I'm literally ready to walk out and leave the kids with my dh, for a weekend or more. Just had enough and really need some support and help especially from those who have big age gaps.
I have dd aged 9 and ds 7 months. Both difficult ages and stages in totally different ways. The only luck is that dd adores ds so plays with him and I might get 5 seconds break.
My dd is very demanding at the moment. Ds is very demanding at the moment.
I spent a long time being a single parent to dd and to be honest I had forgotten how exhausting the baby stage is. Ds is a much wanted baby but I find myself tearing my hair out several times a day as I constantly run around after him as he's rolled himself awkwardly or whinging because he's lying flat and wants to sit up or vice versa.
He is impossible to get dressed as he hates putting clothes on and literally cries, same with putting a coat on even though I am being gentle. This means every journey anywhere starts with me being in a stressed and bad mood. Even though I try not to show it.
He doesn't like going to cafes etc no matter if we bring toys or not. He sits and moans and makes enjoying anything impossible.
I am in the middle of weaning and that's going ok but he is still drinking as much formula as he ever was.. which is fine.... but I feel like I really don't have a clue what I'm doing.
I never have any time to myself. At all. Unless dh has them which he does sometimes but he works 6 days a week at the moment 14 hours a day. I can't trust my mum with them (long story) I have no friends in real life.
I feel like crawling into a hole.
For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.
Parenting
close to breaking point ... really had enough :(
Fairylea · 19/01/2013 14:04
there is a 6 year gap between my 2 ds's, so not quite the same.
however it does get easier over time.
ds2 loved his baby bouncer (the ones you hang from a door frame) and he had a motorised swing.
it helped when ds1 had a friend round as they would amuse themselves. it also meant this was reciprocated, so ds1 didn't get as bored.
I second going swimming. tiring for both children.
also parent and baby groups. it's easy to get very isolated, and the feel as though you can't cope as you have no one to of load to. it will also give Ds(?) the chance to get used to being held by other people.
ds2 was very clingy, and is now 10 and still holds my hand, sits on my knee and gives me lots of hugs, so there are plus sides (eventually).
you need to look after yourself and get a bit of exercise and fresh air. even an hour a week by yourself - have a walk to a cafe and read the paper with a hot drink can be enough sometimes.
be kind to yourself. this stage won't last forever and time will fly by 
have you tried turning the getting dressed into a game is where's baby's hand, there it is! when putting arms in sleeves, blowing raspberries on his tummy when putting on a vest etc. dancing to music we whilst holding your baby (obviously gently, not breakdancing etc!
)
hope this all helps.
and I agree with previous posters about bedtime. 5 is a mad time to be getting up, even if it is after 12 hours sleep, which is great. push the time back by 10 minutes a day till you get to a time which suits you. maybe put did to bed at 7.45 and get her to read for 15 minutes by herself. aim to get 9 hours sleep every night, maybe go to bed a little earlier and read for 10 minutes yourself.
it's easy to think you aren't doing a good job, but you have obviously done fine for the past 9 years, you just need a few tweaks to your routine to suit you. but try to be flexible, and if it all gets too much, just hop to the loo for 5 minutes for a time out
there is a 6 year gap between my 2 ds's, so not quite the same.
however it does get easier over time.
ds2 loved his baby bouncer (the ones you hang from a door frame) and he had a motorised swing.
it helped when ds1 had a friend round as they would amuse themselves. it also meant this was reciprocated, so ds1 didn't get as bored.
I second going swimming. tiring for both children.
also parent and baby groups. it's easy to get very isolated, and the feel as though you can't cope as you have no one to of load to. it will also give Ds(?) the chance to get used to being held by other people.
ds2 was very clingy, and is now 10 and still holds my hand, sits on my knee and gives me lots of hugs, so there are plus sides (eventually).
you need to look after yourself and get a bit of exercise and fresh air. even an hour a week by yourself - have a walk to a cafe and read the paper with a hot drink can be enough sometimes.
be kind to yourself. this stage won't last forever and time will fly by
have you tried turning the getting dressed into a game is where's baby's hand, there it is! when putting arms in sleeves, blowing raspberries on his tummy when putting on a vest etc. dancing to music we whilst holding your baby (obviously gently, not breakdancing etc! )
hope this all helps.
and I agree with previous posters about bedtime. 5 is a mad time to be getting up, even if it is after 12 hours sleep, which is great. push the time back by 10 minutes a day till you get to a time which suits you. maybe put dd to bed at 7.45 and get her to read for 15 minutes by herself. aim to get 9 hours sleep every night, maybe go to bed a little earlier and read for 10 minutes yourself.
it's easy to think you aren't doing a good job, but you have obviously done fine for the past 9 years, you just need a few tweaks to your routine to suit you. but try to be flexible, and if it all gets too much, just hop to the loo for 5 minutes for a time out
there is a 6 year gap between my 2 ds's, so not quite the same.
however it does get easier over time.
ds2 loved his baby bouncer (the ones you hang from a door frame) and he had a motorised swing.
it helped when ds1 had a friend round as they would amuse themselves. it also meant this was reciprocated, so ds1 didn't get as bored.
I second going swimming. tiring for both children.
also parent and baby groups. it's easy to get very isolated, and the feel as though you can't cope as you have no one to of load to. it will also give Ds(?) the chance to get used to being held by other people.
ds2 was very clingy, and is now 10 and still holds my hand, sits on my knee and gives me lots of hugs, so there are plus sides (eventually).
you need to look after yourself and get a bit of exercise and fresh air. even an hour a week by yourself - have a walk to a cafe and read the paper with a hot drink can be enough sometimes.
be kind to yourself. this stage won't last forever and time will fly by
have you tried turning the getting dressed into a game is where's baby's hand, there it is! when putting arms in sleeves, blowing raspberries on his tummy when putting on a vest etc. dancing to music we whilst holding your baby (obviously gently, not breakdancing etc! )
hope this all helps.
and I agree with previous posters about bedtime. 5 is a mad time to be getting up, even if it is after 12 hours sleep, which is great. push the time back by 10 minutes a day till you get to a time which suits you. maybe put dd to bed at 7.45 and get her to read for 15 minutes by herself. aim to get 9 hours sleep every night, maybe go to bed a little earlier and read for 10 minutes yourself.
it's easy to think you aren't doing a good job, but you have obviously done fine for the past 9 years, you just need a few tweaks to your routine to suit you. but try to be flexible, and if it all gets too much, just hop to the loo for 5 minutes for a time out
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