Survival tips anyone?!?!?

[MorocconOil]

DP has gone away for a whole week for work. I am left with 3 DC 7,5 and 2. I am sure it will be fine but has anyone got some ideas of how to make life easy?

[mumblechum]

Feed em sausage rolls, fish and chips and pizza on alternative nights.

Put them in front of nice violent film.

Drug liberally.

Works for me.

[mumblechum]

Sorry.

I used to love it when dh went away for a week, it was one less person to look after.

[KaySamuels]

Do quick easy teas, go to bed early (will need your energy and kids can't try it on, getting out of bed etc if you are in bed ), just try to plan ahead I guess and be as laid back as possible - don't try to do everything you and your dp would do.

Go to blockbuster and rent some dvds!

[GameGirly]

Make sure you have plenty of wine in the house.

[tinymum]

LOL mumblechum!

[GameGirly]

For you, not the DCs, of course (thought I ought to clarify that one ).

[Bouquetsofdynomite]

Let them take turns to share your bed each night.
The night before he comes home let them stay up late so they know they have ot go to bed early the day he comes home.

[Smurfs]

Let them eat what they want...well within reason to avoid food battles which are so draining...

Early bath and bed as you will be shattered and patience wears thin towards the end of day with me when DH is away.

Only do the essentials at home...bugger spring cleaning now is not the time, bleach down the loo and a tidy kitchen is the maximum you should be expected to do.

Large cake or bar of chocolate and a comfy sofa to be eaten each evening.

get the children to make something for your DH's return...picture, buns or cake...we like cake in the Smurf household so that they can get excited and you can palm them off to DH upon him crossing the threshold

[MorocconOil]

Yes there should be less mess without Dh around.

I have just been shopping and bought loads of treats they don't usually have so hopefully they will be stunned into silence by my generosity! I was restrained with the wine as I can't cope with hangovers.

Will try not to resort to using medised unless desperate!!

Sorry Kerrymum, didn't mean to offend anybody, just wondered if anyone had any tips to offer as it's the longest I have been on my own with all 3.

[MorocconOil]

I think we'll go to soft play one day after school and we can have our tea there- one day less cooking and clearing up. We spend alot of time in the park anyway but could spend even more there- weather permitting.

[Trinityrhino]

smurfs, don't make the poor woman eat a comfy sofa every night, she'll get terrible indigestion

[Smurfs]

Trinityrhino - oops, good point....need some fresh air I think brain is scrambled with school appeal details....some gardening with the children should sort me out

[happypiglet]

I have just come out of this position (although I have 2 DSs 3 and 20m and a 7m bump). Here are some things to avoid:-
Day 1 6pm- DS2 pushes cooked minced beef in his ear- we end up in A&E for 3 hours.....
Day 3- DS2 dials 999 by accident and all hell breaks loose..... (guess which DS is the trouble maker)
Day 4 DS1 breaks down in an emotional state as he wants his daddy NOW and it takes me 3 hours to get him to bed...
The day before he returns DH breaks finger in some freak accident stateside (I mean my god you expect work trips to be safe he is only a banker after all hardly high risk)....
He returns and spends the first morning back at A&E and is then less than all use for the rest of the weekend.... hence unable to palm DC on to him as soon as he walks through the door.
Then he is up today at 4.10am to fly to Zurich...
To be honest its sometimes easier when he is not here.!!!
Other than that concur wholeheartedly with the rest of the advice provided!!!!!!@@*

[MorocconOil]

Your experience Happy will stop me from drinking too much vino!

So far so good. We spent a happy hour in the park after school. Only a couple of accidentally banged heads! I let them choose their tea and they requested egg and soldiers and beans on toast. That was easy enough and a relief that they didn't ask for lobster thermidor.

They are now watching CBBC and playing with a large cardboard box.

I am feeling well in control, calm and collected!! Still early days though.