Hate this 80% of the time

[Nomoreboobs]

Start off by saying, I adore my Dd, 2.6 years old. We waited years to have her and some days are amazing..but, the majority aren’t. Does/has anyone else found this age ridiculously hard? Does it get easier, if so, when is that exactly?
My life feels like an endless cycle at the moment and recently I’ve felt myself really pining for my child free days-they were so easy..but then I feel guilty.
I remember years ago, a friend who had a small child explained it to me as being ‘Relentless’ my mum said it was an awful thing to say and that it wasn’t..I’m inclined to feel my friend was right,

Currently sat on my stairs hiding from my 3 year old counting down until I can drop him to playgroup in an hour... Love him to death but my god its hard.

i think 'relentless' is a really polite way of putting it My DM totally glossed over all of the worst bits of parenting and simpered in a frankly deluded way that babies are the best/most important/only worthwhile thing in life - but even she would agree it's hard going at times.

It does get better OP, honestly it does. It changes and there are different challenges but it won't stay like this for long. My DD is now 12 and while I can see teenage drama lurking on the horizon she is of an age where she is mostly good company, can make me drinks and meals and be sent out to the local shop......happy days!

Also, when DD was the same age as yours I used to hide in the pantry when i couldn't take any more a needed a minute to myself. The wine rack and jars of fruit gin also live in the pantry.......

I hear you. I have a 2.3 year old and a 7 week old.

It can be a rather relentless and thankless task raising young children. I had 3 under 4 at one point! DD4 came along 4.5 years later then I had 4 under 8! It does get better the older they get though. Now the older 3 are all teenagers and youngest is 9. I actually wish I had her sooner with a smaller age gap as the older ones can all relate and are very independent whereas the youngest isn’t there yet. It means she’s often left out! Teenagers have their own challenges though but all in all I prefer them to toddlers!

My first DS was an angel! Such an easy child; even at 2.
My second was and is still a nightmare! He's 6 and is stubborn, argumentative, rude, spiteful and generally horrible 60% of the time. I also sometimes think of life before him and how lovely it was to have one, well behaved, laid back child. Then he has a day of being completely well behaved, helpful and loving. These days remind me that he is completely precious to me and I love him with all of my heart. Its taken me a long time to remember to focus on the good and not dwell on the bad. Hes my child and despite the bad days; I wouldn't really change him.
DS 3 is coming up for 2 and is a mixture of both his brothers. Together they make a trio of cheeky, happy boys that stick up for each other when it really matters and make us laugh on a daily basis.
My MIL also had 3 Boys and says they never grew out of their individual personalities; so mine probably won't either 🤷‍♀️

I found those years physically exhausting and the lack of headspace made me quite ratty.

We are in the thick of the teenage years now and that is emotionally exhausting. The vagueness and lack of communication also makes me quite ratty 😂

Yup, the vast majority of parenting young kids is pure schlep, but the great bits are amazing. It's not and never will be for anyone endless joy and fun, but that's not what it's about anyway.

Yep, mine were pretty good from newborn to 3, sleep wise no problems, food fussy 3 and 4 year old but eldest is better then something happened!

My 3 year old now suddenly wants me to stay up the stairs whilst he goes downstairs and sits on the sofa and then calls me down he has an obsession with flushing toilet, if I go upstairs toilet quietly whist he is watching tv and he notices he to rows a massive tantrum and tells me off for leaving him lol but he bee down that before ! 🙄

my nearly 8 year has improved a lot, except a sudden meltdown whilst doing Xmas tree then didn’t want to do and was rude, she can be just rude but also very mature and good other times and much easier than she was.

I have a 4 year old diagnosed ASD he lives with his narc dad whom I’m sure has caused problems for us all as he just insists on telling kids stuff like I’m a bad mum, my 4 year old told me he has another mummy and I’m not his mum , that will be his dad obviously telling him about other Mummy! and to be honest it just makes it all the more harder. If he just shut up and moved on , it would be great.

However most days as it’s just me now and no longer with him is easier, I have days where they play lovely and days where it’s a nightmare and they fight, 17 month between my boys 3 and 4 wow that’s the hardest but I try and entertain them and do stuff, they are outdoor boys but they both want to be first for everything and I’m sure I’m detecting some competitive behaviour there!

My nearly 8 year old is much easier but can be rude. When they come back from dads it’s another nightmare as their behaviour changes again but it’s back to normal within a day or two.

Plus side they are doing well at school, sociable, funny, sleep well , Brush their teeth, wash without problems and for the most part do not cause day to day problems.

It’s all part of growing up lol

My DD was an angel until she hit 3 (I was pregnant with my 2nd by that point), then she turned into a spawn of satan, it lasted until she was 6. My DS hit this stage at 2 and by 3 he is the sweetest little boy, with just the odd random days here and there. They are both still exhausting, but the days don't seem quit as relentless with them now.
The housework on the other hand

My eldest three were all born within 2.5 years so I had three toddlers at one point and I honestly barely remember the majority of it, I was on autopilot 24/7. They used to work together as a team so if I ever left them unattended to make myself a drink or go to the loo I’d almost always walk back in to find utter carnage.

The best phase was when they used to post things out of the letterbox so I’d find the post had sometimes been posted back outside, various toys, the remote control- whatever would fit. They used to love throwing things in the dustbin too, my eldest put one of his brand new trainers in and I didn’t realise until the outside bin had already been collected so that was nice. Christmas tree decorations- forget it, they may as well have been a clowder of cats. When my DD’s were 3 and 4 they poured red nail polish all over the bathroom sink, not sure if you’ve ever tried getting nail polish off ceramic but it’s a pissing nightmare. Fun times.

I have a 2 year old now and he’s nowhere near as difficult. I think they were only so difficult because they ganged up on me . It gets easier when they start school.

Toddlers are Satan's little minions

Very true

My eldest three were all born within 2.5 years

feel exhausted just imagining!

Yep I agree, around 4. And then it's lovely until about 12 if you have a girl, boys are easier, they grunt at teenage years rather than shout! I have 18, 16, 15 boys, and 13 and 3 yo girls.

Much older than most posters here. I have always loved kids and looking after kids. I believe modern parenting is very hard on women especially , the expectations are so much higher.
The secret truth is that looking after a toddler on your own is Tedious Boring and Lonely. And it is OK to say so.
You are doing a harder job than a lot of people.
And it does get easier, better , different.