To prefer being at work?

[remymartinn]

Literally, I finish work & pick my 4 year old up from school, she basically whinges from that moment to when I drop her off the next day.

Ok that may be a slight exaggeration...

It's either she's incredibly whingey, or she is extremely hyper and makes stupid high pitched noises. There never seems to be a calm in between until bedtime when she has a story and we had a cuddle and a chat.

I also have relatives staying for a long period & when they are around she is even worse.

She isn't like it when it's just me and her.

She can't seem to make her mind up if she likes Grandad or not, sometimes they get on and other times she hates him and tells him to go home.

At the moment I do prefer being at work in an adult environment where I have zero interruptions 😂 does that make me a terrible person? Having family stay is great but I also get so exhausted as never get any me time, and I seem to be constantly cleaning. I've been told I have high expectations for a clean house but I've always been that way so expect people to clean up after themselves...

Think I'm just burnt out in general...

The problem isn’t your daughter, it’s your family.
Why and how long are they staying with you?
Do they do any type of cleaning and/or cooking, or is it all left to you?

@Bookaholic73 they do the 'man' jobs. I do all the other stuff that I'd be doing if they weren't here anyway there is just more of it.

I've had 3 family members stay at different times since July, I have two here now. They are due to leave end of October (the date keeps changing) they help with stuff I struggle with, it does take the load off. My dad was helpful with childcare during the first two weeks of me starting work (DD was on half days only for 2 weeks)

Actually they do the dishes every night!!

“…and I seem to be constantly cleaning.”

Why? Do you have a partner? Why aren’t they stepping up? Sounds like your poor dd is playing second fiddle to a lot of other priorities. She’s probably seeking attention when she’s behaving like that. I think you need to encourage a calm environment and put her needs first.

Maybe she’s overly tired, or hungry or bored?
try bring a snack with you, or going to the park on the way home. Or get grandad to pick up.

We have a 'normal voice rule'. Will only engage with DC if they use normal voices. No whinging, no crying, no shouting. It works.