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I loose my temper with my two year old all the time

81 replies

Kerrylass221 · 28/03/2023 20:27

I feel like the worst mum in the world. Every time I scream at my little one I promise myself that it will be the last time but then I have a bad day and have absolutely zero patience with her and scream all over again. I hate being like this because the gilt just eats me up but I can't help it. I feels so unhappy a lot of the time and I just can't seem to shake myself out of it. I know that she's not to blame but she makes things so so difficult at times that I just feel so hopeless as her mum and as a person.

Any advice??

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Marchforward · 28/03/2023 20:28

You know this isn’t acceptable. You need to seek support from your GP and HV.

Justinthemiddle · 28/03/2023 20:31

Honestly, mine is awful at the moment and does push your buttons and (in my case) panicking it is my parenting.

Two things that helped me are:

  1. this is not an emergency. I saw this on some stupid reel on social media and it did strike a chord with me.
  2. plan for your feelings. So tonight I knew my two year old was going to kick off and he did but I said to myself that it was fine for me to feel upset and angry but not show it. I told myself over and over how I was going to deal with it and it did work and I did stay calm.

I think this is so challenging, honestly I am finding DS very difficult. He’s lovely too … but tantrums and rage I can’t deal with it. But I have to force myself to. Flowers

Boxofsockss · 28/03/2023 20:32

There is no excuse to loose your temper with a child. You should never take your own issues out on a young and vulnerable person that looks at to you for care and love. Sorry this this thread is disturbing.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Kerrylass221 · 28/03/2023 20:40

It took a lot for me to post on here and I was hoping for a little support and understanding not judgement. Thank you justinthemiddle for your kind response. I appreciate it🙂

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Danikm151 · 28/03/2023 20:40

Try taking a breather.

when a baby is tiny we are told to put them in a safe place and take a few minutes to gather yourself. Try and do the same with your child. Screaming at her will scare her
A HV can advise on techniques and sometimes parenting classes. These will help you to understand a toddler’s behaviour especially as they can’t express their feelings yet.

EJRB · 28/03/2023 20:50

I would seek counselling

i don’t mean that in a nasty way but I do think you would benefit and so would your child. You’ll be able to get to the bottom as to why that’s your reaction to your child’s behaviour

you know it’s not acceptable but the fact you can acknowledge that is good - the next step is to start and change it.

children aren’t responsible for our emotions and feelings

mrsfennel · 28/03/2023 20:53

Can you focus on how you will feel after you lose your temper? So when you feel yourself getting irritated tell yourself that in 5 minutes you can either feel guilty and disappointed in yourself, or, calmer and better as you didn't shout/get annoyed.

Mumma2Ro · 28/03/2023 20:55

Sorry to go against the grain….. but don’t we all shout at our kids every now and again ??
I have a 5 year old and a 3 year old and I certainly shout at them sometimes.
I’d be very suprised to hear from a parent that never shouts at their kids!?

Lewiscapaldiscat · 28/03/2023 20:55

Are you on your own?

it’s good you recognise this isn’t ok and are trying to do something about it.

Try and count to 5 before you react.

imagine you are being filmed, you wouldn’t behave this way if someone was watching you.

take each day by day. Acknowledge when you get it wrong and model this for your child. Apologise and admit you shouldn’t have shouted. You don’t want your child growing up thinking this is the way to behave.

Alitlebitsleepy · 28/03/2023 20:55

It takes a lot of courage to be honest about this and seek help. You know it’s problematic behaviour and that’s why you’re asking for advice so people’s judgemental comments aren’t helpful.

Do seek help from your HV who should be able to offer strategies or perhaps a parenting course (the Solihull approach is meant to be good).

aside from that, I find naming the feelings very useful when DD has a tantrum. I will say ‘you’re feeling really angry/sad etc’ or even just ‘you’re having a hard time.’ It helps her understand her feelings but also helps me remain calm as it puts me into an objective point of view where I’m simply witnessing what’s happening and describing it rather than being ‘in it’. Hopefully that makes sense. Also removing yourself from the situation is also fine. You can even say ‘I’m having a hard time so I’m going to have a break’ and walk away (as long as your child is safe) and you can always discuss feelings and have a cuddle later.

toddlers are hard work. I hope you find a way of coping xx

BurbageBrook · 28/03/2023 21:01

Screaming at a 2 year old is abuse. It wouldn't be kind to suggest it isn't, or to say it's OK. People are being honest. You will be traumatising your child and causing emotional damage that could last a lifetime.

In terms of strategies I think you need to reach out to the GP who can refer to counselling and parenting support sessions.

BurbageBrook · 28/03/2023 21:02

In terms of your feelings of hopelessness please see your GP. You may be depressed.

Kerrylass221 · 28/03/2023 21:03

I always tell her I'm sorry after, tell her I love her and give her a cuddle. I am in no way trying to justify my actions. I 100% know that this is my issue and I need to deal with it. I do have a partner and he helps as best he can but I have no family around me. I feel so isolated and lonely a lot of the time and it just gets me down. I want to be the best mum that I can be. She is the most important person in the world to me so I want to be happy for her. Thanks again for all of your replies. Its nice to have someone to share with

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BurbageBrook · 28/03/2023 21:05

I'm sure you're a good mum in lots of other ways but it does need changing and addressing. There are parenting classes you can go to, books you can read, all sorts. Even just taking a deep breath and taking a few moments before acting. Just remember she's only been in the world a couple of years, she's learning and growing and testing boundaries.

LeafHunter · 28/03/2023 21:05

What have you done so far (ie parenting courses, therapy etc?) and of that, what helped?

fruitbrewhaha · 28/03/2023 21:06

We’ve all all lost it at some point. I know have a 13 and 10 yo DDs and they drive me to distraction. And I know my friends do too.

can you get a break from her? Are you getting enough sleep, time off, eating well, exercise etc. make sure there is time for you. Can you arrange an overnight with a grandparent? Drop over on Saturday lunchtime and pick up Sunday afternoon. Get some time to unwind and unclench.

Find what you can do each day and week, some yoga, a run, or walk.

Just try and break the cycle because she is pushing your button and getting a reaction.

Newuser82 · 28/03/2023 21:07

Oh you sound a bit down to me am I right? If so is there anything you can do to make yourself feel a bit better? Exercise? Diet change? Herbal supplements or a visit to the gp? It's hard when they are so little. Have you tried any books? Maybe how to talk so little kids will listen? How about something to distract yourself with? Maybe an elastic band round your wrist and every time you feel yourself about to shout ping it hard and think about how guilty you will feel afterwards. Ultimately though I think you might need to start feeling better in yourself. Do you have any time away from your child? Any help?

themimi · 28/03/2023 21:07

Mumma2Ro · 28/03/2023 20:55

Sorry to go against the grain….. but don’t we all shout at our kids every now and again ??
I have a 5 year old and a 3 year old and I certainly shout at them sometimes.
I’d be very suprised to hear from a parent that never shouts at their kids!?

Agreed. All depends on how far 'lose my temper' goes. Raise of voice and 'no' = fine. Absolutely lose control of emotions = not fine.

cashmerecow · 28/03/2023 21:07

Kerrylass221 · 28/03/2023 20:27

I feel like the worst mum in the world. Every time I scream at my little one I promise myself that it will be the last time but then I have a bad day and have absolutely zero patience with her and scream all over again. I hate being like this because the gilt just eats me up but I can't help it. I feels so unhappy a lot of the time and I just can't seem to shake myself out of it. I know that she's not to blame but she makes things so so difficult at times that I just feel so hopeless as her mum and as a person.

Any advice??

Ignore the judgemental so gooders, they probably don't even have kids so have no idea what it is like!
I would try walk away when you're feeling angry, take a deep breath, even scream into a pillow if you need to. I find trying to just ignore my anger and walk away helps me! It's amazing what kids pick up on when they're small so I understand your guilt, I feel the same when I've shouted at my little one too. We're only human. If things don't get better maybe ask your GP to refer you on for some counselling?

lorisparkle · 28/03/2023 21:09

I found ds1 incredibly challenging when he was 2. I read something on mumsnet about 'love bombing' and made a real effort to give him loads of positive attention.

It really helped with both how he behaved and how I felt towards him.

Kerrylass221 · 28/03/2023 21:11

My father passed away 3 months before I found out I was pregnant so I don't think I have ever really dealt with my grief. I had planned to go to bereavement counselling but then my pregnancy just kind of distracted me from that. I moved away from home years ago and don't see my family a lot so it's difficult. I would die for my child and I want to be better. I am planning to go see my GP for some help with this and hopefully turn things around

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Sillydoggy · 28/03/2023 21:13

This won't be for ever. You will start to feel better and your toddler will become less annoying but it will take time. I've been where you are. There are a few things you need to do in the mean time.

Take care of yourself. You are almost certain not getting enough sleep, food and down time. You need some time off occasionally even if it is only 20 mins in the fresh air.

Find some activities where you and toddler can both relax. A good toddler group, a kind friends house, a game you both enjoy. You need to be able to have at least some positive time together during the day to lift your mood and make it seem like you can do it

You might need to get therapy - I know I did. Parenting brings up childhood trauma for many and it needs to be addressed so that you can move forward. Book a double appointment with the gp and go and talk it through with them.

If your partner is there learn to tell him that you can't be calm just now and have him step in.

You want to improve the situation, hold onto that and you can do it
Good luck

SpicyMoth · 28/03/2023 21:17

I'm not a mum yet myself, but I do have BPD and something I saw in a Facebook video that seemed genuine the other day, lined up almost exactly with how I'm taught to handle BPD emotional flare ups- I can't find the video to link it atm - I'll post back if I do, but in the meantime I'll summarise as best I can (It probably won't be word for word lol). Perhaps this may help you?

A mum was making a cold coffee and getting her toddler involved to help - super wholesome video. After it was done, her child pushed/slid the freshly made coffee forwards on the counter, it spilled of course, and made a massive mess.
The mum was clearly pissed off and angry, but instead of saying or doing anything, she just stayed quiet.
It was super difficult, and you could see it was insanely hard for her as it was a really big mess and she visibly needed that morning coffee, but she powered through with keeping quiet and just trying to collect her thoughts and calm herself down before she responded.

In the time she was quiet, her toddler responded by; initially being giggly/silly because funny big mess and unsure how to respond, then going quiet too and mimicking mum, then saying "oh no", then realising on their own that they had an accident, and apologising.

At this point, the mum was still angry, but had calmed down enough to talk at a level volume, and say "It's okay sweetie, but see when you push things that hard, they'll fall over, and then we have a big mess" or something alone those lines.

The toddler then said "Did you want to help me clean it?"
And the mum said "Yeah, of course I'll help you clean it up"
They then cleaned, mum still coming down off the emotions I think blurted out "Mama really needed that coffee this morning" under a sigh.
The toddler then apologised again, and she said "It's okay, accident's happen"

This is the exact same thing I'm taught to try and do when I'm having an especially tough time emotionally to stop me from lashing out.
Just take a second, breathe, collect your thoughts. Take as much time as you need, remove yourself from the situation if you have to if noise is overstimulating. Think about why you're SO emotionally reactive in this moment, has it just been a rough day and things have piled up, or is it justified? Has something genuinely enraging happened? Try and ground yourself outside of your anger.
If it's the first one, think about what went wrong in your day and why, and realise that it's likely not anyone's fault, life is just poo sometimes, and that you just need to take a step back before responding.

Think through how you'll respond in a way that's calm and kind, even if your child overtly did something wrong, they're a child, they're allowed, they're learning.

And most importantly, if you slip up? Take accountability for it.
Everyone is fallible.
No matter who it is, and especially if it's your child, own up to your shit.
Explain you've had a rough day, and you're sorry you're taking it out on them and that you didn't mean to, and that you're trying really hard to do better because you know it's not okay.

It will also teach your child coping mechanisms over time if they see you doing this.
That the appropriate way to handle your emotions is not to have an outburst, or tantrum, or yell, or scream, or be aggressive. But instead to take time to calm down, think about how they're feeling, and come back to things with a level head. To talk, rather than to fight.
And beyond that, it also teaches them that if they DO slip up, that they should take accountability as well, own it, and apologise where necessary.

Talking things through is infinitely better than giving into the adrenaline of your emotions, even if you feel justified in the moment.
As someone with BPD, I unfortunately know this excruciatingly well.

ReallyShouldBeDoingSomethingElse · 28/03/2023 21:28

Something that made a difference to me was understanding why a 2 year old (or 3/4/5 year old) behaves in these ways. What their view of the world is, how they can't process things in the same way as adults etc.

I read How To Talk so Little Kids Will Listen. I only read the first 3–4 chapters and that was enough to change my expectations of DD and to have much more patience and understanding of unwanted behaviour.

For me the thing most likely to make me lose my temper is frustration that DD is doing something I feel she knows she shouldn't, so by reading up on parenting small children I gained better understanding of what might be going on in her brain so expect much less of her so I'm much less likely to feel angered by her behaviour.