I hope I'm not the only one who struggles with this but...
My DS is 3 and we're having a hard time with him not listening at the moment. I know this is normal behaviour, but it triggers something in me that makes me so angry. On the outside I try and stay calm, and occasionally walk away so I can have some deep breaths. Recently I have got so annoyed that I have shouted or screamed and it's making me feel like an awful parent because I don't want to bring my child up where I'm feeling that upset and angry. It's not fair on my DS. He usually laughs or smiles when I do shout, but I don't know how much it is affecting him and that worries me. I suffer a lot with stress, but am journalling / meditating / exercising to help with that.
Something about not being listened to is triggering a feeling deep inside me. I had a hard childhood - my mum was an alcoholic and never listened to my pleas to stop. I had a lot of therapy about it, and I thought I had resolved the issues, but every stage of parenthood has bought a new realisation of trauma that I haven't fully resolved. I also want to add that I had a traumatic birth with my son, where I wasn't listened to, so also think this might be playing in to it too.
I just wanted to see if anyone else has felt the same? I love my son so much, and really want to mentally get better for him (and myself). I want to provide him with the upbringing I never had. DH and I have talked about having another, but until I feel I can be calmer, I don't think it's fair.