I have one day a week with my 3 and a half year old and the rest of the week he's at nursery. (Starts school in Sept) At weekends my DH is here but on Fridays it's just me and DS for the day, from 7.30am-7.30pm as DH works late. (I work mon-Thurs)
Needless to say I love the bones of my child, and he is funny, imaginative and gorgeous. He is also unbelievably stubborn, strong-willed, energetic and highly highly spirited. He doesn't meet the criteria for autism but in certain aspects he is extremely fixed in his mindset and it can make life very challenging. He is a big tall heavy boy so if he doesn't want to get dressed or go somewhere it's a challenge for me to use all my parenting skills to make it happen. If handled wrong he can have a meltdown and then it's hard to get things back on track.
Also he's at the stage where we've all but ditched the buggy, and he'd absolutely refuse to get in it even if I did try, but on the other hand the park is a good 20 minute walk away and he'll often ask me to carry him part of the way. Loves to run like the clappers until he decide to stop dead and lie down. When DH is present it's fine as he puts him on his shoulders, but I have a back injury so no can do. I find I'm wary of suggesting the park now as I'll need to cajole and it won't work or I'll end up hurting myself with all the lifting up and carrying. Which is such a shame as it's great for him once we are there running around and being in nature.
Fridays we have a gymnastics lesson we attend but the bus journey there can be stressful as it's packed full of rowdy school kids and DS often insists on sitting in the top deck involving a precarious walk up and down whilst the bus I moving. I've tried insisting we use downstairs deck only but he will have a meltdown which is a nightmare managing on a busy bus!
Anyway we just about manage that activity but it starts at 4pm and the rest of the day is empty unless we make it to the park. (We live in a flat so no garden). I obviously try activities, craft, play dough etc but the day really drags for me. Going out past the shops is a minefield of tantrum-inducing opportunities (wanting treats etc) so I avoid that. He does enjoy playing with his toys.
I just wondered if anyone else finds spending a whole day with their 3 and a half year old challenging? Please no judgement as I know how it sounds and I do feel said that I'm not thrilled or loving my day with him. I love the boy so much, but I do find it tricky on the long day by myself. It feels looong, dragging, skull-numbingly boring but at the same time exhausting, knackering and by the time I've got him into bed I'm spent. I've started dreading Fridays which I know is so sad and silly. DH says I'm looking at it wrong and he's love a day at home with our son. The weekend days are better when DH is there and I feel free to do more things and go to fun places.
DH said why not put him in nursery on Friday mornings too and then take him to gymnastics, after all he'll be starting school in September. However, aside from the extra cost, I feel terrible at the thought as I know DS doesn't enjoy nursery that much and would feel sad.
Anyway just feeling bad and wondering if anyone else experienced this and if there is a way I can do my day with him differently, given his personality.