Im so tired

[niassfattie]

After a week of broken sleep, working full time and upset over a job.... I've now got a toddler who woke up 2 hours early and he had a late night..

He wakes me up by crying and my nervous system is shot.

I'm walking in the pram to get some distance from him but I'm just not coping. He's 2.5 half and I managed to get in a good shop and he tried to sleep on the way there/home. But wouldn't sleep when home.

I'm honestly going to lose it today and he's really testing me with normal toddler stuff like "mine... No mummy" etc
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I don't have any support or any friends

I'm so sorry you feel this way. It's really hard when it feels like everything is on top of you.
Your son is at a tricky age too.

Practically for today;

Is there anyone at all who could help you even for just half an hour - even a neighbour?

Would taking your son out again help - maybe to the park. I used to find being out was better than being in. Can you afford to go to a cafe somewhere for lunch? Saves prep and it's mess somewhere that isn't your house.

For today, just lower your standards and don't battle things. If he watches TV, eats extra snacks or whatever, it's fine.

TV is worse for behaviour and sleep so I try to avoid. He did have some this morning whilst I tried to calm down.

We did a pram walk where he was tired and thought I could transfer him to bed for a long nap but he's screaming now

I’m sorry OP it is so difficult when you just have nothing left to give.

Just do whatever you can to get through today. Maybe some drawing/stickers, park trip, even getting to a soft play for a couple of hours although hectic in their own way takes the pressure off of you thinking up a whole afternoons worth of stuff!

My nervous system is on edge. That's what I need to calm down

Long shot OP but when mine was like this many years ago I used to run him a bath - it calmed him so well - I would sit on the closed loo while he splashed with his toys - there may have been days when he had 2 or 3 baths

do you not have a partner or family to help you?
is there something your little one likes to do? colouring, construction etc, if you have something he can get absorbed in then I reccommend you have a sit down with a cup of tea and take five mins for yourself

He just wants the RV on

This is honestly as hard as it gets. Nothing ever after will be as difficult as this window Today is about survival and no more.

Would Cocomelon (seems almost hypnotic!) whilst you do some meditation or rest with a hot drink not be good if you're struggling?

I really wouldn’t recommend Cocomelon! Too fast paced & highly stimulating, will leave you with a very aggy 2 year old. Bluey or Puffin Rock is much better :)

Yes my now 19 year old used to have a lot of baths ,as a toddler when i worked nights and didnt get a lot of sleep.

I find all TV quite bad? Even if it's slow and he's only 2.5

I just wish he didn't wake up so early. It's a complete waste of a weekend now. I never get enough rest and it's wasted days. I can't do anything
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Being around others I feel isn't fair because I'm trying to regulate myself and often have to shut others other. For example in the supermarket the hand held devices went down and little one was screaming for it, but I was trying to sort it and half way through shopping. Assistant gave me one to give to him but because I was so tired and over stimuated I couldn't comprehend that I needed to take it, so instead I said "no thanks" but I was kinda rude by not looking at her etc.

I find it so hard when I'm so tired

At 2.5 he may be dropping his nap. I have a similar age DC and he hasn’t had a nap at home for a few months now. It’s a common age to drop it, and it can be a tough period. Early morning wakes are normal for toddlers unfortunately, my 5 year old has only just started sleeping a bit later until around 6.30, and my 2.5 year old wakes early. I find getting everyone out of the house during the day helps. Play parks or play villages to let off steam.

He may do or may not. But ultimately he woke up early and I've been stressed because I'm tired and waking up did to a crying toddler is stressful. He was also falling asleep in the car at 9am... So nap thing becomes irrelavant because I need help with having no sleep and having to look after a toddler. Respectfully I don't want to discuss his nap.

Why is everyone's answer to nervous system being in override to ignore it?

I don't have anyone to help.

Not an immediate help but I’d join some groups and make some mum friends

ive got a good group of friends and it’s good to have other people to talk too

If he’s happy while in his buggy, for today I’d just get out of the house again, go for a long walk if it’s not raining and just wander.

I’d buy myself some lovely snacks and an easy tea for tonight after he’s in bed then just get an early night tonight. You’re in the trenches right now but it does get easier as they get older.

Because there’s not really another solution is there?

This op, what other solution is there other than get practical help which you said you can't do

Do you drive Op? He might sleep in the car. You can play some music and wind down. In a desperate measure before I’ve driven for an hour until my one went to sleep and I parked on the drive, locked the doors and had a nap myself.

he will but then it means I'm stuck driving with him.

There is. There has to be

You don't have ideas but others will

Don’t do this unless the air is still on, especially in spring/summer cars can get too hot for a baby in it they can overheat very quickly.