Am I neglecting my son?

[Mummoomoocow]

He’s 16 months old and I feel like I’m not coping with motherhood to put it bluntly. I feel like I’m constantly playing catch-up with washing up, laundry, even tidying away toys and ordering food shopping. It’s like everything I do takes 10 times longer than it ever had before.

All of this leads me to wonder, should a 16 month old be left alone to play by himself? I know he’s happier when he’s interacting with me because he whines and moans when I’m encouraging him to let me get on with things. Mostly I’ll be distracting him back to his books and toys before I can try get back to what I'm doing over and over again. Eventually he will play alone for a few minutes at a time and I’lol manage to sweep the kitchen floor

I feel awful and I fear I’m neglecting his need to socialise and play with mummy but I just can’t seem to get anything done, I feel like I’m failing at being a SAHM and should just work ft and put him in nursery so someone qualified can help him thrive all day

It doesn’t help he won’t nap or sleep in his cot so I haven’t even got the luxury of waiting until he’s asleep to do anything. I’m either laying on the bed next to him or he’s sleeping in the pram on a walk somewhere. I feel like I’m in a constant battle of pushing him off me to go play alone so I can just finish something, anything at all. But of course he doesn’t do it’s never ending because nothing gets done!

Please tell me this is normal and everyone goes through this at this stage or tell me there’s an easy solution! I feel like such a terrible mum that I push my baby boy away all day long and I don’t even have anyone to tell me where I’m going wrong. I’m surrounded by “yes men” and “do it my way or the wrong way”s so it’s really difficult to get trustworthy advice!

Relax! Your his mummy so your way is the right way.
Most (all) mums have felt like this st some point. It's hard work, esp the sleep situation.
Spend some good quality playtime with him then put some Thomas the Tank/ Pepper Pig on or leave him to his toys in the same room as you whilst you get at least one thing done!

@Summersunshine2 thank you! I really needed to know it’s not just me, I’m so worried I’ll do him emotional harm that it feels like I’m the only mum who struggles sometimes!

I'm in a similar boat - I try to put out activities that will engage him for 5 minutes so I can get something done, some days are more successful than others!

I try to get him involved too so he'll happily load and unload the washing machine for me, will take things off the clothes airers and pass them to me. Takes a bit longer but we get the tasks done. I try to do things while he's in his highchair too so quick bits of washing up, emptying the dishwasher, sweeping the floor. I've got no chance of doing any life admin or taking phone calls while he's around though.

@Mummoomoocow everything you’re saying all sounds normal to me! I wrote on a thread the other day that I’m surrounded by ‘half finished situations’.
My situation is that I babysit my grand daughter 5 days a week (she also lives with me alongside her Mum who is my daughter) and she is 18 months old. She is particularly clingy at the moment and this week has seemed extra hard to get anything done. Even making a cup of tea! I think I’ve managed to sneak off and she’s happy playing with a toy but within seconds she’s at my feet whinging to be picked up.
It’s exhausting sometimes!
Something I never thought I’d do, but I have CBeebies on most of the day because sometimes something will catch her eye and I might get an extra 5 minutes to actually get a job done!