After a trying day like I had today with my two year old, I feel so bad. I've alreadly been through this stage with my other three older girls, but this has been such a challenge. Anyone have any similar feelings? What did you do on bad days to feel better?
2007-01-09 16:53:29 · 9 answers · asked by Bard's Babe 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Any parent who says they have not felt this way is either fibbing or clueless.
Everyone has not so spectacular days when you just manage to make it through the day without totally loosing it. Especially trying to deal with a toddler while managing three other children has to be a HUGE challenge.
On the days that mommy was less than parent of the year... we would head to McDonalds playland. Especially in the winter when we could not get out and play my friend and I would pack up the kids, head to Micky Ds and sip our coffee while the kids ran around and around.... another trick was to head to the movies at the $2.00 theater (not first run movies, but there was usually something for the kids and they were occupied for almost 2 hours). Another great get away was to go bike riding because I could put both kids in the pull along cart and they were totally happy to hang out while I got some seriously needed exercise (but I dont know if that would work with 4).
The one thing both my best friend and I agree on is that if we were having a bad day we told the kids that. Today mommy is feeling stressed out (or whatever word you want)..... and if we yelled, or grouched, or whatever we always remembered to say Im sorry I didnt mean to ______, mommy is just not having a good day. It helped us feel not so bad about it and also was a good example to the kids about saying sorry and that sometimes you have good days and sometimes you dont.
On those not so great mommy days reward yourself once all the kids are ducttaped into their beds (JUST KIDDING) with a bubble bath, watching a tv show instead of doing dishes, or something to say 'HEY - at least noone died today'
Hang in there - very very soon, sooner than any mommy wants to admit, our kids will be grown and gone and we will be wishing we had even the not so great mommy days back.
2007-01-10 16:50:18 · answer #1 · answered by boilerfanforever 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course!!!! But, the day doesn't have to be a failure if you chose to learn from it and improve on that tomorrow. Sometimes what you need after a hard day is some pampering. Make yourself a cup of tea or other treat you enjoy and have a bit of quite time after the kids are in bed. Oh and connecting with other parents just like you are doing now really helps too. You have 3 older daughters so you are a pro. Just know that we all have bad days and our children will have bad days when they are older too. Show them how to positively handle the stress and they will be much more successful as adults. You are on the right track!!! Blessings
2007-01-10 01:03:17 · answer #2 · answered by Kimber 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sure we have all felt this at some point. If not, well, they must be high or something! lol
Anyway, on those especially hard and trying days, I just have to remind myself how much I really do love those little guys. I like to look at them when they are sleeping because they look so peaceful and innocent and it helps me forget a lot of the frustrations of the day. I then make a goal that tomorrow WILL be better. I decide how I will handle certain situations (like rather than getting upset because he dumped his dinner on the floor, I'll just take him out of the high chair and let him play... missing one meal won't kill him, especially if he's not interested in eating right then Get my point?). I come up with some activities that I know my son enjoys and vow to do those activities. They don't have to be big things... just stuff like reading his favorite book 10 times in a row or playing cars on the floor.
When you give a little bit of control to the child, things seem to run a little easier. Don't let him have his way for everything, but give him options so HE can choose things and feel important.
And if you are at ALL spiritual or religious... don't forget to pray for guidance, patience, and love. Pray for your child as well as yourself. It helps me. If anything, you will feel even MORE love for your child, and what's better than that?
Good luck... I'm in this stage, too!!
2007-01-10 02:05:05 · answer #3 · answered by sleepyfrog76 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I get so frustrated with myself and my toddler when we had a bad day. I keep thinking what I could have done to change it! But, I keep reminding myself that I'm doing the best I can and that tomorrow is another day! I try to take one day at a time!!! I also vent to my husband and he always reassures me that I'm doing a great job! Motherhood is the hardest job on the planet and we as mothers are doing the best we can!!!
2007-01-10 07:43:03 · answer #4 · answered by September Sweetie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some days I would accept the fact that I wasn't going to get anything accomplished (like housework, a shower...), so I'd just be one of the kids for the day. If they were really cranky, me getting down and playing with their toys with them, watching cartoons, everybody eating mac&cheese for lunch in pjs, whatever we did, it was just better because I wasn't trying to hard. Some days we even ended up having some fun! Usually by suppertime, they'd be in better moods, and I could start supper & grab a shower while Daddy got in some playtime with them.
Some days, you've just got to roll with the punches to keep from getting knocked down!
2007-01-10 01:07:59 · answer #5 · answered by dispatcher_66 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh man! I am a mother of a 2 year old. It's not easy getting her to listen to me. But yet, she listens to strangers when they tell her not to do this or that. It does bother me, but I just figured maybe it's just a stage she is going through. Like the "Terrible Two's." She'll grow out of it eventually, I am not worried about it. So just relax and let your two year old do whatever, your toddler will grow out of it.
2007-01-11 00:37:45 · answer #6 · answered by bonitabellamafia 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I never feel like my day is a failure with my 2 year old. I do of course realize that I have days that nothing in my house gets done....I did not even make it to the store yesterday...we will try again today. Take a breath, make a cup of tea, and remember one day they will make you a grandma.
2007-01-10 01:08:12 · answer #7 · answered by Tawni B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you are not alone.We all have days like that.After a difficult day,when my kids are sleep,i try to think about everything that has happened.What did i do wrong?How am i gonna handle it next time?.What to do ,so there won't be a next time like that.It helps me to be prepared and to be more in controll.One thing helps me emotionally feel better,we always kiss,hug and make up before going to bed.And my kids sleep better too.
2007-01-10 01:52:08 · answer #8 · answered by avavu 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Remind yourself that they grow up fast. My son was a very difficult toddler. He's now a very very difficult teenager!
Relax and cut yourself some slack. Kids are not easy to raise. Start over with tomorrow.
2007-01-10 01:02:25 · answer #9 · answered by Terisu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋