Demanding 3/4 year old!

Anyone else’s almost 4 year old just Refuse to play on their own???!! My daughter has an amazing imagination but she absolutely will not play lately unless I am being some character she wants me to be or unless I am “watching” her. I am getting so frustrated. She used to be SOOOOO good at playing on her own and have decent size chunks of time where she would draw on her own or use her imagination with her toys. But it’s like she just stopped doing that and now she won’t even try. It’s making me so frustrated and burned out. I hate constantly telling her, “Mommas not playing right now.” Or “you are playing independently right now, please go use your imagination with your toys.” I honestly don’t know what else to do and just need to know I’m not alone and that this is hopefully just a phase?

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We’ve been experiencing this, though I recognize that mine is seeking connection from me. I’ve switched things up from ‘imaginary play’ and ‘independent play’ to getting her into independent crafts / learning skills. So I can still engage, but get things done as well. I check in to see how it’s coming, and answer questions when needed. This is usually 1-2 hours a day. Not combined, but she does do about four 30 minute activities a day without begging for that attention. When she’s completed whatever I’ve given her, we go over it and I connect with her on it. It’s giving her the power of WANTING independence and everyday wakes up and can’t wait to see the days craft! These could be premade, or I take the time to put them together after bedtime with my husband. We put on our show, but we also put in the effort to get creative FOR her, together.
We have 3 under 4 so keeping them engaged and entertained while tending to the baby is a must here. You got this Mama, she just loves you!

Natural stage of development the “watch me phase”. This too shall pass but try to come up with activities for her, like an invention box. Or a letter search around the house. Then you can “grade her” periodically (even set a timer or a goal like every 10 letters found), but the activity is mostly independent after she learns it initially. Also think about decluttering toys. (Less is more sometimes with the right toys) have her give a show for her teddy bear audience in place of you. Have her help you with chores and cooking. It doesnt all have to be about her type of play. It can be your type of play/work too.

https://youtu.be/ygcCLpJgSjA?si=kbo3hb4uecHyaZeJ

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Post partum dad

I have a 2 month old. A few weeks ago my husband crashed out because he didn't feel like he was getting to bond with her. I started exclusively breastfeeding around that time and honestly didnt see the big deal. Baby and I left for a few days and when we got back home, everything was fine. He was extremely hands-on. He helped with my meals, her bedtime, bath, stories.....for a few weeks it was great. Then he randomly sounds depressed af. He says our lo is better off without him, he wants to sleep all day , he asks me not to watch tv then tried playing a video game. He refused to reply to me when i asked any follow-up questions. Then he woke up our baby trying to race me to the bathroom first thing in the morning . He's doing a weird mix of crying, trying, and giving up. Im starting to feel like I cant handle him not being able to handle life with baby and just want to be alone. Are there resources for men?

Is it bad of me to think this or no?

My husband has been abroad for work (1 day and exploring for 1 day) for 2 and a half days which means I’ve had both kids (1 year and 4 year old) for 2 and a half days plus cooking, cleaning, taking them to clubs, bedtimes!
He came home late afternoon and said I’m so tired, I just need to chill. I said can you wash up whilst I sort kids dinner out, he said he’ll do it later which means he won’t do it and I’ll end up doing it so I said no do it now please otherwise I’ll end up doing it and he said well you have been home and I’ve been away so you’ve just been relaxing.
Don’t know what planet he is on but having the kids alone for 2.5 days is not relaxing. I was stressed!

When he was away, I did miss him and wanted him to come back but now he’s back, I want him to go away again😂
Is that bad?

My 2 year old won’t eat nothing but snacks

Is this normal ? He won’t even try anything I eat .. he really only like pizza fries and spaghetti… nuggets and snacks bananas some other fruit but like anything else he won’t eat if try but I don’t want to force him I’m just I feel like bad I mean he isn’t losing weight I breastfeed mostly still

Shift worker daddies - advice please?

My husband works shifts (6am-6pm days or 6pm-6am nights) so when he’s on shift we either get about an hour or 2 before he goes to work or an hour or 2 when we gets home with him.

I don’t think people who aren’t married/have babies with shift workers fully understand the impact of feeling like a solo parent sometimes.

Does anyone have any advice? I do have parents who can help but I struggle to leave my baby with others as I always feel like they don’t understand the need for tracking wake windows or feeds and our baby will not sleep unless we black out a room or go for a car drive . Everyone seems to think ‘if he’s tired he’ll drop off’ - no he’ll just get overtired and have to then pay for it during his night sleep. So I feel like it’s just easier for me to do it all myself.

When my husbands off work he is great but I do take the mental load of telling him what to do or even reminding him of wake windows etc because he’s not here and forgets routines. He’s also being tested for ADHD currently so there’s that on top of shift work.

Just looking for advice on how to stay sane/keep routines or share loads with shifts workers?

Thank you ❤️

Really bothered by this

A friend posted this and it really bothers me because that is exactly how she parents her kid, and it's rather unfortunate because when our kids hang out together, her kid has a meltdown at least 5x within an hour. We have know them for years and it's only gotten worse. My kids will concede to hers, because they don't want to see their friend crying, but it sucks because they give up so much of their toys and enjoyment to keep the peace. We aren't hanging out as much anymore but it's rather sad to think she doesn't intervene more in her child tantrums and just let's it slide

Feeling like I’m failing

Hey guys, I need some advice or some positivity here!
My daughter is 5 months next week and she has her first tooth coming through! Yay! But for the past month or so she has become so wary of family whenever I go to visit! She screams, won’t settle, cries the whole time. I went for my birthday to celebrate and I had to leave because she just would cry looking at anyone :( it’s so hard because she used to be so good with anyone!

Will this change or is this just the way she is? I try to see them as often as I can, and my MIL is looking after her in two weeks overnight and part of a day and I’m petrified of what’s going to happen, that she’s going to scream. My poor MiL 😭. I’m a very calm and collected person and I don’t get worked up when she does react this way… I just feel so sad and down that I can’t be with family and that my poor girl is scared. I give her so many cuddles, milk, toys, going to a quiet room, but she just doesn’t settle 😭

Please someone say this is a phase and there is light at the end of the tunnel ?!!

With the weather getting nicer I just feel we are going to miss out on so many lovely family memories