My 2-year-old is super clingy and i’m losing my mind

My toddler won’t let me out of her sight for a second. I can’t breathe without her needing to be on my lap, holding me, or crying. Any other parents dealing with this?

Is anyone else dealing with an extremely clingy toddler? My daughter just turned two, and lately it feels like she has physically fused with me. She won’t go to her dad, won’t play alone, won’t even let me walk across the room without following me, pulling at my clothes, and crying if I don’t immediately pick her up.

She needs to be on my lap all the time. If I move—even just to get water—she’s right behind me, tugging at my arm or whining until I sit back down and hold her. At night we co-sleep (not by choice at this point), and she literally pulls my arms around her to be held exactly how she wants. If I try to get out of bed after she falls asleep, she either wakes up instantly or I’m so exhausted I end up passing out next to her.

The worst part is that I used to be able to leave the house for a little bit and she’d be totally fine staying with her dad. But now he’s living somewhere else temporarily because of work, so I haven’t had a real break in weeks. I keep telling myself I’ll get some time for myself in the evenings, but that never happens. By the time she’s finally asleep, I’m too tired to do anything but collapse.

I’m absolutely drained. I love her more than anything, but I just need a little space to be. I miss having even ten minutes to myself. Honestly, this has given me so much respect for single moms. I truly don’t know how you do it without going completely insane.

Is this level of clinginess normal? Does it pass? Please tell me there’s light at the end of the tunnel.