Feel like im losing it with DS 2.3 yrs

[crossbadmummy]

My DS is 2.3 yrs.He has always been a challenging child,cried often as a baby and hardly slept,now he is into everything,a typical toddler but i feel im really struggling to cope.
I also have a DD aged 4 .
My DS seems to be constantly tantruming over everything,hurting my DD and generally being a monkey.
I end up shrieking at him like a banshee and i hate myself for it!
Today i slapped him as he pulled out a handful of DDs hair i feel awful,such a crap mum.
Dont want to be like this...

Sorry to hear you are feeling like this.

I too have a challenging toddler who seems to have a lot more energy than other children his age. He never seems to stop and even with all his toys at his disposal, he insists on emptying the magazine rack and ripping up all the magazines daily, pulling photos off the window sill, dialling people up on the phone etc. Last night I had only 3-4 hours sleep as he was up all night. I thought I would get a lie in because he would be tired, but oh no, he was up at the crack of dawn pulling my hair.

I find it is a lot worse when I have had little sleep.

Is your ds a good sleeper?

Don't feel like a crap mum, it is really hard work.

Perhaps if you feel that angry again, you could try putting him somewhere safe and leaving the room for a while?

I'm sure there must be lots of advice on here, hopefully someone will come along soon .

No advice I'm afraid, but I feel the same about DD1 (2.4). I just seem to have no patience with her at all and keep end up shouting / being less gentle than I usually would be She can be absolutely lovely and so sweet and kind, then completely naughty and annoying. Doesn't help that DD2 (6 months) is still up loads in the night so I'm tired most of the time.

It's the tiredness that really gets me.

I am so ratty to start with and then stupid tantrums make it worse (ds not me !)

I just wish there was a way to get a guaranteed 8 hours uninterrupted sleep every night.

Must start going to bed at 8 and getting up at 4..............

Me too. Sounds very like my toddler. The thing that really upsets me is when he is rough for the tenth time before my 5 yr old gets to school.

The things that I have helped with my 2.6 yr old. Is really enjoy the moments when he is being good and try not to forget them (when I am having tough days). Sometimes it's hard to remember they are so little and just testing the boundaries, and it's not them you don't like, it's their behaviour. My mantra for the last year is "its a phase".

I also found some one to one time on the carpet, just playing helped. He just seemed to get a bit more focused. Also, as much outdoor time as we both can handle (tricky in this weather!).

Good luck - I know it's hard!

Have you looked into nurseries? Even a couple of hours a week helps!

Thank you for your support,it helps to know im not the only one struggling IYKWIM
Had to bite my tongue when i collected DD from nursery this morning ,DS hared off up the street-he is usually on reins but goes beserk and i took my eye off the ball! as i chased after him a helpful lady suggested i strap him in the buggy-er yes thats all very well but he just gets himself out again grrrr!
DS is usually a good sleeper,8pm til 6 am but has had a few unsettled nights lately,up every hour the night before last so we are all shattered!
I will look into nurseries,thats a good idea thank you.