I've a five month old dd, and two and a half year old ds. My daughter's pretty high maintenance (wants to be carried all the time), and so it makes giving my son lots of attention which he needs just now a bit hard.
Every now and again when they're both crying I run out of patience and shout. Mostly at my ds. I feel awful afterwards.
I want to be able to keep my cool, as shouting doesn't help any of us!
Today, for example, ds was hungry for his tea, and being fussy and crying (he had plenty of snacks today!) dd was crying, too, but I had to make tea... so I had to just get on with it with the pair of them crying. GOd knows what the neighbours must think. I started by singing to them, which works for 30 seconds, then eventually when DS was repeating the same thing over and over (shoes on, shoes on, shoes on), I lost it and they both cried even harder (unsurprisingly).
DS is now having dinner, DD has been fed and is playing happily so calm is restored, but does anyone have any tips on how to stay cool in those moments where it all feels like it's falling apart?
I get so wound up by it, even though I realise it's never more than about 10 minutes, but I'm worried it's unhealthy for my ds to see me like that, and also to be shouted at, and for both of them to be in these toxic moments.
I do also praise him alot when he's being good, and I know DD is just a baby, but any advice gratefully received! DD crying again now...