Is it just me or is parenting preschoolers relentless?

[piegirll]

I know this may have been done to death but I've had a crap day with my 1yo and 4 yo and I need a moan,

I work part time so I'm not even with them all the time (hats off to stay at home mums I don't know how you do it), but when I'm with them I am permanently stressed and struggling it feels. DH also feels the same, but works FT (lucky buggar).

I am secretly wishing these preschool years away, and hoping it'll be easier when DC1 goes to school in September!

Anyone else? It's just soooooo relentless!

Mine are late teens and yes, I found the early years very hard work! A baby and 2 year old were my hardest time but it was hard for a few years after that. I've found the teen years quite a bit easier than I found the early years.

We all have bad days! What part do you find the hardest?
Have you read anything from Pamela Druckerman? She has some really sound advice on parenting with scientific references. Most importantly she places emphasis on every child being different, so different techniques may work for different parents. But I found it enlightening. I'm from the continent myself and I have to admit that continent parents are a lot more relaxed and less stressed out about parenting, and the 'terrible twos' seem to not be a thing there, don't know exactly why that is the case.

Breathe, take a moment, spend more time on yourself; kids can wait and handle themselves.

Yes it's relentless and exhausting. But now mine are bigger those are the days I miss and look at photos of. I don't miss the exhaustion but I loved their hand in mine and baking together or going to the farm and their wonder.

It does get easier when they're at school physically but tricky in other way. And then teens feels like toddler hood all over again.

Yes! It's really tiring OP. For me it got easier when my youngest was 3yo and then much easier when he turned 5yo.

I never knew that about Continental parents being less stressed and their toddlers well behaved. Does that apply to Continental parents and their kids who live in the UK? I'll have to keep an eye out.

@Fernhurst I wish I had any material or info from continentals in the UK, unfortunately I don’t. I am in the same boat atm and try as much as possible to rely on my grandmother’s way of parenting. I do see quite a lot of distrust in children coming from adults, both parents and strangers alike. I think we can give kids more credit, they do understand quite a lot and analyse risks, and a bit of trust in them wouldn’t hurt.

it is statistically safer now to roam around than say it was in the 1990s; although media is not putting our hearts at ease when we read so many reports on child abuse and murders. It’s a tricky balance! I totally get it to want to shield them a bit more. But at the same time, coddling too much has been found to be associated with higher instances of child and parent anxiety (Jonathan Haidt books - although American focused, I see similarities in the UK too).

I have identical aged children.

On their own, they are easy.

Together. My god. 3pm (when DC1 finishes pre school) - 7pm feels like 4 years not 4 hours! I’m hoping it gets easier as they get bigger and converge a bit more?? currently the 1yo just wants to climb and run and open cupboards and shut doors and generally cause mayhem. The 4yo wants me to sit and give him and his play 110% of my attention. The two just do not compute. Somebody is always crying!

@VivaVivaa ”Someone is always crying” you just described my house and it’s usually me 😂

Personally found it one of the easier stages so don't hold your breath...