Struggling mom
My daughter will be 2 soon. She’s my first child. I finished graduate school and now I’m in between finding a job so I’m a SAHM for the moment. I’m struggling with the balance of playing with her, tending to her, and giving her the space to be independent and play on her own so I can get stuff done. I play with her after breakfast, then I try to let her play on her own so I can clean up from breakfast, get some laundry and cleaning done etc. but I also don’t want to let her out of my sight because we all know at this age they can get into trouble. I hear stories of kids getting outside, or choking on something and everyone’s response is always “where are the parents??” Shes 21 months old. i do let her out of my sight sometimes but then she’ll come up to me asking to be held, to play, to eat etc. long story short I can barely get anything done and I end up just stopping what I’m doing to go play with her. My husband works and he’s pretty good about it, he doesn’t complain much. But I feel like, I only have ONE kid, why can’t I have the house cleaned and dinner ready for when he gets home? Why can’t I balance it all?? I just tried talking to my SIL about it. She has 2 kids (a daughter the same age as mine and a son 3.5 years old.) her response - “yea I’ve seen you with her. Youre up her ass, you watch every breath she takes, she’ll live with you when she’s married, etc”. Not true 🙄 I told her ok thanks for the advice Have a good night and she said I’m so sensitive boo boo 🤧 I’m looking for advice, not to be knocked down more. I have nobody I can talk to. None of my close friends have kids yet. She’s the only one who’s in the closest situation as I am with kids the same age. Maybe it’s my anxiety. I do have anxiety and I was raised by a very loving but very anxious helicopter mother. I don’t want to be the same with my daughter. So I’m looking for genuine advice from strangers before I lose my mind. How do I get stuff accomplished and give my child her independence without being all over her and making her too attached ? Because eventually I want another baby and it’ll get so much harder. I’m just lost so any advice is much appreciated!
I should make it more clear- my daughter IS up my butt, not so much me going after her to be all in her space lol. She’s always on me and I TEND to it. So I’m wondering how can I kind of give her that gentle push away and let her be more independent and not so needy because 95% of the time she wants to be by me and wants me to do something with/for her (and I give in, hence why I can’t get anything done) and the 5% she is on her own I get nervous about her being out of my sight and getting into trouble so I end up just going back by her Where’s the balance of being a mom and tending to your child’s needs, and that boundary of doing TOO much and making them too codependent and not getting anything done!? Sorry this is so long!
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