To think that having a 2yo is the most unenjoyable thing ever?

[BasinHaircut]

Am I doing it wrong?

He is selectively deaf.

What he does 'hear' he just says no to, even though he apparently doesn't understand the word no when I use it

He says everything 5 million times

He is loud

He is destructive

He is non-stop

He has started waking again at night

I hate it.

He is also hilarious and I love him so much it hurts, but 95% of the time he is awake I wish he wasn't here.

I am awful aren't I, and certainly not cut out to be a mother?

OP, thanks for the last night. It did help. DD has now shat twice and is much happier but yesterday was purely hellish. To be honest, as DD is my first I don't have any words of wisdom or comfort to offer you. Sometimes you just can't see the wood for the trees.

cliff we seem to have started the terrible 2's at about 18m so I'm hoping that they are over by 3!

blatantly ignores everyone who says 3 is worse

Haven't read the thread, but wishing someone wasn't 'here' is quite worrying. I agree that you perhaps need to see your GP.

littlefish glad DD is a bit better after 2 poos!

DS is also my first and probably last child. I simply can not face doing this again.

I adore toddlers. I'm not really keen on babies. I think I'm unreasonable because I'm 23 weeks pregnant and already looking forward to this time next year when I'll know I don't have to go through relentless tiny babyness ever again

2yo are hard work but I have some wonderful mum friends to whinge to, a loose-ish plan for every day and love being outdoors, which seems to help my nearly-2-yo (and her nearly 4-yo sister before her) to keep a lid on the boundless energy. At the moment conversation consists of "just done trump" and "where's dada" but her wonder and enjoyment in everything is catching. I've never felt the need tobellow "Rain! Rain! Excited" before but when she is I can't help but think things are alright in the world.

Just goes to show different parents find different things hard, and I think partly it depends on the child too.

They are hard work! As babies you get it all your own way, but suddenly they can walk and talk and have their own ideas!
You need to get a break sometimes and also remember it is only a phase.

I'm with currantbun - everyone finds different stages hard. I was great at the toddler bit, but beyond shite at pretty much everything up to about 20 months, with all three DC.

From 2yo onwards was great, although surprised myself by struggling hugely with DC1's increased attitude/independence/opinions after a couple of years at school. We're over that now, till the next issue!

When they're 15 you'll realise how easy you had it when they were 2

kitty I'm hoping when he is 15 he won't enjoy jumping off of things so much, and even if he is, he might be a bit better at the landing

currantbun you are right. This is the hardest but yet for me. Even the reflux, CMPI, colic, not having a clue what you are doing the first few months was nothing compared to this.

I was thinking something similar HellKitty!
They're like stroppy toddlers but in a bigger body

BasinHaircut
Trust me, he'll still be jumping off things but not landing any better! My eldest at 15 got stuck inside a children's swing for half an hour, my middle at 15 has wrecked his trainers/bag/coat and one side of his good jeans from skateboarding/falling. Him and his friends have races, while wearing 16 hole Dr Marten boots. The unicycle nearly broke the conservatory. It really doesn't get better!

Maggie, I'm sure you meant well but people shouldn't have to hide the fact that they're finding parenting a struggle for fear of upsetting those with fertility issues. I really take issue with the idea that we're supposed to cherish every moment and feel "blessed" even when things are really difficult. You can have times when you are frustrated, bored or utterly exhausted by your child and still love them and be a good parent to them. The pressure to appear to be loving every minute of Motherhood is a massive barrier to women seeking help for PND for a start.

I remember being admitted to hospital with dehydration due to Hyperemesis Gravidarum in pregnancy. I was exhausted and vomiting up wards of 10 times a day, I had a tearful moment and a Doctor told me I should consider myself lucky as some women can't get pregnant. So then on top of feeling sick and exhausted, I felt ashamed for not feeling grateful enough and cherishing every excruciating moment of my pregnancy. Well fuck that, it was hell. But that doesn't mean that my baby wasn't loved or wanted.

OP, however you feel, that's ok and this thread shows you're clearly not alone.

Maybe I have an easy two year old but I'm living it. I hated the baby stage with sleepless nights and me looking as crap as I felt.