She's driving me crazy!

[AislinCarys]

Removed as I really do not want this to end up on Facebook.
Edited by AislinCarys - 5/23/11 at 8:10pm

[elisheva]

I don't know your educational philosophy, but is it possible to send her to preschool or nursery school 2-3 mornings a week? Is she different outside the house? Does the day go more smoothly if you've had an outing in the morning? What about grabbing a few moments here and there and putting in a video for her (and for your sanity) as you're putting the yogurt on or making supper? If you need to sew, can you set her up with her own project (something sewing related like weaving cards or whatever)? Is she less clingy to you if she has a friend over? 

 Being a mom is tough stuff. 

[Snapdragon]

awwww, you sound like a good mom! don't be hard on yourself. being with a young child all- the - time is totally exhausting! Can you send her to soem kind of pre scool or child care once in a while, a few times a week? what about other outings, or just having someone else tkae care of her a few hours in the week?

I know how crazy making it can be!! Mine is only 1 and a fantastic kid- but we had a rough week with lots of whining and isolation- and by the end of the week I was ready to lose it! I felt slightly nuts. By the weekend I told dh- who was also vry tired from work- you MUST take this baby out and away from me for a few hours so I can re gain my sanity or I will lose it! And so he did, and after a few hours of blessed alone time I was much better able to parent.

I Am sure you have considered all these things- it is not always easy  to find someone else to help care for one's kid= but if you can, whether it is a family member or someone you pay, that may give you some relief and time to yourself. time to oneself is a necessity of parenting!!in my opinion= of course I only have one kid- I don't think my sister, who has 3 and one on the way, ever gets time to herself- and she doesn't seem to mind it! Everyone is different.

[mamaboss]

Oh mama, I'm sorry. I'm kind of in a similar spot. So much of what you said I could have written myself (including the nanny stuff). But I think 3 is just a really tough age...

DD is the opposite though, if I'm doing dishes or something that "needs" to be done, she's great. It's when I need a breather and time for myself that she becomes desperate for attention. We've really been butting heads lately. It is so hard to keep your cool when they are losing it but lately I've just been trying to tell myself that I have to keep it together for both of our sanity. You know the cycle: you lose it then you both feel like sh*t. Sometimes the best thing to do is walk away. Personally though, I feel it is important, once you've both cooled off a little, to go back and talk. Try to explain why you got upset and ask why they are. I think the one of the biggest reason why 3 is so hard is because they are really beginning to feel and notice their emotions but don't always have the words to say how they feel so they show you instead. So with DD, when we talk about why we're upset, I use words she doesn't use yet like "I feel frustrated when _________" so she can learn to put words to her feelings. I think a big aspect of GD is communication so I feel it is helping us.

Also, with us, it's helped to just take a time out from everything else and just read a few books with her or something similar, just to focus on nothing but her. Sometimes, she just needs all my attention. But also, try to do those things that she loves. I can totally relate to not wanting to because of how she's been acting but at least for me, the activities that are "hers" are still a chance to get out of the house and/or to just get a little break from each other.

Anyway, you're not a failure. You're a mom and I doubt that anyone loves being a mom all of the time. It's hard!! It is exhausting and frustrating and beautiful all at the same time. 

I hope this helps at least a little... you're not alone though.