Toddler rejection 😢
My son is nearly two, and I’ve found myself feeling rather saddened by something I’ve noticed recently.
Whenever we’re somewhere with other children, whether it’s the park, a playground, soft play or anywhere similar, he toddles over to them with such enthusiasm, only for them to wander off. I do appreciate that they’re all still very young and that this is simply how toddlers often interact, but it seems to happen so consistently that I can’t help wondering whether he’s beginning to notice.
Perhaps I’m projecting, as I experienced quite a lot of rejection myself as a child, so I’m very conscious that I may be viewing things through that lens. Even so, it’s difficult not to feel rather heartbroken watching it happen time and again.
He’s our first, so he doesn’t have any siblings, and we don’t have any family nearby. I’m a stay at home mum, so he isn’t at nursery either.
Has anyone else experienced something similar? Is this simply a perfectly normal phase at this age, or are there things we could be doing to help him build friendships and confidence with other children?
Problems
I’ve been with my husband for a long time, and lately I’ve been questioning whether what I’m feeling is normal or a sign that something is missing. He’s a wonderful provider and an amazing dad, and we do have genuinely happy moments together. But I often don’t feel emotionally safe, valued, or respected during conflict. I’m usually the one trying to talk things through, while he gets defensive or shifts the blame, and it leaves me feeling unheard. I love our family, which is why this is so confusing. Has anyone else been in a relationship where the good moments are really good, but the hard moments make you question everything? How did you know whether it was something you could work through or something that wasn’t enough anymore?