Just that, really. This is the third time this week I've been in tears at the end of the evening and utterly desperate for my DS to go to bed. He is 3.3. Over the last 4 months I've just found him harder and harder to deal with. It probably serves me right for being smug about the ease with which we sailed through the "terrible twos". I have no ideas how much of this is normal but I feel as if he defies me at every turn. I feel as if I'm a terrible mum and don't even like him very much at times.
Absolutely everything is a struggle - mealtimes, bedtime, teeth brushing (a particular nightmare which now takes both of us to pretty much pin him down, I'm sure it's horrible for him), shopping (inevitable meltdowns, I'm doing online from now on) getting dressed... He has also developed a love for throwing things and clambering all over me, occasionally pulling my hair and I've been hurt on more than one occasion. I say, repeatedly, "no". I've shouted. He laughs and runs away. It's much worse when he he's tired at which point he goes into a frenzy of throwing everything he can get his hands on, sometimes at me.
I don't seem to have any "power" over him and I don't know how to get it! Time outs are hopeless, he just runs away. I've read so much about parenting and now I realise I've slipped into bad habits really easily. I think I'm allowing him to dominate but you have to pick your battles, right?
I don't know what I'm posting for, I just feel so down and like I'm just rubbing at being a mum. I've just signed up for the Triple P parenting course online so maybe that will help. I think I just dread that things are going to go from bad to worse. I feel very alone with this. My partner is enormously supportive but doesn't worry in the way i do.
I also absolutely adore him and he can be so funny and sweet and gentle but those moments are fewer and further between! Help...!