I really don’t like parenting toddlers

[dayof]

I am finding it so challenging it’s starting to affect my relationship with my little girl (2 years and 3 months.) I do know all of this is normal, I have a child who is a bit older and I really found him so hard as a toddler and he wasn’t - it was me! Love him to bits now of course.

She screeches at me. It tends to be worse when her brother is there as well but if she’s listening to music and the ‘wrongly song comes on she screeches, flings herself back, sobs. Ditto for the wrong toy, wrong shoes, putting her coat on. It feels constant and it’s so wearing.

Her sleep has gone to pot lately and I’m not totally sure what to do about it … I sleep trained (gently!) the first one but the methods haven’t worked with her at all. I do think one of the problems is that she is very tired but hard to know how to address it.

I am finding myself snapping at her because I’m just so fed up of the screechy stuff. It’s so constant and exhausting

I hear you loud and clear. My DS is almost exactly the same age maybe a month younger. I adore him but he is such hard work. I was meant to have the day off with him yesterday and sent him to nursery instead because I just could not face it. Everything is a battle..I've thought about it and this is my plan: I am going to really reinforce the boundaries. If for example he uses his cup to pour water out the bath. I am going to tell him if he does it again I will take it away and he will get one chance. I know there will be a tantrum coming but I'm prepared for it and he will just have to have one and I will be there for a cuddle afterwards. That will be my stance for everything, no negotiation, no debate, no shouting. Just no, get it over it.and next time he will know I mean business. There will be lots of tantrums sadly but it's all I can think of. Sorry if that's sounds harsh. Another two things I recommend, taking a day off for you to do nothing if you can to restore.. Second one is loop earplugs. I have bought a pair about a month ago, they are the engage ones. You can still hear everything but it basically turns the volume down and I have found it's really helped with the noise. Hth

Thanks. I feel rotten - I love her so much and I know it’s just a hard stage. Sometimes I see others doing ‘nice’ activities with their toddlers and I just feel like I can’t which isn’t totally true of course but it’s how you’re made to feel.

YANBU. I have three DC, now all well beyond the toddler years, but I found the 1-3 age absolutely hellishly difficult. For me, newborns - easy, 3+ - easy, 1-3 - total horror.

It’s their irrationality and total lack of reason that is so challenging with toddlers.

That’s what I find; the way it goes from 0 to 100 in a heartbeat.

That’s what I find; the way it goes from 0 to 100 in a heartbeat.

I can't say that I am exactly a fan of parenting the toddler years. Actually, I'm not a fan of parenting in the early years,full stop! There's no reasoning with them. Once my DD (and my DGD), reached about 4 or 5,and I could reason with them (to a certain degree!!) and have a conversation with them,I enjoyed being a mum/grandparent much more.

YANBU.... the unreasonable toddlerness is what puts me off having another 😅 I don't think I've got it in me to constantly regulate someone elses emotions again