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any tips for feeling frustrated/overwhelmed?

3 replies

redfox14 · 04/09/2025 13:25

Over the last few weeks I’ve been feeling really guilty about how short tempered and frustrated I have been getting around DD. She’s 2 and a half and really is the love and light of my life, but at the minute she’s very much “no” to everything - eating breakfast, getting dressed, brushing teeth, going to the car, tidying up, I could go on and on. She tells me and DH to leave her alone or go away, says she doesn’t want to do XYZ, I feel like I spend most of my time negotiating or dealing with temper tantrums!

I’m hoping it’s just a phase and she will grow out of it but I feel dreadful because I have been a bit snappy with her. I can remember my mum always seeming snappy and frustrated with me growing up and it used to really upset me. I always apologise to her if I’ve snapped and give her a cuddle but it makes me feel so guilty. I keep trying to remind myself that she’s not doing it on purpose and in retrospect I think why did it upset me so much? They’re such small things. I just get very overwhelmed and frustrated and feel like I need some advice on staying calm and not letting it get to me.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
GreenAndWhiteStripes · 04/09/2025 13:26

For me, it helped to keep reminding myself that whatever my DC was doing that was so annoying was developmentally normal and not done to annoy me personally.

redfox14 · 04/09/2025 13:32

@GreenAndWhiteStripes thank you! I do try to do this.

OP posts:
Mulledjuice · 04/09/2025 13:36

Agree- it's not personal, it's developmental. Don't ask a preference you're not prepared to accommodate- eg dont say "shall we get in the car now?" If getting in the car is optional.
Give them notice of transitions, word it positively "1 more minute/ 10 seconds then tidy up time" rather than "stop playing with toys now" (I have no idea if 1 minute is age- appropriate).

Breathe. Don't sweat the small stuff.

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