Please tell me age two onwards is easier than age 1? I’m not coping well

[jiarhadwbough]

Just the title really. Lone parent to a one year old. I’m finding it so hard. I work four days then with her 3 days. I do have money for extra childcare but haven’t felt the need to do that yet. I will if it comes to it. Just wondering if two gets easier? I feel so fed up with it all.

I've enjoyed my now teenager more and more with each year that has passed. I found the first year relentless and boring as hell. Why people like the baby stage is beyond me. I think different people like different stages.

What makes you think you're not coping?

I loved the baby stage, when they can't move. Once they start crawling/walking it's a nightmare until about 2. 2-3 is ok, better than 9 months - 2. From age 3 until they start school it's absolutely wonderful. Once they start school they get a bit of an attitude but it settles down after that until the hormones start kicking in around 9, really ramps up 13-15 then it all settles down again until they hit 6th form and think they're adults (but they are not yet adults).

My DD is suspected autistic and 3.5 years old - and age 1-2.5 was absolutely the worst for me. Mobile, no reasoning or understanding, getting into everything, no sense of danger, running off, tantrums…I hated it. It’s been all upwards since then, now at 3.5 it’s been amazing, her reasoning is so good, she has empathy and is caring, she wants to learn all the time and is so affectionate. It really does get way better!

Oh I loved baby and toddler stages 💕 It gets harder every year after that. Teenagers are the final smack in the face of parenting 😂

Absolutely night and day! I found it incredibly difficult until my little boy was able to walk- he's (just) 2 years now and he is an absolute delight, especially as he can communicate his needs to me!

Hang in there girl, it gets easier! And if you can afford to send them in for an extra day whilst you are at home please do!! It's a hard, thankless job at the best of times- it must be so much harder on your own!

They can do more so are more interesting. I preferred 2 to 1. 3 is even better (minus the odd threenager meltdowns)

Sorry to say I think it gets a bit worse before it gets better, but by about 3.5 it’s much better

I found it much easier when they can speak properly. That’s different for each child. Ds was later to speak but was straight in with sentences that made full sense.

As a lone parent you may be entitled to working tax credits to help with childcare. Contact HMRC for details. The child provider( nursery, childminder etc) needs to be Ofstead registered.

Both of mine were about a billion times better from age 2!! I detested the baby stage (infant to young toddler) but from 2 and since they can communicate well they're amazing.