My preschooler is killing me

[OhToBeASeahorse]

I am literally at my end with him.

• very bright, very articulate

• a bit clumsy- only just managing to put his own shoes on

• he is into EVERYTHING. I mean everything. I cant even make tea alone, he will drag a chair to 'help'. Obsessed with helping me cook, wash - anything.

• his focus on something is very very short. We manage to play a game for a bit before it goes to shit and he starts throwing stuff or just being silly.

• has meltdowns several times a day, every day.

• talks ALL THE TIME. I mean all the time. Cant even manage a conversation with another adult cos he will literally just talk the whole time.

• grabs everything. Shoes, remotes - it's like a physical meltdown

• doesn't ever play ball. Took him to a soft play today. He spent the time trying to get into the kitchen and loos.

I cant cope with him anynore. I'm utterly exhausted. He is breaking me.

Have you sought advice from your HV? Could be ADHD?

Send him to nursery
Get a break

Does he have another parent who can give you a break?

He goes to a CM 3 days a week.

I have an 8 month old daughter too and the 2 of them...

@Embracelife yes he has a father, we are together DH is great- its just looking after him seems to be a 2 person job

I’ve also got a pre-schooler and non of that sounds unusual to me

That's helpful thank you! If this is normal it means it might end...

What dies c m say does she think his behaviour is extreme? Or just typical

How old? Sounds exactly like my 3.5 and 2.5 year olds. They are honestly draining me. Normal I think / hope

I have two children, one who's just turned 3, and they've both been like this. My eldest especially. It's EXHAUSTING! I also work in a nursery and have come across lots of very busy active chatty children. It's just how some of them are.

But in my experience it does end. I get through it with my own children by getting outdoors a lot, not worrying about a bit of tv time if I need 5 minutes peace, encouraging independent play (mixed results!) and trying to keep them as busy as possible. My eldest barely wants my company at all anymore and I kind of miss it now 😂 but my youngest makes up for it.

My three year old can be like this. I swear I spend most of my time with him saying stop messing with that, leave it alone, no, no, NO! it's tough though because I don't want to dampen his curiosity or enthusiasm, but it's draining sometimes.

Yup sounds totally normal especially the incessant talking and constant "helping" around the house 🤣

He sounds like a lot! I don’t think it’s especially unusual though. Can you increase his CM or add nursery hours to get a break/tire hike out. Also worth asking your CM for any tips!

How old do you mean by pre - school age? Someone on MN once told me they had a 5 year old toddler .

Will he chill in front of the TV?

He will he 3 in September

He's a toddler! But they change so fast at this age that he'll probably be much more grown up by his birthday.

He sounds like an average first born 2 year old. It will get better and your second will probably be more used to playing by herself and will go on soft plays because she will follow her big brother. It will get easier.

Yes, this is my 4yo. She's calming down a bit but is 'on' from 5am to 7pm. Lots of 'helping'.

It just seems he is so much more intense compared to other kids.

CM thinks he is hilarious

I have a 3 year old and it sounds (mostly) fairly normal to me, especially if you’ve also got your hands full with an 8 month old.
My 3 year old is so intelligent and happy but he’s also independent (which can turn to being stubborn) and wants to help with everything, he’s intense from the moment he wakes up from the moment he goes to sleep.

I have a 3.5yo and all of what you describe sounds like things he does too. Literally constantly talking. Takes hours to eat meals because he’s distracted by dust in the sunlight or a police siren outside or telling me the days of the week 15 times in a row etc. Etc. It’s bloody exhausting and as much as I love him I don’t miss him when he’s gone to bed. I’m told to “enjoy it” because when they’re teenagers they couldn’t give two hoots about talking to you or being around you, but who knows!

Mine is the same age and you have described him EXACTLY.

@JazzerMcCreary my sympathies!

Oh glad to know I’m not the only one utterly exhausted by all this

It just seems he is so much more intense compared to other kids.

Yes. Yes. Yes..

He is so much more demanding than other kids I often wonder whether it’s because I was a helicopter parent and he got used to relying on me so much. Probably ..

Most other kids seem to play well alone