Laura Anderson has confessed she's battling through a challenging phase of parenting as her 18-month-old daughter Bonnie has started hitting, biting, and scratching - leaving the reality TV star utterly frazzled.
In a heart-to-heart Instagram post, the 36-year-old ex-Love Island contestant shared a relatable parenting moment.
Sitting with Bonnie on her lap, Laura softly asked her daughter to greet the camera: "Say good morning," to which Bonnie responded with a swipe of her hand that Laura gently blocked.
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The reality star asked Bonnie firmly: "Right, do we hit?" to which her daughter replied "no.
"No. Do you want to say sorry?" she prompted, guiding Bonnie on using "gentle hands."
At first, Bonnie refused a cuddle but later snuggled into her mum's arms and whispered "sorry.", reports the Mirror.
Although the exchange concluded on a positive note, Laura shared in the caption that parenting at this stage is seriously testing her patience. "The hitting, biting, scratching is off the charts atm. My patience has gone," she confessed bluntly.
"Any tips welcome. We have a naughty step which I swear she enjoys. I really hope she grows out of this because I have scratches on my face that are ruining my day."
Laura asked her followers for parenting advice to help her tackle Bonnie's current phase, joking that the "naughty step" doesn't seem to be working as her daughter appears to enjoy the time out. Laura welcomed her daughter Bonnie in September 2023, following a rocky relationship with actor Gary Lucy.
Despite a brief attempt to rekindle their romance, it eventually ended for good, leaving Laura to largely raise Bonnie on her own. The former couple have publicly traded barbs about Gary's involvement in his daughter's life.
More recently, Laura has found new love with Scottish footballer Clark Robertson, but dealing with parenthood under the public gaze hasn't been a walk in the park.
She's often the target of online trolls, particularly those who engage in 'mum shaming. ' In March, Laura admitted she was reduced to tears after receiving a cruel message criticising her for having a day out while Bonnie stayed with her grandmother.
Not long after, she faced further criticism for taking Bonnie to watch Clark play for Dundee FC. Earlier this year, she stirred up even more controversy by allowing her toddler to roam around in a first-class cabin during a flight.
Despite the constant scrutiny, Laura continues to candidly share both the joys and challenges of parenting.
