Feeling guilty...

[Schlomo78]

Took my 3 yr old son to Holiday Club for the day this morning. I took him on Weds as well as my Mother offered to pay for him to go a couple of days to give me a break from him - I'm a lone parent and he's not at his Dad's this weekend, so LONGGGG 2 weeks with the holidays-...trouble is, every time I drop him off i feel incredibly guilty (not a problem I have when I drop him at nursery for 2 1/4 hrs 4 days a week) and then worry desperately about him at periods during the day. We don't even get on, our relationship is INCREDIBLY fractious, we have constant power struggles and arguments (I know! Arguing with a 3 yr old!) and every day completely mentally exhausts me. I should be jumping for joy, but all I can think is that I've dumped him off somewhere and that I should be looking after him. I think I must be going slowly mad...

[redcrx]

hey schlomo, everyone needs a break at times, dont feel guilty
your son is probably enjoying every minute, playing and doing stuff that busy mums dont always get the time to do and it will be benefitting him enormously.

Try and relax whilst hes away and get some time for you.

[cazzz1975]

I agree with red, holidays can be enormously stressful especially when you are a lone parent, dont feel guilty, he will be having a great time and you should take the opportunity to relax and recharge your batteries

[Schlomo78]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate you taking the time to respond (and make me feel better!). I know he's having a great time, like he did on Wednesday, and he's doing things that I mostly just don't have the time to do with him. I must admit I do look forward to picking him up (until he starts being a booger) and it will do the world of good for him, I'm sure...I'm just not sure why I was stressing about it, it makes me feel weird. Although in some aspects it reassures me that I do love him very much, so I guess that can only be a good thing!
Thanks again, for helping put my mind at ease :) Have a great weekend!
Schlomo x

[redcrx]

hes just a typical "threenager" and they live to push parents to test boundarys.
My lad is almost 5 and sometimes i just have to walk away when he pushes his luck lol.

[Schlomo78]

'Threenager', lol, love it! It is SO like having a teenager in the house, and I am SO hoping he will grow out of it!!!
He just knows exactly what buttons to push and then we end up in a 10 minute arguement and battle of wills, until I think 'Er, HANG ON! I'M in charge here (theoretically), what the heck am I doing arguing with a 3 year old?!?!' and send him to the step, where he proceeds to mutter under his breath, thump on the step and surrepticiously peel off the wallpaper. Meh!

[redcrx]

tell him if he peels the wallpaper then his time starts again :) or find a place to sit him with no distraction.

They all go through these phases, honestly, and you will come out the other side. It just seems very hard when youre stressed and get no "me" time.

[Schlomo78]

I know...and when you do get 'me time' you have no idea what to do with it or you're too tired to do anything!! Thanks Red, appreciate it :)

[zzxxee]

it is an exhausting age 3 i remember with my kids but as soon as your child goes to school you will miss him like mad x