To be a bit worried about the Easter holiday?

[Birdsflybirdssing]

We break up for Easter for just over 2 weeks on Friday and I’m worried about it.

I have a very lively 16 month old and not really sure how I’m going to manage him. I know that sounds stupid - surely I can cope with my own child - but he refuses to go in his pushchair, he won’t walk ‘with’ me, so even things like going to feed the ducks are out.

Am I just a really crap mum or is this age difficult?

No you’re not crap.

It is a very active, into everything age.

Persevere with the buggy and the ducks. He’ll only learn if you persevere, in my opinion. Do you have reins/wrist strap? Do try the walking if you can, talking to him, showing him etc as you go.

Tell him you’re going to the park and keep telling him he is to hold your hand so it’s drummed in to him.

Mightn’t work, but might. Good luck!

No we all have ages we struggle with!

Quick, natural consequences. With empathy. Let's feed the ducks. You won't use the pushchair or walk nicely? That's a shame we won't feed the ducks. I know I'm sad too, next time you'll walk nicely or use the pushchair.

Rinse and repeat.

And reins. They're awesome.

As above
But also they not to think about how you will cope with 2 weeks. Just plan for that day.
If you have a garden a day at home with his own toys will be just fine. Especially if its sunny and you can do some supervised water play.
Dont feel you need to go somewhere or do an activity every day. You'll just put pressure on yourself
Also as much as I hate them is soft play with a friend of similar age an option?

*they = try

Yep reins all the way at that age. You can get good little backpack ones.

You aren't crap at all, it's a really tough age as they can't be reasoned with, but instead just have masses of energy and no attention span!

Take a drink and snack. Time say good bye to the ducks and sit in the buggy with your snack. Toddlers are hard work, everything requires you to consider how to encourage them to comply which is exhausting it’s self.

If the password on the router has been changed its very easy to revert to factory settings, and you should be able to change it under the various options. All you need is a pin.

If that doesn't work Google the provider and you will find the details and not that many people change this.

In the long term call up a provider and get your own bb sorted out. Routers are extremely simple to change. And cancel the dd. If your feeling nice you could let him know that you are going to cancel his and get your own because he isn't giving you details and changing the account name to yojrs.

So the same for utilities.

Get a solicitor involved about the house.

Up to starting school is bloody awful IMO

At this age with DD1 we were in lockdown but we’d have killed to be able to sit in a friend’s lounge while our DC toddled around entertaining each other - might be a good option?

Plus soft play?

@Timeturnerplease

At this age with DD1 we were in lockdown but we’d have killed to be able to sit in a friend’s lounge while our DC toddled around entertaining each other - might be a good option?

Plus soft play?

This for us too. It is hard without variation to the days and I think that's normal. I solved it by going back to work PT in a year-round job! DS is 3 and has chicken pox - I am going slightly funny stuck at home even though DH is covering half of the childcare!

I used to freak out over holidays when my kids were little. All term time, I'd barely see them, then feel shit about it. I craved down time. But of course, you don't get down time when they're that age!

I survived by basically giving myself a timetable for when I was off.
530-6up (ds was a twat)
Telly and tea until about 9
Toys and shit until about 10. Nap. For him.
Out for a potter about in the garden until lunch.
Telly for about an hour.
Big walk in pushchair or meet people.
Stare out of window, waiting for dh to come home.
Dinner.

My kids are now more attached to their devices than me. I can enjoy holidays again.

@Canigooutyet wrong thread

Is it term time only nursery? Would they let you pay for a couple of mornings or afternoons?

You aren't crap, but I remember 16 months being a breeze vs when they can really run, hit and shout back.

At that age, if you need him to go in the pushchair, he goes in the pushchair. Ds2 used to have this manoeuvre that we called the "screaming bow of rage" (used to scream blue murder and arch his back) to try and stop himself being put in but as I had to get ds1 places we had just got to get on with it. He got used to it and life got easier.

530-6up (ds was a twat)

DD was up for the day at 4.13am. Little bugger.

op could you get something like those tricycles with a bar that you can push from back? My DD refused to sit in a pushchair at that age and the tricycle really saved my life!

@Timeturnerplease that must have been so hard, I honestly don’t know how you coped with it

We do have reins but don’t find them hugely helpful … he always seems to go in the opposite direction and sits down and won’t get up, tries to jump in the pond with the ducks …

What about a push along trike if he won't go in the pushchair? I'd also second the suggestion of reins.

We do have a trike someone gave us, thanks for reminding me

So sad that you feel this way about spending quality time with your child

Yeah it’s a bloody difficult age for about another year ime. You need one of those push along trikes OP. That way he thinks he’s in control but he’s not
You can get them for quite a reasonable price.

www.argos.co.uk/product/6258667?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=30f62ea9-9626-4cac-97c8-9ff3921f8558&istItemId=ixilqrwax&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157%7Cacid:629-618-1342%7Ccid:9563523558%7Cagid:102231007590%7Ctid:pla-1417234874358%7Ccrid:423314718377%7Cnw:g%7Crnd:17979924732236910805%7Cdvc:m%7Cadp:%7Cmt:%7Cloc:9045499&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=9563523558&utm_term=6258667&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=102231007590&utm_custom2=629-618-1342&GPDP=true&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_4-SBhCgARIsAAlegrXUM-fPl55F5Lyv_DNCOR2HIYHZpVymfElFH01yTFICW7OodG2l9t4aAsRKEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Or is he’s not too heavy then a carrier?

I bribe DD2 into the pushchair with a cookie. And keep a stash of snacks for when she starts trying to get out.

Go to spaces without a duck pond or if you drive then for instance national trust places, the national forest, (they have some good walks based on Julia Donaldson books) so you can just let him run wild without having to worry about the water. DD2 is a nightmare for this so I’ve avoided places with water with her.

The five minute mum book is decent for some at home activities to keep them occupied.

A couple of weeks of perseverance with the pushchair will make the next year or two infinitely easier, trust me!

@Piper22

So sad that you feel this way about spending quality time with your child

So sad that you feel the need to comment, without understanding that sole care of a toddler who cannot yet talk but can run full tilt at hazards, on little sleep yourself, can be tiring and thankless. Bye bye!