don't know whether to laugh or cry...

[lucyA1308]

My 2 1/2 yr old has the ability to fill my heart with love and amazement one minute and absolute trauma the next. Is this normal?

I am sure it is, but in my over tired state, i feel like I am the only one out there, and that I have a crazy child who does crazy things.

This morning I was woken by her around 5.45ish - ok, the mornings are lighter and it is hard to stay asleep when the light comes in, but then wide awake (she, not me) and having gone to the loo (again she, not me), she then found the jar of sudocream, and emptied all over her face (like daddy's shaving cream, apparently) and then all over her legs (just incase there was any sore patches) and then onto me (not quite awake yet to stop this), and then as it was already everywhere else, into her hair for good measure.

I was cross, because it was not only a mess, but a wast of the cream, but had it not been so early in the morning, I might have found it quite funny.

Is this normal activity for a 2 year old. I would love to have an angelic little girl, who when I ask her not to do something, she calmly accepts and does what I ask. I don't, but she is wonderful in so many other ways.

When I am trying to be strict, she thinks it is a joke, and she laughs, and then I can't help laughing too.

recently tiredness is taking hold of me, and I am losing my temper more frequently. I hate doing this, but maybe it is good for her to have some more enforced boundaries.

Am I being unfair on her, or me by worrying about this?

[GinaG3]

Lucky it was just sudocream! At the same age my daughter coated herself in fake tan after sneaking out of our bed mid lie in and pulling out my goodie box from under the bed..

You can laugh if you like. X

[quichel]

Sounds like EXACTLY the sort of thing my son (3 years, just) would do. Oh, and my daughter (14 months) is quite obsessed with Sudocreme... I'd recommend putting the dreaded pot out of sight on a high shelf and getting a nap when you can, safe in the knowledge that at least you won't be painted white whilst you sleep.

Reading it from someone else, it is on the funny side. However, having been there - still being there in fact - I know how exasperating it is when all you want to do is sleep or cry (or preferably a cathartic mix of both) but there's a toddler thinking it's all such a laugh!

[Saila]

I found mine eating sudocream once...

[yeyuantr]

I know how exasperating it

http://www.interbankforex.info/kv.gif

[madmum]

What is the atraction of Sudacream? It's not like the packaging is fun and exciting, It smells vile and tastes like crap...yes I have tried it!

Lucy I wish I coulday they grow out of it, but my 2 are 6 and 3 and they continue to amaze me at the lenghts they will go to get mummy to use her shouty voice, I have come to think they must like it?!

Sleep deprivation can turn what was a "normal woman" into the Hulks Mother. My husband can now see the warning signs and has started to take the boys out early sunday mornings for a run around the park ( sometimes as early as 8am) just so I can have a little lay in or to simply enjoy a cup of coffee and morning TV. This hour is vital to me , I am a full time working mum and I adore my monkies with every inch of my being but just sometimes I just need to be alone( with a trashy mag and a sneaky cig tut tut) to feel like human again.

I went through a really shouty/ crazy stage not long after my second sons 2nd B'day, so I took myself off to the Dr, turned out I just need to change my pill, after 3 weeks normal service resumed.

Good Luck,take deep breaths and remember all these little gems for the future,as Im sure when all our babies are grown up and left home these stories will be the things that make us smile and cry with happiness. Ontop of this what I llok forward to the most is sitting abck and laughing my arse off when my kids tell me that my darling Grandchildren have sudacreamed thier brand new ?300 rug!

xxx

[Beagle]

was reading your original post and turned round to find my daugter colouring the carpet with a blue crayon!

I have to say I have found myself short of temper recently - I really think the bleak weather is doing my head in ! - I find it is cumulative, if I get annoyed and speak sharply to my daughter early in the day it just seems to deteriorate (my mood,, and hers from me) from there on in. I decided I would have a day where I would not raise my voice or get annoyed, and we had a great day, so I did it the next day too and once I wasn't getting as wound up things flowed a bit better. When i get niggled we both end up upset so within reason now I am just relaxing a bit more.

[womanofdulwich]

fess up to any family / freinds you can and give your self a break. They should step up to the mark and offer half a day or similar so you go and take care of yourself. YOu need to do this as a parent and the sooner you start doing it the better, as freinds/ family will expect it. It is hard being sole carer mon- fri and hats off to single parents. You are feeling like this ( I think) as you are tired and trying to do it all. In years gone by your parents would have shared the burden and you must learn to do this now- it does not get better till they are at school . Please do this . Think of it as letting someelse sharing the pleasure of your fortune.

xxx

[Pugwash]

having suffered sleep deprivation with my two when little, I was always grateful for my Mum to come on a weekly basis to me for a few hours. She would take out the child or play with them so I could unwind, I would then make dinner for all of us.

When the girls grew up, I vowed that I would be an active grandparent. Eldest daughter has 2 children and for 6 - 12 months I had my grandaughter every Friday from 9 - 5, which allowed daughter to have a job one day a week.

Prior to that daughter used to come to me every week and would have a lie down for 2 - 3 hours whilst I had baby all to my self. Grandkids are now 13 and 8 and I still child mind where possible to allow their parents to have an evening out/visit the pub/go to a show. When you are deprived of sleep and working as well - it is essential that you have some time out.

[MichelleE]

I found my son 3 year old eating a tub of lip balm and he also once got hold of my nail polish ( which was put up high, shimmed himself up my wardrobe) opened to bottle and emptied it all over my wooden floors! Ha ha

It's normal to get frustrated when you're tired, I do as well, my son tests the boundaries every day, but that's just being a child at that age.

[libbyer]

If that were my only problem.... My 16 month scoffs the Sudocrem whenever he can reach it. He also empties my underwear all over the floor, hides my shoes, eats dirt, runs my lippy into the carpet.... The list is endless. I think if you'd had a good nights sleep you'd find it funny or at least just slightly annoying but when you're at the end of your sleep deprived tether it all seems a bloody nightmare. Fear not, you're not alone in this world of toddler torture!

[dulwichgirl2]

I only go mad if they disobey eg "stop" or "come here" or "stand here" style instructions on the basis that they simply must learn to obey these things from a safety perspective. The rest of the time I am a pushover and it is more pleasant that way. ;-)