I'm a cow

[KellyElly]

I know I'm not being unreasonable to think I am but anyway, just need to sound off. I'm a working single parent and I feel like I'm just so shitty with DD. She's four. I come back from work and she's whiny, argues with me about everything from cleaning her teeth to what story to read. I'm at the point where even though I've not seen her all day I can't wait to get her to bed and then when she's in bed I feel guilty for being so irritable and having no patience. I'm not this bad at the weekend but in the working week I'm rushing about to get back in time, doing a 40 min commute each way and I just have no tolerance. I don't ever really get a break at the weekend either which doesn't help I suppose. I'm worried she's going to grow up hating me.

At the moment she's very needy, stuck to me like glue and constantly wants to sleep in my bed and I feel so claustrophobic. She's a loving, sweet and funny child but I just feel like I'm not being the mum I should be as I'm so frazzled.

iggy155 She does start in September, yes.

Idocrazythings I actually have the book on my Amazon wish list, I will buy that actually as I've heard a lot of good things about it.

I'm a FT working SP with 2 DC - 6 & 3.
I kind of give myself over to them when we get home. Remind myself to chill out and get through to bedtime with minimum of fuss - some evenings we even achieve that. :)

3yo is testing all the boundaries ATM - I cope with it all by trying to keep to a routine, use stickers for "rewards" for good behaviour on the bedtime routies (and morning ones too for that matter), praising the good, ignoring the bad, and I don't respond to whining.

We all enjoy a read and a cuddle and then they go off pretty well - most nights. There are always exceptions.

Don't expect miracles - some nights I am really tired/stressed/headache etc after work - I just let them know I'm not on top form or feeling a little cranky and need extra good behaviour etc. Some nights they are out of sorts for whatever reason and are more demanding - we all have good and bad days.

I feel we are on the right path at least. We have fewer dreadful evenings now that is for sure. It can still be hard, but when we all get the routine it is great.