Up until DD was about 2 I was quite a calm parent, I managed the tantrums, the whining and crying well and I loved being a parent.
Since have DS, my parenting has changed. I don’t know if it’s being tired, hormones, PND even. But I’m not calm anymore, I’m shouting more, I get annoyed easily. At first I thought DD has got naughtier but then the other day she unstrapped her shoe and the sound of it irritated me and part of me wanted me to tell her off for being noisy(huh?!) and then it clicked, she not naughtier.. it’s me, I’m the problem. I think maybe I’m burnt out but I don’t really have any family around and my friends are busy with their jobs and own children.
I want to work toward becoming a calmer parent again, I’ve downloaded some gentle parenting books to get old through but I want to make changes immediately and there’s only so much reading I can fit in around the children!
Ive been quite hard on DD for a few months now and I’m worried that it’s going to have an affect on her, she’s 3 years old so understands and remembers things I do and say - for example if she’s being really naughty I’ll threatening to take away her comforter which she then gets really upset about. I’ve thrown toys in the bin (albeit I’ve chosen toys that she doesn’t really play with, are already broken or missing parts as a semi-clear out ready for Christmas.. but it’s still not nice for her to see that I’m throwing away her things as a punishment)
I was brought up with quite hard parenting, and I definitely follow my dad in temperament, but I don’t want to. I just don’t know how to get myself out of this rut.
Also, I do feel like this might be PND related, I feel like I’m slipping but I don’t like to take anti-depressants because of my anxiety. I would go to CBT, but will I get help when my issues are around my toddler, and not my baby?