4yo girl + almost 2yo boy - exhausted/overwhelmed

[jojolondon81]

Think I really just would love to hear if anyone else is struggling with similar. My little boy (2 in August) is lovely, but so physically active (climbing, running off, etc.) and constantly in danger. 4yo dd can be challenging but in a different way - strong-willed and sometimes defiant. On days when I’m on my own with them both I frequently feel very overwhelmed. An outing to the park mostly consists of chasing the little one around and making sure he doesn’t injure himself, while dd gets ignored. Meeting a friend helps but it still feels stressful. Someone in the park today said I needed to “chill out” and let ds do his own thing a bit more (which didn’t feel great) - but this was about 5 mins after he’d fallen on some steps and banged his head, so I was watching him more closely. I’d love to be one of those relaxed types floating through it all, but right now some days just feel like an ordeal of stress and self-doubt. Can anyone relate?!

I also have a 4 and 2 yo and can relate. Hate taking them the likes of the park on my own as they never stay together so my head is on a 360 at any given time trying to keep an eye on both. I suppose it will get easier as they get older but you are definitely not alone in feeling overwhelmed. It’s hard bloody work. Definitely easier when I could throw them both in the double buggy and go for a nice peaceful walk!

Mine weren’t like that at that age but it’s not in the slightest bit unusual, so you’re definitely not alone. I remember chatting to a school dad about his recent holiday somewhere exotic and I said how lovely it sounded. He laughingly said no it was rubbish because their 2yo practically had a death wish and he was chasing after her pretty much every second, and then his wife had her hands full with their older twins who naturally needed attention too!

Try not to listen to people telling you to “chill out”, you know your own child best. I probably looked like a relaxed type floating through it all; that’s because my children are by nature very cautious/anxious, which looks like being well-behaved when you’re two. It’s definitely not because I’m some kind of supermum.

Another friend, a single mum, used to put both of hers on her pushbike and take them for a long ride. She said it was the only way she could get some peace!