I am not quite sure why I am being so confessional about this. I am a bit low and bewildered by my emotions at the moment. I have a four year old daughter and two year old son. I am really struggling with them both - constant constant fighting and shouting (we live in a small semi so I am very aware of our poor next door neighbour who is fifty with no kids!). They bicker constantly, she attacks him often, I have very little control or ways of control - vacillate between bribes and threats, and I have smacked a couple of times which I am mortified about. But nothing could have stopped me at the time. Sometimes I just hate my little girl - just for little bits of time - I can't believe it when she finally hits the pillow and is asleep that I can have had such violent emotions about her. I find my son much easier (emotionally) and I am sure this shows, however much I try not to let it. She is my darling darling first born, I desperately wanted a girl, etc etc but she drives me totally totally mad with her shrieking and hitting and general intensity. Also she rarely plays well on her own- whereas my son given the chance can spend a happy hour with cars, pottering. She demands constant attention which is so draining. I do take her off for quality time when I can - but it tends to backfire. Help.