As a lone parent I feel like I do a pretty good job being available for ds 3. We do loads together, play together, eat together and I try to involve him where I can when I'm doing housework etc. I'm very conscious as an only child he isn't getting the experience of having a sibling to play with like I had growing up.
Ds was quite good there for a while at playing independently, he's a very confident child and has no problem leaving me at nursery or going to play with cousins or friends etc even if I'm not in the room as long as he knows I'm nearby or he can see me.
However, recently he's got very intense at home and is constantly attached to me. I really try to just go with it but sometimes I just need to be able to sit down and drink a cup of coffee, or go to the toilet alone or work with hot things on the stove without him immediately underfoot.
I'm finding myself getting frustrated with him which probably makes it worse but I don't know what else to do. I've designed our living room so it's safe for him to be in unattended and all his toys are within easy reach for him to use independently and there's a great range so it's not boredom as such. He just wants to be physically attached, sitting on my knee or hanging round my legs. If I go to the loo he stands on the other side of the door and asks questions and refuses to otherwise occupy himself.
My only childcare is used for work so I get absolutely zero downtime unless ds is asleep at night so I need those little pockets in the day where I can get things done or just sit and rest and shower my own head. Sometimes it's so constant I can't even think to make the decisions I need to make about our day because I can't concentrate on two things at once.
Any recommendations? I feel awful even saying this and I love the absolute bones of him but I just am struggling with the intensity of this phase.