I never thought I would write about this topic, yet here I am. Toddlers, in my opinion, are hard to describe. They are little people, with big emotions and feelings.
Toddlers are hard but don’t get me wrong, they are so fun and lovable! Having Bipolar Disorder and parenting a toddler makes things that much harder. Not only do I have to worry about my well-being, but I also take my medications regularly and stay on track with doctor’s appointments. I have to focus on my own toddler’s emotions and well-being as well. They are not babies anymore. Things are not black and white. There is a grey area in parenting a toddler. Thankfully, at the moment I just have one toddler, a 2-year-old daughter. She is full of happiness, joy, and love, but at the same time has those big emotions that I’ve been talking about. So how exactly do I parent a 2-year-old while dealing with my own stuff (Bipolar 1)?
How Do I Parent a 2-Year-Old?
As I said earlier, there is a grey area in parenting a 2-year-old. What do I mean by that? I mean that there is no “one size fits all” agenda when it comes to parenting a toddler. Every toddler is unique and different in their own way. That being said, my toddler is very expressive, yet calm and shy at the same time. The way I parent is by taking her demeanor and catering my parenting style to it. I also take a gentle, calm approach when disciplining or dealing with a tantrum. The trick is to remain calm. No yelling, screaming, or picking fights with her. I do my best to keep a neutral tone of voice when something like that arises. There is no easy answer when it comes to parenting my toddler. I can only express that by showing love day in and day out to your child makes a world of a difference. Just being there for them when they need you is important. Giving them your undivided attention makes my daughter stay happy and thriving all day. Yes, there are moments when I can’t be there for her, but I am sure to make it up to her later.
Now, how does having Bipolar 1 make things much more difficult? It’s because I can’t always give her my undivided attention even if I want to so badly. Sometimes I don’t have the energy or motivation. All I can do is my best. Even when I am having bad days, I still strive to keep going and do my best for my toddler. Yes, my toddler has big emotions, but so does this mamma. Finding a balance by keeping our emotions intact is a battle. It is possible through perseverance and dedication.
If you or someone you know is battling with their mental health, I encourage you to not give up. In the moment, it is easy to give up, but being there for your child is so important. Showing your love is enough.