Burned out from my toddler

[koalabearboombox]

Parent of a 2.5yo DS. He's wonderful and sweet but also has SO much energy and does not stop. There's no such thing as a quiet afternoon at home. He climbs me and jumps off furniture, throws heavy objects, insists I carry him everywhere and has a meltdown if I try and do anything without him. It's so so full on and I just feel so burned out, as does DH (we share absolutely everything 50/50).

Only family nearby is my mum who is an hour away, she will do the occasional babysitting gig once every few months but it tends to be more stressful than relaxing as she hypes him up with sugar and puts him to bed late.

Does anyone have any good strategies for getting through the toddler years? I feel like my previous time once he's in bed is spent tidying / cleaning / cooking / washing, then I'm left with about 30 mins of time to do my own life admin, then I pass out. I know this is a tale as old as time but I feel that perhaps I'm missing a trick to make it all feel a little easier.

Also - how the f does anyone do this with any more children? I feel so useless and inadequate, several friends are now on their second kids and seem to be coping better than us!

I totally thing it depends on the personality / energy of the child it is not at all related to how people cope / time manage etc.

My friend has a lovely little boy a similar age that is such a bundle of energy many, many people say to her how busy he is. I didn't have the same experience when my DD was the same age.

My only suggestion would be get out as much as you can in the morning to try and ware him out a bit x

Thanks @Tryingtoconceivenumber2 that's validating to know that some people actually do just have easier kids! We do always try and wear him out, and it helps. In many ways he is easier than 6 months ago but I just feel way more exhausted than then.

I have a just turned 2yo and 4 week old. I know your pain. Nothing gets done, toddler full of energy and a climber too (climbed out of his cot at 18mo). “Sleep when the baby sleeps” Ha! Someone told me to “enjoy the newborn bubble”, I wanted to cry. I just do what I can. Toddler goes to nursery twice a week so I sleep and do admin on those days. I’m sure things will change as the smaller one gets older. We go out every morning to burn energy and see friends a few times a week. People say how well I’m coping but it’s an illusion, we get on with it because we have to. I agree every child
is different, I know children 6 months older than DS who are still in a cot. DS would have broken a bone if we’d left him in the cot.

Screen time.

My eldest woke up at 6 this morning. He watched tv while I dozed on the sofa beside him for half an hour.

@PurBal wow a toddler and a 4mo, that blows my mind. Sending love, it sounds unbelievably tough. You're right that it's probably just an illusion that others are coping, I need to remember that.

I have a 2 year old and he's wild. There's not a wall in the house he's not coloured on, he climbs everything, drags the dining chairs up to counters n climbs on them to pull things out the cupboards (eggs and everything)
He loves to empty boxes of toys (his and his siblings) oh and he LOVES to throw the toys in the toilet, he's managed to perfect his speed when we run to stop him.
He's recently worked out how to unlock the front door, which he does so damn fast then runs off down the street.
In the garden he destroys my plants, pulls the flowers off that haven't managed to open yet.
Now finds it hilarious to take his nappy off and poo and wee in random places...
He also loves to climb me, digging his elbows and knees in, accidently pulling my hair in the process.
I love the cheeky little monster but holy shit I'm losing my mind.

Solidarity here, it will pass...it has to pass at some point lol either that or I'll end up in a loony bin

Honestly, kids are all different because people are different. And different kids are hard at different stages/ages. Mine have both been dreamy newborns. My eldest at 2 was never wild or a runner or a climber, nor one to wilfully break stuff or draw on walls etc. However, at 3 she's at absolute madam, like a mini teenager with her mood swings, says no to everything, throw epic tantrums and answers me back alllll the time. I'm finding it incredibly stressful! My youngest is 8 months, and whilst my best friends baby of the same age was a miserable newborn - is now a doddle to take care of and is always happy and smiling and sleeps through bar one feed in the night... mine claws at me, constantly shouts and shrieks, wants feeding every 45 mins and I'm finding it so hard going!!! So, deep breath and remember a better phase will be along soon and congrats on your new baby

We still haven’t cracked the ‘quiet afternoon at home’. DS is now 3 and while the complete wildness has calmed down a fair bit, he still needs to either have one long trip out of the house or 2 shorter ones on none nursery days, otherwise he becomes discombobulated and his behaviour deteriorates. Playing with toys at home is still measured in minutes as opposed
to hours. I’m a little envious of parents at toddler groups who declare that 2 hours, 9-11 will tire their toddler out enough for them to stay at home the rest of the day until bedtime…but equally DH and I like being busy and doing things out of the house so I’m quite glad DS is similar in some ways! Just to say I have found it a lot easier with the leap in language that occurred at around 3 to proper ‘conversational’. At least now DS can specify that he wants to walk to the park or walk to the bus stop or whatever! Basically I don’t think you are missing a trick, they all come out different so just hang on in there!