Oh, I could have written your post (in fact I may have) when DD was 8 months old...the only thing that saved my sanity was going home to my parents for a week and SERIOUSLY sleeping. I mean, I only had the baby for feeds, and everything else was done for me.

YES gentle parenting works better with help...in fact ALL parenting works better with help.

You sound isolated and overwhelmed, and frankly very darn lucid for someone so fatigued.

Is is possible to keep some of your philosophies about GP, while still getting support? Can you call on relatives for a "holiday" wiuth only one child, or for some meals, or some cleaning duties.

It is very hard to ask for help, but even harder to cope without it. Where are you based? Could some local BBers come and give you a hand.

You're not alone in this.

Let go of the guilt (some advice I need to take). This too shall pass, and right now you sound like you're in survival mode...do whatever it takes to get you through!!

thinking of you