To be really struggling with my 2 year old

[NeedingASafeSpace]

My 2y/o is really playing up. Yes I know, terrible 2’s…
they're really crying, hitting, shouting, throwing themselves on the floor all the time and come bedtime? Waking up screaming throwing tantrums in their sleep saying mummy pick me up. Must have been4 times they woke last night one of the times was for a full hour of on /off crying. I have to pick them up and cuddle them a few times in the night. I can’t let them cry because well I feel bad and they have a sibling that it’s not fair on to have disturbed sleep. I am at the point I look forward to dropping them at nursery for a “break”(?) and while I do look forward to picking them up again in the evening that quickly changes an hour after experiencing their behaviour in full swing, again. It’s constant. It’s the screams and slaps constantly. I am struggling at the moment. I love them to bits but my gosh it’s straining on my MH. I am on my own and it’s a lot. I feel bad admitting I’m finding it hard but I’m a flipping human being with feelings and emotions and just because i am a mother does not mean i cannot get stressed and overwhelmed.

He/she sounds overtired. How long has it been going on? What does a typical day look like for them?

Do you think it could be him being over tired?
I try to use them as I like to remain anonymous on this app as I have shared really personal things.
he is at nursery full time as I work. He sleeps usually for an hour there but yesterday he slept for around 20 minutes.
this has been going on for the past months I’d say. Before that it wasn’t really an issue?

OP, don’t let them hit you. You can take hold of their hand, or hold them by
the wrist, and tell them it’s not ok. If your DC gets into the habit of lashing out, it’s difficult to stop. What is the catalyst for these outbursts? There will be a reason, and you need to find out what the problem is. Also, does your DC do this at nursery? If so, what do they do about it? If not, what’s different there? All children want attention, and if they can’t get “good” attention, then “bad” attention is better than no attention. Try just spending as much time as possible with your DC, doing what they want, and see if their behaviour improves. It might be that from their POV, they’re feeling a bit sidelined. I completely understand that you have another DC and things to do, but normally, poor behaviour is because there is some need that’s not being met, and a two year old is not very good at self-regulation or communication with words!

I bet you are right. I try to involve my eldest a lot but feel torn when I’m with them and not with youngest DC. I do of course spend time with youngest but I perhaps could do more. Thank you so much I needed to hear this.