Still feeling guilty for an awful day

[LloydColeandtheCoconuts]

I have a 9 week old DD and 3 year old DS. DS has nursery 3 days a week so I spend the other 2 days with the two of them. Because he is hard work I tend to take him to the local playground to allow him to let off steam. Whilst I’m hovering in background with newborn in sling. He is boisterous, silly and funny and very good at making friends but can be challenging so I make sure I’m nearby.
Well yesterday he was very highly strung when we were leaving the flat and in hindsight maybe we should have stayed home. He and another child took an instant dislike to each other and the boy’s snooty mother didn’t do anything when her son pushed mine over. I ended up dealing with about 4 tantrums. In the playground alone. I then asked a friend if she wanted to bring her son to my flat so they can play trains. So far so good. But we never made it and I ended up with a horrific tantrum on a street corner trying to get DS back home. In the end I had to lie to him to get him home and then I dealt with the fall out.
All in All a really shit day and i feel awful for not dealing with the series of disasters. My DS even told me he didn’t like me. I felt terrible. Still do. DD slept in sling throughout. Every cloud, eh?
Not sure why I’m posting. A little hand hold please. Suggestions for alternative outings to take energetic 3 year old?

You shouldn't feel guilty at all. You have a newborn so you're knackered and you still managed to take your son to the park. It's all about survival at this stage!

Sounds like you did an amazing job to me! If I had been you there might well have been a bit of me shouting and generally flipping out, which is where I thought your post was going but no! Well done

Sounds like a normal type of bad day

The thing is today is a fresh start. Chat with him. Acknowledge it was rubbish day yesterday and that you can both try harder today. Reflect

Thank you.
To be honest I was too tired to flip out and shout, I was on the verge of tears though. Still am

I bet today he wouldn’t even think about yesterday being an ‘awful’ day ! Honestly don’t beat yourself up - you took the kids out - went to the park- and he might have had a meltdown but tomorrow’s a new day !
You will be feeling worse than him I bet ! 💐

I have children around the same age. It sounds pretty standard to me! It's hard work.

Nothing to feel bad about, you survived & your baby slept through it. Parenthood is far from the perfect experience social media would have you believe.

Make sure you look after yourself

That's not a awful day it's just normal! My two eldest are slightly older than ds and fight constantly which when I try n sort= multiple tantrums a day! I have a theory that kids do what we want to and can't!!! How many times have you been round a complete arsehole and wanted to scream at them and tell them what you think? But you can't- we are adults we smile, be polite and whinge when we get home! Kids on the other hand have this luxury!!! Your didn't like park boy so told him!!! You've really done nothing to feel bad about!
I also think you need to relax and stop feeling bad. Don't be scared to stay indoors occasionally doesn't make you a bad mum! If you're tired get the duvet on the settee one day, get some nice snacks and spend a day watching Thomas the tank, building dens, do a bit of colouring, bake but use one of the ready weighed packs to make your life easier! You sound like a lovely mum beating herself up for nothing!!! STOP IT! You're doing fab!!!

Don't beat yourself up, you did well not to sit and cry in the street. None of that sounds your fault it was just one of those days! Maybe he was tired? Sometimes though, nothing you do is right and they're determined to pit themselves against you and it will seem worse because you have a baby and are tired yourself. Would he enjoy fort building today? Give him some sheets and cushions and have a sit down yourself. I hope you have a better day today

Thanks for your lovely comments. I really appreciate them. Yes, today is a new day and DS is happily playing with his trains so no lasting damage it seems