I feel like I am shouting at him all the time

[MilkyCoffeeAndSkinnySyrup]

My DS is almost 20months and just lately all I feel like I am doing is shouting at him. I tell him to stop touching the television, he constantly does it! Stop touching the washing machine, still does it, he pulls over the air dryer, if I tell him not to do something he does the opposite and today I am just extremely tired from being ill and after being busy at work and all I've done is snapped at him. It's not his fault, it's mine for being a shit mum! Does anyone else find they are snappy with their toddler? He's at that age where he is fussy, stubborn, doesn't listen, and he is fussing with food as well which is annoying me because I don't have time to keep making and giving him different things!

Being a bit snappy is normal especially when you are not feeling quite well... A couple of things you can do. Doing-the-opposite is quite common, so keep it positive and tell him what you do want him to do. So instead of telling him to stop touching the telly, tell him to come and sit over here (away from the telly). And distract him when you can, can you distract him from the air dryer with something else? If you are busy he probably wants to join in and do what you are doing. Making a game of things sometimes helps too, so can he "help" you put socks into the washing machine one at a time while you are loading and setting it?

You are right to not keep giving him different food, don't worry if he fusses with food, he might want more independence to feed himself and choose what he eats, let him eat what he fancies and take it away when he's not eating any more even if he's left most of it (he wont starve before the next meal/snack) He is still quite young to "listen" to you, so keep things simple and make a game of things when you can.

I think 20 months is an awkward age, old enough to want to do their own thing but not old enough to reason with. Things got a lot better when my DS turned three and started to understand bribery and when/then - WHEN you have brushed your teeth THEN you can have a story. It gets better!

Thank you so much for your kind advice @TheWrongTrousers . He does help me put the washing away bless him! But I think I must be having one of them days... It's not his fault! I agree that 20m is a very awkward stage! So hard to reason with him because he just wants to play or be naughty all the time but, welcome to Mum life! Thank you again for your help x