Have been really stressed being off on hols. I don't think this is normal

[jogym]

I have been off work on holidays from the 13th and feel like I am going mad. My DD's are 8 and 17mths. Am due back to work Thursday and hate to say that I can't wait for the break. I feel like a bad mum. My youngest is driving me mad and have thought to myself I think I know what it feels like when someone can't take any more and kind of has a breakdown. I have been so STRESSED. My little one is into EVERYTHING. She opens the cupboards and takes out the breakfast cereals to eat them from the box, tips her bowl of cereal all over the floor when she's had enough, tries to feed the cats, wants the stair gate opened so she can go up (when you're down and down when you're up, messes her sisters room (you know how 8 year olds have small little fiddly things), hits you round the face (sometimes) when you ask for a kiss. I could go on. Please tell me this is a phase. I feel like she's hyper. She wont play much with toys just wants to get into everything round the house. I so look forward to when 7pm comes so I can sit down. I am so tired all the time and on top of all this am trying to take runs 3 times a week (training). I look wrecked. My skin is breaking out, my hair is lank. OMG I feel about 50. I don't feel I'm a natural at this at all.

I have a 17 month old and the only way she's manageable is that everything has to be out of her reach other than her books and her toys. I think you might need to go through another round of baby proofing which is for your sanity rather than her safety!

She creates utter chaos even with the stuff she is allowed access to...I clear it all up once a day but the rest of time we live in chaos.

Honestly, I think it's normal. My dd also ignores her toys but does want to empty out the tupperware drawer 10000x per day.

I'm really looking forward to going back to work tomorrow - so much more relaxing. Plus have been ill so every minute has been a struggle. Sympathies - it's hard (and quite boring )

baby proofing yes, but also I found introducing the game of "tidy up" works really well. so the tub of crayons is tipped all over the floor and he toddles over to read a book and I say "lets tidy the crayons away before we read the book, come and help mummy" and he does. And he says "tidy" when we've done it. I do this every day now, and he always takes part - and I hope, it might stick (though I suspect not). This helps my sanity as he's 18 mths and I've a 3 mth old too