Being a Parent is making me go insane...does it really get better?

[wsgrl84]

I have 2 boys, 27 months and 7 months...

Right now I am in the stage of endless diapers, tantrums, whining, "terrible twos" and a high spirited toddler.

I get a lot of comments of "Oh don't worry, it'll get better..."

Then I hear bad stories of terrible twos...

and stories of terrible threes....

then some 5 year olds whining and not listening to parent...

then probably teenage stage will be horrible too right?...

so when does it get better mamas? does it really get better with 2 boys?? I really don't want to loose all of my hair!:

[caricandothis]

not sure what to tell ya mama. I'm still waiting here too!

[MissAnnThrope]

MIL had two boys. Dh is the little brother. His brother would always beat him up. MIL left them both in a car long to run in some where... when she came out Dh's brother was punching him over and over again. Dh wasn't yet old enough to talk. BIL was maybe 2.5-3 ... it didn't end there. They get along now.

[superstella]

I've been having teenage problems all day today, so I'm probably not who you want to hear from. but most days, I'd say it does in fact get better.

[~Heyokha~]

I too have a 7 month old...... my 2 1/2 year old is starting to come around -But boy have the last few months been interesting and loud. It seems like things are getting easier to manage though, especially in the last few weeks. Or maybe I am just desensitized??

[Mama Dragon]

It absolutely gets better, well, as long as they learn to do some things on their own. I know some parents who won't teach their kids to cook or clean or hardly bathe by themselves, so those parents are kinda resigned to a lifetime of having a kid at their hip...but most kids learn some independence and you'll get to pee alone again soon

[FoxintheSnow]

Ill just say that last year Ds was sooo hard. I felt helpless! Now he's 3.5 and he's soooo easy. So there is hope that it will get better. Of course we still have some challenging days but for the most part it's great.

[Phantaja]

My boys are seven and eight and they really don't bother me. Honest. Sure, they're loud, but they're so much fun. And they really haven't bothered me much since 3 and 4. It does get better.

[wsgrl84]

Now that I reread my post, maybe the title of my thread doesn't seem right...

I truly do love my boys, no matter how much my blood pressure has gone up.

But right now they are both sticking to me like glue literally 24/7 and I just wanted to know if there is going to be a chance in the future where I can go and pursue my own interests and take care of myself more emotionally and mentally.

Right now I feel like their slave 24/7.

[jellop]

My boys are 5 and 3. They're 20 months apart. Things have definitely gotten better. They play together, they fight each other, they teach each other, they entertain each other, they are each others' best friend. The things those boys come up with crack me up.

I'll second what Synthea said - encourage independence. Allow them to do things, even though it's gonna be messy and easier to just do yourself. Let them explore, try things, and "help". You'll be glad in the long run.

[TEAK's Mom]

Mine are now 5.5 and 3 and things are a lot better. They can understand things like waiting and resolving some conflicts on their own. They sleep. They can take care of their own toileting needs and put on their own clothes. They are learning some independence. It gets easier.

[canadianchick]

I think it depends on what age you like, if you like one age more than another. I have always liked teenage kids and since dd has gotten older, like 8 or 9 yrs of age, I have started having more fun with her...... of course it helps that she is an awesome kid. Not that she and I do not drive each other crazy at times, but we have fun too. The toddler years almost drove me off the deep end. Of course, I was a single parent, going to university full time and working part-time. :

[normajean]

3 is a hard age for me, harder than 2. Four was very nice with my son, actually four up until now.

[Bearsmama]

Just and support from me, mama. I have two boys, and I'm tellin' ya, they are crazy. And there's something about boys. I never wanted to believe that "difference" thing, but it's true. Mine are going on 6 and 3. They are about 2 1/2 years apart. My "easy" child was my 2nd, and now, at 3, he is, well, a flippin' tyrant. Literally out of control. He sometimes uses the potty, sometimes doesn't. Tonight he wanted to be naked. Fine. But he knows that if he peas somewhere other than the toilet he'll get a reaction. Usually he likes to sneak into our bedroom and pee on our converter. And then run around and prevent us from putting a pull-up on him. He likes to throw and yell and is going through a mean stage. It's lovely over here. A few months ago I would have told you that it definitely gets better, but now I'm not so sure...:

[Lovenest]

Originally Posted by wsgrl84

Now that I reread my post, maybe the title of my thread doesn't seem right...

I truly do love my boys, no matter how much my blood pressure has gone up.

But right now they are both sticking to me like glue literally 24/7 and I just wanted to know if there is going to be a chance in the future where I can go and pursue my own interests and take care of myself more emotionally and mentally.

Right now I feel like their slave 24/7.

Can you get out with a double jogging stroller before nap time everyday?
It is amazing how much fresh air will heal you mentally, and its great for the kiddos as well. If you can not do that find something you can do with them or without them that helps you relax and unwind.

s mama.

P.S. I looked at your siggy photos and the crying monkey, SOO CUTE! Both of those boys are beautiful.

[Viola]

I think it might possibly get worse before it gets better. Or you might have a reprieve for awhile, then it could get bad again. I have a friend who has 2 children 20 months apart, and now that they are 6 and almost 8, it is better than when they were younger.

I remember with my first feeling that 20 months was hard, 2.5 wasn't so bad, 3.5 to 4.5 was terrible, and so on. So I think they go through difficult stages in cycles, but every child is a little different.

[griffin2004]

well, you can count on it to get different...

I think "better" comes and goes.

[maiat]

I've been wondering the same thing. I'm single with a 7mo and she's been sick on and off for a couple months now. She's wonderful but needs so much attention, sometimes I feel like I'm gonna lose it. I keep having to remember to come back to compassion.

I've been thinking that it must get better at about 3yo. I have 2 1/2 years to go.

[chaoticzenmom]

It gets better...then worse, then better, then worse.LOL

Winters are hard and warm months are better.

Also, just when you think you can't handle another day with your demon child, they turn into angels. Then, when you start to take the angel for granted, they turn back into demons. It's a vicious cycle!

Mine are 7, 5 and 2.

Feel better Mamma.
Lisa

[Tigerchild]

Now that my youngest are 4, it's fairly easy.

But really, the second to fourth year of parenting was really a black hole of exhaustion and frustration for me. (My DD was a really fun, easy baby. So were the boys...but there were two of them. And a young toddler)

Even though in my experience 3-4 year olds are the most annoying as far as tantruming, ect...there's the benefit of being progressively more able to talk things through, the ability to rely on their imagination to help you come up with interesting things to do that don't bore you to tears (I love toddlers, but some of the repetitive stuff gets to me...that doesn't happen as often with preschoolers, IME).

So yeah, I think it does get better. Keep in mind that right now, your children are in a extremely needy, demanding stage. You may or may not like that aspect of literally being their whole world--but even if that's your favorite part of parenting, it doesn't change the fact that it's damned exhausting. As the kids develop competance and interest in branching out and exercising self-reliance, it opens up a new world that may be more "scary"ish for some, but it's less physically demanding, and isn't the same as the "baby" stages.