Sensory struggles with a space invading toddler.
Hi Everyone. 31f here, diagnosed after having my 18Mo girl. Becoming a mom has been honestly the most exhausting experience. I thought the baby phase was tough but managed it with the help of noise cancelling, unscented everything and as much routine as my kid would allow. I could put her down somewhere safe and break off for a few minutes without notice.
Now I have a clingy toddler who is super attached. Everything points to this being a good thing and obviously normal. But geez, I can barely breathe sometimes. From 7am to 7pm, Im sat on, weighed down. Anything I eat and drink is inspected by curious grabby hands. Squealing and crying that makes my teeth itch. Im followed to the toilet and she even tries to sit on my feet when I cook. 'Mama, mama, mama.... hiya!'. The less said about the smells or the gummy kisses the better.
I know this is all normal and my bub is the sweetest, funniest kid. I just miss being able to retreat into myself and my interests. Not having to mask my boredom of toddler activities. Biting back a meltdown when getting licked and instead forcing calm, bland responses. Honestly this is by far the hardest thing in an already hard to navigate world.
If anybody has stories of their own. Struggling with motherhood or toddlers in particular, I hear you and relate so bad. Or people with stories of silver linings or when it got better for them, I'd love to hear that too.