Feel like my kids are sucking the soul out of me. I have a 2.5 year old whose behaviour
incredibly challenging at the moment. She's pushing boundaries constantly. Stealing food from the fridge, refusing to walk anywhere, won't wear shoes, won't wee on the toilet anymore and I tell her off firmly and she laughs in my face. She enjoys the naughty step so given up on that and she's smacking me.
My 7 year old has been much easier regards bad behaviour but is very curious and asks constant questions. Her sister's behaviour does not put her off asking questions and she'll shout over her sister's tantrums to ask about the solar system or random other topics when she can see I have my hands full.
I feel like I'm drowning. A pleasant trip to the park has turned out disastrously. I'm in a terrible mood and my youngest tells me she "likes" telling me no, when I've asked why she's behaved in a challenging way.
I get no support from my partner who just says "other people have it worse" whenever I get upset it overwhelmed by it all.
I thought an age gap was a good idea. Time to focus on each of them independently. But it's testing me hugely when they're both challenging in different ways and unable to occupy each other.
I don't know what to do?