How do people manage with a 2yo and get anything else done?

[SophieHatters]

I'd forgotten how hard this is!

He's my third and he is lovely and sweet but he is so determined and so curious.

I spent yesterday unable to do almost anything at all, because he needs me to distract him or play with him constantly and I have a birthday to prepare for as well as various DIY projects that are not getting done, tidying up, even just washing a plate becomes a nightmare as he grabs all the cups and breakable things from the sink (there is a little stool there, I took it away in the end but he got very cross) and I have to keep saying no all the time

I ended up shouting...awful I know...but what do you DO? Do you just let go of trying to do anything else, give your other children unwrapped presents, leave everything in a tip?

I mean it's normally a tip anyway but he's trying to climb the FRIDGE FFS

ARGHHHHH

A couple of sessions at nursery each week if you can afford it!

Guys, thank you all very much. There are some brilliant ideas here and I am taking notes!

We now almost, almost have a kitchen - the carpenter is here this week and has already built some of it and the sink is in, though not connected till tomorrow - I am jubilant, it is going to be wonderful to have worktops and storage!!

I have discovered something though. I think, well, me and my mum think, that ds is acting a lot worse since she started having him at her house.

He's only been three times, once a week, for a couple of hours but it seems to have made him really cross - he is confused by it and doesn't seem to get what is happening and why Mummy goes away and he has to manage with Grandma.

He has a great time but there is a cost. He's been hitting me and trying to hurt me this week and saying NO a lot more, and she reckons it's because he feels he hasn't 'got' me for sure any more, so she is going to come here again to look after him instead.

I was thinking he'd probably love nursery until we noticed that, and so I think it will be Grandma or nothing till he is a bit bigger.

sigh

Cupcakes, that sounds very similar to what happens here, I admire you for attempting cleaning while he is awake!!!

Our house just doesn't get cleaned as I know what will happen if I try.

I'm not sure if nursery would have the same effect as grandma's house - nurseries are quite experienced at handling challenging toddler behaviour, whereas grandmas tend to indulge the little ones. Plus it might just be the change in routine causing him to act up, and he will return to normal once he gets used to it.

That's true, perhaps he would - the thing is being fairly non verbal and also fairly unable to understand what is happening and why, I can't be sure if it is upsetting him or not.

He is wonderfully behaved with Grandma. It's just there seems to be a backlash when he comes home.

Well, there's time now to wait so I'll reconsider in a few months

Have to go and check out the childcare setting we have been offered as well. I feel a lot better about it since we have a kitchen again.