To wonder why I put myself through the awfulness of having a toddler again?

[whydidiputmyselfthroughit]

Seriously, I really do question it. I hated it with ds and didn’t start to enjoy parenting him until he was four. And I’m back in that place again but this time with another child’s needs to try to balance.

If you adore toddlers and think that when you’re ninety you’ll look back and want another day with them this is NOT the thread for you. Nor is it a thread for those struggling with teens; you have your own board.

I really do not know what the hell I was thinking.

Oh I thought she was 18 months. Can still find a good back carrier!

Yes but you can’t just pop them in it and get on with your day, can you? She’d be wanting to get out after about a minute. Anyway, no, eighteen months was last year when she was mostly delightful.

I hated the baby stage. Toddlers were hard work but fine, no real tantrums. It was ages four that was my nemesis for both DC.
At four they have more staying power and stamina than at two. DS2 could keep up a screaming tantrum for hours. He also developed a horrible sing song whiney voice. I didn't like my own reactions at the time. I remember calling him the poison dwarf. You could ignore, or pretend to ignore, or leave the room but he would follow keeping up that screaming.

The good news is that age 5 was better and ages six to 26 have been a joy.

My dd got easier when she turned 5, too. I thought 4 would be easy but she (initially) struggled to settle into school which was a non stop worry and took up my whole headspace, while I was returning to work after Mat leave 2. Aargh it was so hard.

When my youngest turns 5, my eldest will be 8, and that's my light at the end of the tunnel, when I think/hope it'll get easier. Three years from now!

My sister, I remember, was still "difficult" age 21 (MH difficulties and, I now think looking back, all made worse by undiagnosed learning needs) - and my mum used to say that she'd be out of prison by now if she'd murdered someone, so hadn't she been punished enough.

Bit mean, we felt...!

Hoping mine get easier before then

I’m struggling with a three year old who I adore. Honestly I think after the sheer terror of newborn (what if I accidentally kill them?!?!) this is the hardest age. Doubt we’ll do it again as we’re forty and have tried two years unsuccessfully but this age makes the fact we have an only slightly less heartbreaking (while not being glib and acknowledging the pain of infertility for all those who do long for a child or second child.)

Trying to wfh has been interesting and difficult.