Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Toddler driving me insane!

59 replies

Gemzee · 30/03/2020 11:28

Anyone else being driven crazy by their children? My little boy is 20 months & I love him obviously but I am not cut out to be at home with him 24/7. I normally work in an office 3 days a week and he goes to nursery x 2 and gps x 1.
Now myself and my husband are both working from home (which we are lucky to be able to do) and my son is also home every day (been self isolating since the 18th as he had a temp - nothing since then though, probably teething).
I miss going to the office, I miss alone time, I miss not being screamed at!
To be fair my husband is amazing and we parent 50/50 (as it should be!) but I think we are all going insane.
Just wondered how everyone else with toddlers are getting along?
(By the way I always had so much respect for sahp but even more so now!).

OP posts:
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 30/03/2020 11:31

It’s hell! Pure hell!
I do tend to groan about working full time and wish to be a SAHM however to clarify (in case god is listening Hmm) I meant with everything OPEN!!! Toddlers aren’t meant to be kept inside!!! At least older children can entertain themselves for 30mins or so. It’s relentless. Flowers

Gillian1980 · 30/03/2020 11:31

Not a toddler, but my 4 1/2 year old and 10 month old are driving me up the wall. There is no escape!! Not even loo visits or showers are by myself.

I love them immeasurably, but yeah I’m going crazy.

MellowBird85 · 30/03/2020 11:31

I am in exactly the same position as you...20 month old boy, usually work 3 days a week, now both WFH and yes it’s a nightmare! No advice really, we’re just muddling through as best we can. I feel your pain!

moita · 30/03/2020 11:33

I'm a SAHM mum to a 3 year old and an almost 2 year old. I am missing the mornings my son goes to pre school and toddler groups etc. It's bloody hard work and rentless

sunandrose · 30/03/2020 11:35

I feel your pain!! 20 months is hard but it does get easier.

We have a 2.8yr old energetic toddler and an 8m baby. We’re lucky to have a lot of outdoor space but he’s just soooo full on and has the attention span of gnat. These next few months are going to be tough....
Good luck!!

PeppaPigOinkOinkOink · 30/03/2020 11:37

Nearly 2 year old in this house.. I'm a frontline a&e nurse currently on annual leave and have considered working extra just to escape haha! Single parent too, so zero let up, unless I'm at work. Between a rock and a hard place Wink

timeforawine · 30/03/2020 11:38

Exactly the same OP, my daughter is 3.5 and while she can entertain herself a lot i am still being climbed on and asked a million questions, plus the constant 'mummy can i have a snack...'
I normally work 5 days a week in an office so struggling with not having my colleagues to talk to about random nonsense

Adviceplease1234 · 30/03/2020 11:40

Get Disney+ is my main advice : ) Random activities like putting balls in a box seen to keep them entertained too. There's loads of entertaining videos of live nursery rhyme sessions on youtube which are quite fun.

I have a 2 year old and a 10m old and have noticed if I have the news on too much I get anxious which they then pick up on.

Gemzee · 30/03/2020 11:40

Glad to know we're not the only ones going crazy!

OP posts:
Rainallnight · 30/03/2020 11:42

I have a 19 month old and a 3.5 year old and I really feel your pain.

Check out Play Hooray and Five Minute Mum online for zillions of activity ideas.

majesticallyawkward · 30/03/2020 11:43

I hear you, mine are 4 1/2 months and 5. The baby is ok but we're in the 4 month sleep regression, I cosleep and bf so there's no break. The 5 year old is bored and emotional, so she's huffy and whiney through the day and keeps coming into my bed at night....

She's fliting from one activity to another, mess everywhere, not that interested any school work sent home, jealous the baby gets attention and confused that dh is at home but working so can't play.

Phifedean123 · 30/03/2020 11:45

Yeah my 2.5 yo is driving me crackers 🤣 so much whining and I feel like I'm doing my very best and coming up with ideas every day but he's absolutely fed up as am I

Shahira78 · 30/03/2020 12:01

This is making no difference to my life. With my 3 and 4 year old boys 24/7. I had them to be with them, look after them , nurture and educate them. Not saying it isn't hard but it was my choice to have them. Time has flown by already and soon they will be in school when we will miss them desperately.

butterwithtoast · 30/03/2020 12:06

Yep. I've got a 2 girls who will turn 1 and 3 in the next few weeks. It's just constant. We're watching a lot of Frozen! Grateful to have a garden we can get out into, but really missing being out and about and seeing other people.

TheGirlWithAPrince · 30/03/2020 12:07

20 month old and a 9 month old .... Im going insane

Harveyrabbit76 · 30/03/2020 12:07

Try The Wiggles, annoying but effective

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 30/03/2020 12:08

I had them to be with them, look after them , nurture and educate
I had mine as an excuse to go to soft play, trampoline parks and get ice cream in the middle of the day- feeling very hard done by!

IrishMamaMia · 30/03/2020 12:15

3 year old and small baby here. Just wanted to you to know I feel the same. My son does play by himself sometimes but he also gets very tired and frustrated. As do I these days.
Trying to fit the smallest bits of relaxation into my day such as reading and a lot of coffee. The serenity prayer features regularly too Grin

DreamingofSunshine · 30/03/2020 12:20

Same! We've been doing online classes which 2.8yo DS loves and I get a breather. It's relentless and not the same as being a SAHM because we would normally go out to the park/Nana's/museum/errands/playdates.

@Adviceplease1234 what age are your DC? I'm not convinced DS would sit still for a film.

Shahira78 · 30/03/2020 12:29

@Onlyfoolsnmothers Being at home with them is not so bad, especially if you are lucky enough to have a garden. You can do it! Take it one day at a time x

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 30/03/2020 12:31

Shahira78 thanks but the wkend was really hard, everything entertains My 2.7yr old for approx 4 mins at a time.

meow1989 · 30/03/2020 12:32

I also have a 20 month old and normally work 3 days in the office and now dh and I both working from home.

Last week was very stressful, lots of tears (from ds!) And not understanding why he couldn't have my attention whilst I worked. Today hes actually been a little star and I've decided to take annual leave 2 days this week as dh is on easter hols next week so I'll be able to work whilst dh looks after ds. The hardest is when he decides not to have a nap one day!

We've been doing lots of cbeebies Blush and playing in the garden and one long walk a day.

NaviSprite · 30/03/2020 12:36

I have twin 2yo’s and I am a SAHM (DH working from home thankfully!) and I’m struggling to keep them entertained, both love being outdoors and since learning to walk a few weeks ago (both have developmental delays and DS is virtually non verbal) I started taking them to the park every day to burn off their seemingly never ending supply of energy.... now DS stands and screams at the front door whenever he’s not being engaged directly by me and poor DD is just sitting by the living room window looking forlorn. We do have a back garden but it’s full of nettles, thistles and other hazards... and I don’t have the equipment to sort it 😩 so the telly is being utilised way more than I’m happy to admit but I keep reassuring myself that it’s better they be content watching Hey Duggee, Pocoyo or Peppa Pig for a bit than screaming at me/each other/the front door 😬

Spindelina · 30/03/2020 12:53

Mine are 7 and 2. 7yo is old enough for school work, but not old enough to do it alone / unsupervised. 2yo is old enough to need active parenting, but not old enough to be entertained by anything for long or quietly.

DH isn't even trying to work, and it's still bloody hard!

HoneyBee03 · 30/03/2020 13:00

My 20 month old is watching 10 hours of tv a day while I work. His brain will probably turn to mush but I really don't know what else to do.

Swipe left for the next trending thread