tv at home.

Then you are free to spend quality time where you are relaxed. It's win win.

I think that it would be better for your child and for you if you took a bit of time for yourself and had a break and picked him up a bit later so that you will hopefully feel a bit better. It would be more beneficial to him to have a shorter but more quality time with you. I'm sure he can sense your feelings/mood and if you aren't engaged with him, if a break means that you are better able to connect with him that will be good for the both of you.

Are you me 8 years ago? I have a DS and a DD 3 years apart. I absolutely dreaded pick up time. He is an absolute work!! It stayed that way for many years and he is in secondary now.

I think mine must have adhd of some sort but is very bright too. He never switches off and does stuff he's not supposed to do.

He had a tough 7 years at primary, extremely bored and not much to do. Now at secondary he is in every club he can physically go to (lunch times and after school). Lots of rugby too. He gets home tired, goes to bed much earlier than he used to a year ago.

I know it's still a long way away for you OP, but I feel for you. Keep going and don't beat yourself up too much. Sending hugs.

That’s not the point! It can be any programme. To be honest you don’t sound very maternal towards him

@MerlotMisery My child doesn't like CBeebies. It's a strange generalisation to assume all children would like it.

leave them until 5.30!!

get a tv show on for an hour for you, prep tea, collect. then tea and bed. been there,, much easier with a routine

I found 3/4 a very difficult age with all three of mine. Your ds sounds like my ds1 who does have ADHD but I do think this can also be “normal” behaviour for some NT toddlers. It’s when they are still doing it at 6/7 it becomes more concerning.

Ds1 had no interest in television and even now at 29 only watches documentaries, blue planet and the like. What we found worked for him was playing a game on an electronic device whilst I was cooking the dinner. It was an old game boy he had and later a PlayStation 1. I suppose these days it would be an iPad or a phone.

I realise many parents wouldn’t want there children to do this but it really seemed to regulate him. He also did this when he got in from school before music practice and homework. He now has a degree and a good job so I don’t feel it did any harm.

You don’t seem very aware that not all young children like tv.

This is excellent advice.
Children are shattered at that time of day.
My friend was advised to have a treat..packet of Snax, something like it, for him to look forward to.
She would change her clothes and throw him into the bath.
It really calmed them down.
The pj's and a simple supper.
Beans, eggs on toast.
Simple pasta with mayo and grated egg and grated cheddar etc.
Simple no fuss food.
Find a programme he likes and stick it on.
Do whatever you have to do to make it less stressful.

It’s really hard to tell if there are objective issues or it’s just your mood in general!
Is it a huge problem that he runs about the living room while the tv is on? You say you would like him to sit and watch it, but does it matter? Why can’t he run about playing at the same time?

YANBU, after work, I want to just relax but then my second job starts and the cycle never ends day after day after day...not that I don't love my child but I'm exhausted.

@tiredsince2020 Apologies. I read this as 'yeah just me' as your response underneath the question as to whether you were a single parent from @fiftiesmum