Does anyone else hate being a mum to a 2.5 yo at the moment?

They're hard work! 🫠

You’re not a terrible mum. Their sense of independence is developing and they can’t tell the difference between what they want and what they need. I can only say to give her a TON of choices through out the day and try not to make a battle of wills so you can let go of somethings without feeling you “lost”. Take solace in that she is going to grow up to be a fierce woman if you let her 🥰

Gosh yes, could have written this myself. Also have a 6 month old baby so I think some of it is jealousy but she’s gone from the most chilled kid ever to absolutely savage. Threw her shoes at one of the girls at her nursery the other day 😢 refuses to eat even though I know she’s hungry, everything is a battle and giving choices no longer working here. I’m trying to do lots of 121 time with her but the baby takes up so much time, mum guilt is crazy. Sending love to you, I hope it’s a short lived phase x

@Nada I give her plenty of choices. The things I mentioned i feel are necessities to get anywhere (nursery, bed, etc on time). She's always been strong willed.

@Shenel thank you. Glad it's not just me. I play with her all day long but she still never seems happy. Yes, a lot of the time with the baby but as soon he naps, I'm hers. It would help if she slept through the night but she never does!

Can I ask about an example of a time you felt the need to be on time when she wasn’t responsive?

@Nada if we need to get to nursery in the morning for breakfast and she needs to dressed or for bedtime, she doesn't come out the bath and her bedtime is already 8pm which is later than I would like. She was in the bath for 45 minutes today

I am not sure if this would work in every case but I would get to her eye level and calmly say: You still have 5 minutes in the bath honey. Would you like to spend them playing with bubbles or with your duckies? She might give a third option out of assertiveness, so you concede to it and say: Yes of course it’s up to you. Let her know when there’s 2 minutes left, then 1 minute, then: Bath time is done. Would you like to step outside by yourself or do you want me to carry you? She might say no to both, so you tell her calmly that these are the two options. If she still says no, then tell her that she can choose or you can help her choose. Then: I have chosen to help you by carrying you out. You’ll probably be met with some physical resistance at first. If you keep using the same method consistently while calm, her responses could very much improve with time. Can’t recommend Janet Lansbury enough for a resource on all of this and other similar situations.