There are about 20,000 things about motherhood that I didn’t expect. But this, this is the big one.

My daughter beats me up. And no, we’re not locked in some kind of abusive, Jerry-Springer-worthy toxic relationship.

It’s just that my daughter is 15-months-old, and making me cry.

She pulls my hair. She tries to yank out my earrings, she scratches my face, she bites me. And she kicks me. Oh, how she kicks me in the tummy when I’m changing her.

Before you call someone, no, I know that my daughter isn’t doing any of this out of malice, or because she hates me, but I can’t help but be upset by it. I just can’t.

Because I want to love and cuddle her, and sometimes, she’ll let me. But often, just when I think we’re having a moment, she’ll bite me on the shoulder. Hard.

I’ve tried talking sternly to her, but she just smiles. If she kicks me, I put her in a time-out in the cot, but she still does it again.

My mum told me that every time she does something negative, I should just put her down and walk away, so she doesn’t get more attention from it, but that rarely seems to work either.

The thing is, when it happens it’s really, really hard for me to not feel negatively about her. I don’t know how to stop this phase (it’s been going on for about a month) affecting our bonding.

Even when she’s my beautiful little bub, who I love more than anything, I don’t LIKE her when she hurts me, and I don’t know what to do.

So, what should I do? Has anyone else been through this?

In the parenting stakes, most of us feel we could do better at some stage. BUT our best is good enough, and you should give yourself a break…

It's okay if you miss a day of bathing the kids.

You aren't the first to give in to a tantrum.

Losing the plot in the car.

Missing your child's performance.

You don't have to do homework.

Sometimes feeling hurried and harassed is part of being a parent.

You may not be Donna Hay. That's okay.

Get the kids to bed as early as practical.

Yelling and swearing may not be ideal but it's not a crime.

Some days you will lose it over something petty.

You can argue, even within earshot of the kids.

Badly dressed kids don't make unhappy kids.

Want more? Try:

Don’t judge me, but… I’m furious with my friend for giving my child one of these.

Don’t judge me, but… I wish I were a single mum.