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What should I do if the older my child gets, the more irritable I become?

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What should I do if the older my child gets, the more irritable I become? By Anonymous | Published on December 18, 2024

I have raised my 15-month-old child single-handedly. Usually, an aunt takes care of the child during the day when I am at work, but when I get home from work, I take care of the child myself.

Now that my child is getting older, he has his own emotions, but as a mother, I can't always face him with a "peaceful mood". I feel very annoyed and powerless.

My child didn't sleep this afternoon... I have to go to work this afternoon, so I'm really annoyed.

Asher Thompson Asher Thompson A total of 232 people have been helped

Hello, question asker.

I understand that at this stage, you may find yourself becoming irritated from time to time. [Let's take a deep breath and exhale slowly together.]

☘️ As my child is now over a year old, he is gradually learning to express his own emotions. When I am not at work and spending time with my child, I find it helpful to be mindful of these emotions and respond to them in a positive way.

As adults, we inevitably encounter problems and experience emotions throughout the course of a day. When we return home and face our children, we are not in a completely "blank" state, a state of relaxation.

It is understandable that mothers may experience feelings of frustration or irritability at this stage of their children's lives.

☘️ My son is over four years old. This National Day, on the seventh day of the holiday, during lunch, I suddenly said, "Tomorrow I will finally have some time to myself" (because on the eighth day, my child will go to kindergarten and finally be able to go back to kindergarten).

It's important to remember that it's not that we dislike or are tired of our children. In our daily interactions, children's energy is truly boundless, while the time, energy, and energy we adults put into spending time with our children is quite limited. As mothers, we really want to be able to spend time with our children in a more relaxed and happy state, playing and spending time with them.

However, it is not always easy to do as we wish. When we lose our temper, we may feel guilty about it.

If a seven-day holiday like National Day repeats itself every day, it can lead to feelings of irritability, annoyance, anger, and guilt accumulating in our hearts. It can be beneficial to allow our children to attend kindergarten or engage in activities outside the home on a regular basis, as this provides an opportunity to release these emotions and resume spending quality time together.

I hope that my words have been taken in the way that I intended. I believe that many mothers can relate to this situation.

You might consider making a brief plan for yourself each day before leaving work. This plan could include tasks such as cooking, playing with the children, bathing the children, and so on. Even if the tasks seem trivial, it can be helpful to create a list and prioritize them.

It might be helpful to try doing things one by one, which could help to reduce the amount of clutter and emotion involved.

As a mother, you may wish to spend more time with your child, or when time is limited, you may wish to spend quality time with your child as they grow up. In your daily planning, you could consider telling yourself that the most important thing for you today is to happily spend time with your child.

It might also be helpful to remind yourself that children have emotions, or may be noisy or hyperactive, and that these are all normal behaviors for young children. It's important to accept them.

If you are mentally prepared, your emotions will naturally not fluctuate greatly.

After taking care of the children every day, there will undoubtedly still be some emotions. It is therefore important to take a moment for ourselves after the children fall asleep. We can also set aside some time the next day to let go of these emotions.

It is my hope that you will find some benefit in this advice, and that it will help you to return to your child the next day in a new state of mind.

I hope my advice can be of some use to you.

I truly hope you can find joy in accompanying your child as they grow up.

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Wyatt Baker Wyatt Baker A total of 3169 people have been helped

Hello, host. I believe I understand the kind of emotion you feel. Many mothers have had a similar experience: working during the day and taking care of the children at night. If you don't get a good night's rest, it might be challenging to be at your best at work the next day.

As those who have been there, we can empathize with your situation. When your child is just a few months old, they can sleep all day with just a little breast milk. As the child grows up, they gradually become more and more active, which means that the time that should be your own time to rest slowly becomes the time to soothe the child to sleep.

In the context of work, a lack of sufficient rest at night, a lack of motivation, occasional criticism from one's supervisor, and the responsibility of caring for children alone can gradually contribute to feelings of frustration and anger.

Let's take a moment to understand what anger is.

Anger is one of the basic human emotions, and it can be characterized by its explosive nature and destructive power.

It is evident that anger is a universal emotion, even in the earliest stages of life. When a baby is forced to adapt to a new environment, they may express their frustration through loud crying.

In psychology, anger is defined as "an unpleasant emotional reaction caused by a perceived injustice or unacceptable frustration."

It is also worth noting that anger can manifest as aggression towards the surrounding environment.

It is also understandable that when anger takes over, people may act in ways that are out of character.

It is therefore understandable that a child may become irritable if they do not go to sleep and then think about being criticised by their boss or leader the next day.

If I may kindly inquire, could you perhaps shed some light on how you manage to control this kind of bad mood?

It might be helpful to remember that everything has two sides, and anger is no exception.

When we gain a clear understanding of ourselves, we can also gain a clear understanding of the nature of anger. If we manage the emotion of anger and harness its positive power, we can turn it into a driving force for changing injustice, rather than a means of not letting go when we are in the right.

Perhaps it would be helpful to consider asking the child's grandmother to take care of the child for a few days.

You might also consider asking your husband to take care of the children for a while, which would give him a chance to experience the challenges of child-rearing.

It is possible to control anger.

Dr. Ronald, an American emotion management expert, has suggested that a storm of anger often lasts no more than 12 seconds. While it may appear to be destructive, it is possible to regain control after this period. By focusing on these 12 seconds, it may be possible to resolve negative emotions.

I believe you can try this method.

It might also be helpful to have a good talk with your partner. You could tell him your thoughts and let him help you analyze the situation. After all, children are the fruit of the happiness of two people, and raising them is a matter for the two of you.

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Mia Sophia Harris Mia Sophia Harris A total of 701 people have been helped

The questioner expressed gratitude for the opportunity to engage in this discourse.

From your description, it is evident that your life is characterized by significant challenges and difficulties. In addition to your professional responsibilities, you are tasked with the care of your infant, which undoubtedly contributes to your perception of a lack of personal time.

If the child does not rest when it is necessary for the mother to do so, it is unlikely that the mother will be able to rest. I am also a mother of a child, and my child is just one year old, so I am able to empathise with the situation.

It is recommended that you embrace yourself.

As the child matures, they will begin to develop a sense of independence and a desire to explore and experiment with new experiences. Given that children lack the capacity to regulate their emotions effectively, they will often display distress when confronted with challenges. Additionally, given the typical necessity of engaging in paid work, children may seek increased physical affection, attention, and time with their parents upon their return from school.

As a mother, one is typically engaged in paid employment, the care of children in the hours following work, and domestic and external responsibilities. It is therefore unsurprising that exhaustion and a lack of emotional stability are common experiences. These are a consequence of the fact that mothers are human beings with their own emotions, needs for rest and relaxation, and desire for personal time and space.

If one is engaged in activities throughout the day and lacks the opportunity to attend to one's inner and outer selves, emotional distress is likely to ensue. This may manifest as feelings of irritation, which may then manifest as anger towards one's child, who may also become distressed. Additionally, feelings of self-blame may arise, perpetuating a cycle of powerlessness.

It is recommended that the individual in question prioritize self-care before considering the needs of the child. Despite being a mother, it is important to recognize the importance of maintaining one's own identity as an individual.

It is imperative to prioritize self-care before becoming a parent. If one fails to attend to their physical and mental well-being, attempting to care for a child will inevitably lead to feelings of resentment and the formation of expectations towards the child.

"I am already experiencing fatigue, and I am still responsible for your care. Why don't you adhere to my instructions?" It is therefore essential to prioritize self-care.

In the event that one requires a respite, it is advisable to inform the child that one is experiencing fatigue and therefore unable to engage in play at the moment. Instead, it may be suggested that the child plays with their toys independently for a period of time.

"Consistency in the expression of emotions is also something that children can understand. Furthermore, it is beneficial to set aside a brief period each day for relaxation and self-care. This time should be dedicated solely to oneself and one's inner child, who also requires nurturing and attention."

In the event of an inability to control one's temper with one's child, it is important not to engage in self-blame. Such self-blame can have a detrimental effect on one's emotional state and overall well-being.

Affirm to yourself, "I permit myself to be unable to perform this task at the present time, and I am confident that I will continue to improve." Once you have regained your composure, engage in a process of introspection to identify the underlying psychological needs that drive your emotions. Then, acknowledge your emotions, address your inner self's needs, and learn to regulate your emotions in a manner that prevents them from influencing your actions.

It is important to explain to your child the reasons for your emotional outbursts, to apologize when necessary, and to demonstrate vulnerability when appropriate. Despite these actions, your child will still love you. Additionally, once you have managed your emotions, your child will also learn from you how to recognize, perceive, and manage emotions.

It is important to acknowledge and celebrate your own achievements and growth. I wish you the best in your endeavors!

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Daniel Martinez Daniel Martinez A total of 3486 people have been helped

Dear questioner,

Good evening!

I'm Kelly.

I thought about my experience raising my child independently.

I can give you some personal experience for your reference.

[My 15-month-old baby]

The nanny takes care of the child during work hours, but I take care of him after work.

The poster has good ideas about raising a child. She has a nanny take care of her baby after work and takes care of her baby herself after work. This is hard, and she also works.

A 15-month-old is fun and different from a baby who eats, sleeps, and stays put.

Read Developmental Psychology.

Erikson's eight stages of life

Eric Erikson was an American psychoanalyst and one of the most renowned theorists of modern times.

Erikson was born in France to Danish parents and trained under Freud. He moved to the United States in 1933.

They explore new things at different stages.

Your baby is 15 months old.

Early Childhood (18 months to 3 years):

The main task is to act independently and doubt shyness.

My child has emotions too, but I can't always be calm. I feel annoyed and powerless. Today at noon, my child didn't sleep. I have to work in the afternoon, so I'm annoyed.

This is also in line with what you said about children starting to have their own emotions and thoughts.

The questioner can allow themselves to have emotions and adjust slowly. If the husband has time, he can also help.

1: Take care of yourself. If you have a nanny, trust her.

Take a day off when you can, and talk to your husband about how he can help with your child.

3: Parenting has good and bad times.

4: Your child is growing and learning from you.

5: If your child doesn't want to go to bed, don't worry. It won't affect them.

6: Kids can be different when their mom goes to work.

7: Sometimes change your approach (pay more attention to your child).

8. Avoid getting stressed and try to relax. Children can feel stressed too.

9: Get a good night's sleep so your child will sleep well too.

10: Love yourself so you can love your family better. Set aside some time for yourself each week (for example, reading, watching cartoons, keeping a diary).

If you have questions, we can talk.

Good luck.

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Octavius Harris Octavius Harris A total of 4481 people have been helped

Hello.

Your profile picture is of a child. I'm guessing it's your baby.

Your choice of avatar clearly demonstrates the innocence and simplicity in your heart.

The title of the question is: The older the child, the more irritable the mother becomes. It is concise and to the point.

I also want to talk to the original poster about how the sentence structure "the more (A), the more (B)" affects the parent-child relationship.

This part, located in position A, takes on responsibility. It creates a process of increasing pressure on B.

Children are just children. They don't have any responsibilities.

The way she expresses herself is also likely a reflection of her fatigue. This may be related to a recent increase in feelings of powerlessness and lack of rest.

Mothers are right to feel distressed when faced with their children's vulnerability and crying. It is only natural to feel annoyed and powerless in such situations.

It seems that the two-pronged path of either complying with the child's attachment or avoiding it is unwilling to make a choice, as there are clear disadvantages to both.

This hinders both the child's development and the mother's ability to work more relaxed.

When we spend time with our children, we give them our full attention and respect. We look into their eyes and mirror their smiles.

When we need to do something, we negotiate with our baby using our eyes and gestures, seriously but playfully. Our children feel cared for and treated as equals.

The new era woman who is busy with work does not need to be perfect in everything. She needs to rely on and be supported.

To be able to handle your child's emotions, you must face your own anxieties head on.

When we feel the optimism and warmth nourished by love, our children will naturally feel comfortable too, and their negative emotions will decrease.

Each stage of growth is new.

The child is growing up every day, and we are also growing—we can be as innovative as the child!

Trust yourself. Trust your child. Trust the relationship.

Trust yourself. Trust your child. Trust the relationship.

Love yourself!

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Comments

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Price Davis Life is a song of hope, sing it loud.

I understand how challenging it can be. It's tough when kids have their own emotions and we try our best to manage everything. Not getting enough rest can really affect your mood, especially with work pressures added on. Hang in there, it's a phase that will pass as he grows.

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Justin Thomas Teachers are the wind beneath the wings of students' academic pursuits.

Raising a child alone is such hard work, and it seems like you're doing an amazing job despite the struggles. It's okay to feel annoyed sometimes; parenting isn't easy. Maybe finding a moment for yourself could help recharge before facing the challenges again. Remember, it's alright to not be perfect all the time.

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Pablo Thomas The beauty of time is that it gives us a chance to change.

It sounds like you're juggling so much right now. It's completely normal to feel powerless at times like these. Your efforts are immense, and acknowledging your feelings is important. Perhaps talking to other parents or seeking support might offer some relief. You're doing your best in tough circumstances.

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Greg Davis The more diverse one's knowledge, the more they can be a torchbearer in the pursuit of wisdom.

Balancing work and singlehandedly raising a child is incredibly demanding. Feeling annoyed is a natural response to lack of sleep and mounting pressures. It's essential to find moments where you can breathe and decompress. Seeking occasional help might also ease the load. You're not alone in this journey.

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Noah Davis Teachers are the pillars that uphold the edifice of education.

Parenting can bring out a range of emotions, especially when you're managing everything solo. It's understandable that you feel frustrated when things don't go as planned. Try to be gentle with yourself; every day brings new opportunities to connect with your child. Finding small ways to cope can make a big difference.

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