STILL can't get anything done.

obremski27

My DS is now 19 months I have ALWAYS had such a hard time with him not letting me get anything done. After he throws a fit and I explain to him that mommy needs to do the dishes and I will play with you as soon as I'm done, he stops crying but will still hang all over me, climb up on my feet, stick his head in between my legs, I mean really won't just stay off of me. It drives me to the point of insanity. I feel like I have tried everything with him. We have bought him so many toys trying to get him to just play by himself for more than a minute. The kid is not interested in anything but being with me 24/7.  And really just won't play with anything unless I'm right there playing with him. Is this normal? 

Kb103109

One of my girls is like this and always has been.  She is just attached to me all day everyday.  Lately I have just been getting up earlier to get stuff cleaned up and DH empties dish washer in the morning so I can just throw stuff in there during the day.  I also try to get my girls to help me do things like cleaning up toys and if I vacuum I let them help me push it for some of the time and they love.  I would say that it is normal what your lo is doing, and maybe just try to get him to help so he learns to not be all over you.

kellydw

DD is the same way, when I need to get things done she helps. I got her a little cleaning set - broom, dust pan/brush and mini vacuum. We do wash together she loves watching it fill up, we fold clothes together, we do dishes, and she is an excellent duster. Make it into a game, we sing the barney clean up song or I put on the radio. If not my house would look like a bomb went off and we would be naked.

SusieBW

I agree with PPs - put him to work!  DD loves to help with everything. 

Even if you don't give him real chores to do, just having him feel like he's helping will probably work - when I needed to clean the tub the other night before her bath, I handed her a dry baby washcloth and asked her to dust the bathroom door.  She happily obliged and when she finished, I had her move on to dusting the door of the linen closet.  Then she went and dusted the lid of the toilet.  Last night, she helped me put the clothes in the dryer - I do most of them, but I hand her single socks or something for her to put in, and then she feels like she's helping.

melissa0726

Agree with PPs, DD "helps" me with all chores.  While I fold the laundry, she sorts socks.  While I dust or wipe the floor, I hand her a baby wipe to follow along.  When I sweep or vacuum, I give her a broom.  She loves doing chores!  I think the key is that she doesn't have regular access to play with these things (i.e. brooms, wipes), the way she does with her toys.  So getting out cleaning supplies is fun and exciting!

cbmp06

Seriously so glad you posted about this. I have to put the tv on and sneak out of the room to go to the bathroom myself. I have been feeling like the worst housewife ever lately because I feel like nothing is getting done - it was easier when DD was little and I could put her in the bouncer but now that she is super mobile - nothing gets done and I have major guilt. I'm not sure my DD would grasp the whole cleaning with me thing yet, but that is definitely something for me to keep in mind as she gets older, and work on with her. Thanks for posting about this!

Jen0204

I agree with everyone else.  When I was getting the laundry together I dumped the hampers on the floor and had the girls help me put the clothes into the laundry bag.  They have their toy vacuum that they love to use and if I give them a rag they'll "dust".  I also try to do as much as I can on the floor - if I have to hang up clothes I dump them all on the floor and grab a bunch of hangers.  The girls will play with the hangers and hand them to me as I need them. 

And honestly, some stuff doesn't get done until they're in bed and we have free time.  I ran the dishwasher one night and it took us 5 days to get to emptying it.  I stay on top of important stuff - like vacuuming since they eat anything they find - but I don't sweat the small stuff.  

BettyBloom

DD used to br the same way. I either open the front door (she LOVES to look outside) or encourage her to go see the cats. It is usually a temporary distraction. Or if I'm cooking I give her a spatula or something she normally doesn't get to play with.

gracefulruby33

I clean when she naps. I vacuum and do other noisy chores when DH is home to entertain her if necessary.

TMI warning: If I need to poop, she might throw a fit for 30 seconds, but then stops and does something else when I'm in the bathroom.

I shower when she eats breakfast.

obremski27

Thank you all! Although I was doing what you have suggested, I realized that I wasn't doing it when it counted. What would have been a major meltdown cleaning up after dinner, because I normally would have just taken him out of his highchair and carried all the dishes and things from the dinning room to the kitchen myself  hoping he would entertain himself while I tried to clean up, I had him help me carry stuff and throw things away, he LOVED it. How easy the night went because of it. Thank you again!

erindawn

My almost 4 year old is like this and always was. He has very little ability to self entertain. I bought him every toy trying to get 5 minutes to myself I totally understand. He was a super high needs person from birth.

Honestly, for us, we've been working with a childrens occupational therapist on his play. It got so bad that our house was not functioning and was/is controlled by his neediness and tantrums. It got so much worse when the second one came that an incident happened that made my husband cry. That's when we added a childrens therapist. Turns out he's got some mild developmental delays and an anxiety disorder.

NOT saying your little guy has either. I'd say just watch it and keep in mind there is help if things get to feeling out of the scope of normal.

My biggest lifesaver and sanity saver has been an in home daycare I can bring one or both to almost anytime I need to. He always seems better after being there and that break rejuvenates me.

LolaBelle11

My DS is very high needs and always wants my attention. What I do in order to take a shower or do the dishes is I set up the pack n play, I put a couple puzzles, some toys and a couple books in there and I give him some puffs or frozen greek yogurt tube and he will allow me to shower and do my hair and then later in the day, do the dishes. This keeps him safe and out from under my feet. Thats the only wayI can get stuff done.