Struggling and Overwhelmed

My toddler is 16 months old and I’m a stay at home mum feeling very overwhelmed currently. She is a lovely child but recently everything is hard, she used to eat really well but now will only eat fruit and frozen food, she fights sleep badly and transitioning to one nap has been hard but needed as she wouldn’t do her second nap, fights the pram and she hits, kicks etc. I also know it’s typical of a toddler but I feel like I’m constantly trying to stop her from killing herself! Everyone tells me I need time to myself but when?! We have very limited grandparent support and no other support, my other half is fried from working and needs rest to so when do we have time for ourselves?! I used to have evenings but she fights bedtime badly lately, it’s exhausting and by the time she goes to sleep I get a hour. I’m just so over all the noise all the time. I feel suffocated. I know I should be grateful I can be at home with her but sometimes I think part time work might actually be better to have something for myself. I just feel so low but like not depressed almost like I’ve just checked out. If I work it’ll just pay for daycare and I just have no idea when I’ll get some freedom back. I know I choose this life etc and I am so in love with her but sometimes I just feel so caged and hopeless, like life is always going to be like this.

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Honestly part time work would definitely feel like a break, even if the job is stressful, it’s different kind of stress lol. Yes the work would cover mostly childcare but not working doesn’t make money anyway. Same same but different no? You can’t control claim 15hrs free childcare when working you could work just two days and the cost would be little. I’m sooooo tired atm, I’m a single mum and the only way I can explain it is there’s no light at the end of the tunnel that’s your desperately running down trying to exit 😩😂. Butttt we strong mama and we keep it moving

Oh man, I can relate this was me about 2 years ago, I found that my toddler was a lot more "tolerable" running errands outside of the house than staying inside with me. It was almost like we both needed to get out of the house. Also I think I was also suffering from mild PPD, but I wasn't able to recognize it until a year later. It was affecting my perception of life so bad, then it turned to guilt, because I knew I should be "greatfull" for this time with my baby but I wasn't. This was one of the most challenging times of my life and I will say that I hear this is very common for this age. But just hang on a few more months, because it was suddenly over and suddenly I realized I was sleeping and he was sleeping! You are doing something awesome right now, it just feels like torture in disguise 🥸

Aw man I’m so sorry you’re going thru this! But seriously sometimes just getting a job is so much freedom! I have two kids and my son is 5 now much more independent but my daughter is 16months and man she’s my world but just going to work and having those 7-8hrs to myself makes me ready to be with her till she goes to bed!! Also she plays with other kids in daycare so she’s also tired and just wants to sleep! Work is hectic but sometimes good for your mental health! Think about it mama!

These feelings are so hard and so normal. You're deep in the noise overload stage. Wear one earplug during the day. Soon, that will pass, and you'll be in the final clingy stage. After they turn two, you'll be in a whining stage. They are all hard in different ways, but none of it lasts forever, and once it's gone, you can almost miss it... If you feel like there is too much danger, up your baby proofing. Add more cabinet locks and put more dangerous objects out of reach. When you need more time to yourself, figure out what you would do, and do what you can with baby around (most don't care if you whiten your teeth or do a face mask). I spent a lot of time reading next to our sandbox... There are so many things about this life that you couldn't have known prior to becoming a parent. If you want to work, great, but don't feel like it's the only way. There are many ways. It definitely won't always be like this. In fact, a change is just around the corner.... ❤️

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