How can I make parenting a toddler more enjoyable?

[poshsinglemum]

I'm not a ''natural'' at this parenting thing. DDD is 2 and very cute but I am so fed up with the drudgery, carnage, baby talk and lack of social life etc. I wish I wasn't a single mum and I miss my old life sometimes. Love her to bits and I want to enjoy my time with her again.
At the moment there is a wee stain outside her door which I have tried cleaning with a carpet cleaner but it still stinks of wee and she keeps rolling in it. I can't believe taht my saturday nights are reduced to this!

I can't add a pearl of wisdom but you are not alone thinking it's a life of drudgery...

My advice: Timetable specific times for 'them' and specific time for 'you'. So for example 10am everday you sit down on the floor and play their imaginative games, or puzzles or colouring for half an hour. Then on Saturday morning you have a solo bath and go out for a couple of hours. Obviously this relies on understanding help (DP or similar ), but it really helps break up the monotony.

Febreeze is wonderful for wee stains.

Isolation is difficult and I am not sure what to suggest. Do you have any family near by? Being short of money makes life even harder.

It does get better. Pre school is a wonderful invention.

I am not a natural toddler friendly person, soi made it a rule that barring illness i have to leave the housewith dd's every day. This could be park, library, museum (which the 2yr old loves, weirdly, all that spaceand loads of buttons, and i chat to the staff!) or even aldi with her helping put stuffin the trolley.
it tires them out + gets me a change of scenery. If they are being too clingy i put guitar hero on the xbox and they dance while i play loud music.
Also 'starting'them on something means i can wander off for a bit, like a massiveroll of lining paper from b and q, pack of crayons on the floor, draw a few pics and the they get absorbed in it.

Now they are 2.8 + 4.5 it gets a lot easier as the older one can actually talk so she amuses me that way. We also use a playgroup oncea week for dd2 so that for 2 hours i am all alone to do what i want.that helps massively.

My toddler is in daycare but when I look after her I structure the day rigidly so we always have something to look forward too. My main tip is plan as many activities as you can out of the home eg story time at local library, walk to and play in the park, get her to carry a basket and help you shop, look out for toddler playgroups in churches and centres, get her to help you in the garden (if you have one), get her to help you cook. We've always encouraged our DD (now 2) to play on her own and now she does that very well which is great for me - not only because it let's me get on with things but also because it's a joy to watch and hear her play (her imagination is fantastic).

Forgot to say, most toddlers love crafts. Would your DD draw and chalk for 30 minutes or so if you left her with paper and blackboard etc? This seems to occupy my DD and her friends for ages - oh and Play Doh of course.

Make a list of activities i.e.
going to park,
feeding the ducks,
going to toddler group,
doing colouring in,
going to softplay,
inviting other DC round to play
library for story

make sure that you have one activity scheduled in the morning and one in the afternoon, try and ensure that at least one activity a day involves other adults i.e. morning = toddler group, afternoon = feeding the ducks.

Look up your NCT events, you don't have to be a memeber and there activities are usually cheap/free, great place to meet other parents.

If you don't have or can't afford babysitting then make one night about YOU. i.e. Saturday night = take-away, bottle of wine and film that you want to see. Stick to it and don't get lazy and forget to get a film or buy a bottle of wine you need to indulge yourself as well. Invite your friends around for a quiet drink every now and then if you don't have a DP to look after DC when you are out I actaully prefer going to someones house rather than a pub.

You are not alone.

poshsinglemum - where are you based I have a spreadsheet of the NCT events for the next 3 months where I am and could email it to you.

I'm on the NCT commitee in my area so no worries there! I still find it hard work even when I take her out but I do enjoy going swimming with her etc.

I do know what you mean but I find a cup of tea and biscuit helps greatly