LMS please don't be purposely mean to your DD. and don't blame raging hormones for your behavior. Once you have the next baby will your excuse be that you are tired or sleep deprived and what happens if neither of them are doing what you want them to do?

Imagine yourself as your DD for a moment. Her Mum, the most important person in her world, and who she loves and displays affection to in every way that a toddler can, is mean to her and knows that she is being mean and still does it. How does it feel? Now as LMS think about how you feel when people are mean to you, and then remember that you are an adult and can walk away from situations that you don't like, your DD can't do that.

Maybe it would be useful for you to chat to someone about your relationship with DD and the change in dynamic that will happen when DS arrives... Marymead offers a great program for parents itch young kids and there is a special one for preparing the family for a new baby. Here is the link http://www.marymead.org.au/programs/...y-life-matters
WTF?!?! Seriously?!?!

Forgive me if I fail to see anywhere in her posting where LMS said she was being 'purposefully mean' to her DD. She is frazzled and stressed out, and very pregnant and hormonal. She came on here to vent and for support, not for judgemental people to look down their noses at her and tell her that she isn't a very good parent!

I will be the first one to tell you that I don't always agree with LMS (I have told her on a number of occaision already, I'm sure!) but she LOVES her DD and is doing a great job at being a parent to her. Her DD is at a stage where she is very full on and inquisitive. I'm not sure if you have ever had a child that can get into anything and everything and insists on testing all the boundaries. I have! It is hard and extremely stressfull! Add to that being heavily pregnant! I think it is amazing that she is coping at all! I certainly haven't at all times, particularly whilst pregnant with the next.

I kind of get the feeling sometimes that it is the person typing who attracts this kind of judgmental nonsense, where if anyone else posted the same thing (myself for instance) they would just get support and condolences. None of us are perfect parents, we are all just doing our best. And we all loose our cool at times. And our kids all find our buttons to push.

LMS - I STILL have these issues with my two boys. I still have to check that there has been nothing stuck in the bottom of the heater everytime before I turn it on. I still go in to find new 'artworks' on walls, beds, people. I still find cups of water tipped into toyboxes, bookshelves, beds, etc. I still occaisionally find Bazza up on the kitchen bench, although he KNOWS full well that that is not on in this house. Unfortunately, some kids are full on. My boys are, even with constant supervision and attention (and lets face it who can be there all the time). Cut yourself a break. You are doing a great job with your DD. She is just a headstrong little girl. So don't let petty people making keyhole judgements get under your skin. You don't need their validation. And you don't need their approval for your parenting choices either.