Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Don't like spending time with my son

9 replies

Fedupmum20 · 12/04/2020 15:41

I've name changed for this because I feel so shit about it.

DS is 3, today in fact.

His behaviour is just grinding me down. He has a very limited attention span, 5/10 mins at best. He will build things with toys but get angry if I try to help. He never wants to do any activities in the house like the types I've seen online for during lockdown (sorting balls by colours, crafts, making things, water games etc). He doesn't want to sit and watch a film. He changes his mind every 5 seconds as to what he wants to do. Today for example, inside shoes off, outside shoes on, back inside again, shoes off again, all in the space of about 2 mins. He will shout at me to 'sit down' and if I say no or don't do it, he just screams it repeatedly at me. His speech is slightly delayed so often I have no idea what he's screeching about. When he gets angry he tries to headbutt me, bite me and hit me. I've tried telling him off firmly and recently naughty step which worked to an extent in that he eventually sat on the step but wouldn't verbally say sorry.

On the plus side, he sleeps all night and he can be snuggly and cuddly when he wants to be, but I find the hard times outweigh the good.

His birthday today has been like every other day at the moment. It's been doubly hard not being able to break up the time at home by going somewhere for the day.

I find myself longing for bedtime most days. I don't know if this is just normal behaviour for a child his age or if there is something not right with him. Equally I worry that I'm doing something 'wrong' with my parenting.

People keep posting online about 'treasuring this time' at home with your kids and I honestly just feel like screaming. I love him to bits but I just don't enjoy spending time with him and I hate myself for it.

Not actually sure what I want from this post. Just to let off a bit of frustration I guess.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 12/04/2020 15:51

I have a 2.7yr old and most of the time it’s a slog. Love her to bits, she’s loving and funny but there is no attention span, it’s exhausting. It was far more enjoyable when we could go out and about.
All the online making memories mother’s can get lost! It’s social media bragging and it’s 90% bullshit.

Noti23 · 12/04/2020 17:16

All the online bragging is bullshit. I made homemade paints today and ds screamed he hated it so much. I’ve tried other “creative” things too but it’s just not worth it. He prefers to find stones in the garden and lick them.

Fedupmum20 · 12/04/2020 19:07

Thanks for your replies. Glad I'm not alone!

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

tempnamechange98765 · 12/04/2020 19:11

You have my sympathy as I found 3 the hardest age. My DS didn't have a speech delay and wasn't quite as violent (although both DH and I would get a smack sometimes) but he was very hard work at 3. Defiant, rude, shouty. Bad attitude. And no way would he do any of the structured activities you mention.

If it's any comfort he's 4 now (end of last year) and is so much better. We still have our moments/hours/days, especially now in lockdown, he's been challenging the last couple of days. But overall so much more reasonable, and he will at least try and do almost every activity, even if it's something he doesn't like. He can even write his name.

Sorry no actual advice there but I hope the fact that other people struggled too and came out the other side helps!

Oggden1 · 12/04/2020 19:11

I have a 21mth old. I'm trying to work full time from. Home and study and care for him. I full on sobbed for about 30 min after he went to bed as I was soo done.
I adore him but seriously sometimes he makes me climb the walls. The biting. The tantrums and the refusal to sleep ever.
Wine for you and a virtual hug!

TheGirlWithAPrince · 12/04/2020 19:20

I have a 10 month old and a 20 month old... I also dream of bed all day, Its really tough, my 10m old whines to be picked up all day and my 20m old cries for everything and asks for food but then just throws it everywhere when he gets it :(

Its a slog

Nightswimming85 · 12/04/2020 19:32

Same! Dd is 3 in July. Weirdly it’s got a tiny bit better since the lockdown. I mean my patience I think, not her behaviour.
I usually dread the weekends (embarrassed to admit that)
She’s got 0 attention span.
I planned something nice today, crafty Easter activity- no point, waste of money, I did it on my own.
Filled paddling pool up - she played in it less than 5 mins.
Made a fairy garden with her - she couldn’t have give less of a shit about that!
But I feel guilty if I’m not doing something with her or if I haven’t planned something nice. But there’s just no point in it.

She Constantly wants to change clothes. We can have up to 10 outfit changes in a day.

She’s a really fussy eater. It’s exhausting trying to get her a varied diet. Preparing stuff I know is going to go in the bin.

She’s selfish, jealous, very possessive over things, asks me to play with her but I’m not allowed to touch anything or even speak!

I’m trying to just accept it and how she is but also keep trying aswell.

Fedupmum20 · 12/04/2020 20:09

"She’s selfish, jealous, very possessive over things, asks me to play with her but I’m not allowed to touch anything or even speak!"

Oh my God, this is my son. It's awful 🤦‍♀️

OP posts:
willloman · 12/04/2020 20:29

It's the age, isn't it? On the other hand mud and sticks can keep them occupied for ages, or messy play in the bathtub and just wash it all away after. Mine loved sticks at this age. Oh, and a cardboard box was brilliant also.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread