[motherearthdancer]

Today was really bad for me. I lost my temper with my 3yo. He didn't even do anything wrong, he just wasn't listening to me and doing what I wanted him to do. I know that he was just acting age appropriately. I think a lot of it comes from his lack of sleep scheduling which I'm working on getting him on a better one, but because he's awake late at night, I'm up late watching him and when he finally falls asleep, baby wakes to be fed, and I'm cranky by the time I wake up in the morning b/c of my lack of sleep. I realize its up to me to help him settle down for the evening, but I think he's just transitioning out of naps, and napping at 7pm, waking up at 10 or midnight and wanting to be awake all night. I've tried waking him up, but that doesn't work either. When he wants to sleep he sleeps, and if I do manage to get him up, he's so angry and cranky and is just not in control of his emotions, and I don't blame him because I'm the same way. Except I have to have control of my emotions and today I just lost it and yelled at him. I really yelled at him and I feel so bad.<br><br>
I did appologise to him after I took a time out for myself. He goes, "I'm not sorry, Mommy" which made me laugh and reply, "No, you don't have anything to be sorry for, you didn't do anything wrong. Mommy shouldn't have yelled at you." And we gave each other hugs and kisses, but I still fell yucky over the whole thing. I've lost my temper before, but mostly not really bad and I can take a few deep breaths and get control. I think its been the lack of sleep, and the fact that we've been cooped up in the house with all the rain lately and we have major cabin fever. So I know what caused it, and I know how to work to prevent it, I just lost it, and I feel terrible. I know I learned that I don't want to do that again, after today, but I wish it didn't happen. I hated how I felt as I was yelling at him, and I didn't feel in control at all. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad">

 

[Magella]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug">

 

[SamGroom]

I am in the same boat with a 3 yr old and a 7 month old. A bad day here and there is bound to happen. You are most likely still thinking about it and he is probably done with it. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/hug2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Hug2">

 

[earthus76]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/hug2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Hug2"> You're only human & are bound to make mistakes. The important thing is you apologized & your little one can see that even mamas make mistakes & I think that is ok.<br><br>
With that said, I lost it with my 7 year old this morning & am trying to remind myself the same thing!

 

[misseks]

That happens to all of us. Even the thinking mamas, the thoughtful mamas, the gentle mamas, the peaceful mamas. Everyone has a bad day.<br><br>
And it helps to give you perspective when your dc are having bad days.<br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug">

 

[mommy2abigail]

Me too. Today I lost it not once but 3 times. Over stupid, typical 2.75 year old things like dumping perfume out on the bathroom floor or unraveling my crochet. I yelled, and I shamed, and I threatened. I hate that we are going down this path more and more lately. And it's not even lack of sleep (on her part, I however am totally lacking) or being cooped up. I'm pregnant, tired, and just DONE. And none of that is her fault at all. She's just being a toddler, a feisty one at that. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin"> I always apologize, but still, it feels horrid. It's not how I envisioned us....

 

[motherearthdancer]

Thank you everone. I'm feeling better!

 

[sparkprincess]

I am right there with you! I have a 3.5 year old and a 9 months old. Some days are just harder than others. 'Nuff said.

 

[peaceful_mama]

3 and 1 here. Another 3 transitioning out of naps. WIth a 1 who is stuffy this week and not sleeping well.<br><br>
Life got so frustrating around here that when I found out about free preschool across the street, I signed my 3 year old up for it. It's been this is our second week since the holiday break---he loves going, gets ready, is happy. Four days a week I have a 2 hour 'break' in the afternoon because one is at school and the other is asleep. It's good for us, because he is intense high-energy and with meeting the 1 year old's needs for naps and everything, it was near impossible to get out to do anything active, which he needs.<br>
I think the structure is good for him too, he says he loves it, teacher says he is fine, the little bit I've stayed and watched he joins right in their activity. He sits still, he listens............this is the child I can't take to the store.<br><br>
*hugs* it's ok.<br><br>
I don't know what to tell you about the nap thing. What we are finding that's working is either to skip it and go to bed at 8--in bed, lights out, asleep usually. Or take just 45 minutes after school and bedtime ends up about 9:30 or 10 by the time he is actually asleep.<br>
mine is hard to wake up too, but the other day I put on his FAVORITE video and that made for a good transition, and he still was asleep by 10.<br>
I'm going to remember that. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1"><br>
right now I am basing whether or how hard to try for a nap after school on when he got up in the morning---he sometimes pulls getting up before Dad leaves for work at 6. That's a DEFINITE nap, sometimes *before* preschool at 11:20 even. (the day this happened since school's been on I just called and said we would be late, brought him in after an hour nap just in time for lunch.) Between 7 and 8 is an after school at least a great attempt at a nap. 8:30 or later wake up time I don't really try. Usually works out he'll go to bed late enough to sleep through the night and wake up at something the rest of us call "morning" lol<br><br>
sometimes I just tell him it's 'rest time' in his room and leave him there for 10 minutes or so, when he is very tired he falls asleep.<br><br>
this is the HARDEST year, 3. I'm off to write MY bad day post lol