Predict when my life will be easy!

[rainingkitsandpups]

We have 3 children.

4.5 yr
3 yr
10 months.

We're fire fighting at the moment just a constant stream of bath times, laundry, tidying, cleaning and just mundane crap. Days blend into one and we blink and a month has passed.

it's always time to empty the dishwasher, or hang up washing, or wipe the table... there is always one more thing to do.

I'd love to just sit on the sofa for an hour and watch a film with the kids but the 10m old is too small and goes to bed at the same time as the older ones.

We are tired and grumpy. Knackered. Predict with your crystal balls when we will happy and carefree. Don't say when the youngest is 18

Seriously tho when do you think we will have time to breathe again?

[deliverdaniel]

i have no idea, because I'm in a similar situation (although easier than it was a year ago) so marking my place to hear others' words of wisdom. hang in there. It's hard. It will get easier. xx
{cake}

[deliverdaniel]

oh and obviously couldn't even work out how to do the cake icon! That's how bad it is :-)

[MothersRuinart]

Looking at my friends, seems like when they hit teen years, they need you less constantly and actually don't want to spend every moment with you and you'll have more time for yourself. But that's assuming they don't turn into nightmare teens.

[Mol1628]

I'd say when your youngest gets to about 3 it'll be massively improved. Still hectic but a lot easier than having a young baby.

[dickiedoodah]

We're in up to our eyes also!
4, 2 and 4 months. So much washing, cooking, nappy changing, sleepless nights, just need things to get a little bit easier but think I've got a good eight months before things start to improve!

[doggle]

Mine are 17, 15, 13. We are out every night ferrying anywhere between one and three kids to anywhere between one and four activities. I don't have a single day of the week where nothing happens. Three kids is pretty much always busy, and always expensive. So far, it has not got less busy, or less expensive.
When dd1 goes to university in September, we will probably get a few nights a week that are a bit quieter.
That said, you can make the decision not to send any of them to brownies, cubs, ballet, music lessons, or let them join any sports or school clubs.
I haven't found a cure for the feeding or laundry yet, but they have been able to bathe themselves for some time - that time has been superseded by extra-curriculars though lol, so we haven't actually gained anything.

By about 7 or 8 they can be trusted to get up and put the tv on though, so you no longer have to get up at 6 am every day. Just by around 9 so they don't kill each other for food.

My teens are lovely btw. Just busy.

[KeyserSophie]

When the youngest is 3 or 4 ( depending on maturity). I.e. When they can entertain themselves for a bit without trashing the house or themselves. Mine are 6&4 now and things are pretty calm. If I take them to the park I can easily get a coffee and an hour of ( largely uninterrupted) reading in. Also things like eating out and going on holiday are quite fun again. That said I am very much of the ' I am not the entertainment committee' breed of parent, which helps somewhat.

[WhittlingIhopMonkey]

When the youngest is 4 would be my guess too.

Is there an option to let some of the housework slide? Or put the baby in a playpen for a bit while you sit on the couch watching cartoons with the two oldest?

[heppi]

That said I am very much of the ' I am not the entertainment committee' breed of parent, which helps somewhat.

This is important. Start them early on being able to entertain themselves. My two (8&6) can play together for hours on end with only minimal involvement from me to adjudicate on occasional conflicts , and have done for a few years now. So I think once your youngest is old enough to communicate and play with the older ones, and generally reason with (to a certain extent!) so 3/4?

If you feel able to, ease off on the housework. Also, daily bathtimes are not necessary, unless they're covering themselves in mud every day.

Basically, it'll slowly be getting easier from now on :)

[MichaelJacksonsGlove]

Yes when youngest is around 3-4 years . No nappies, no milk, better sleep, youvcan reason with them and praise good behaviour and expect them to start helping out with putting toys away or wiping the table with a damp cloth.

After that then when they are all in school then, as long as you don't work full time, you should get a bit more chiild free time.

[picklemepopcorn]

Not that long, now. When middle one is full time at school. You'll have one aged two and two at school, it will feel like a doddle in comparison with now.

[PersisFord]

I have twins that are 3.5 and a 20
month old baby. It's been pretty relentless here since the twins were born....but over the last month or so I am starting to see the light. When I take the baby up for a nap I put a film on for the twins and then all 3 of us lie on the sofa and watch it. That's our special time and it's lovely!

[AllTheLight]

I had 3 under 4 too.

I found there was a huge step change for the better when the youngest hit three, and again when he hit five. Now they're 7, 9 and 11 and it's pretty easy really!

[rainingkitsandpups]

Thank you everyone who replied. It actually makes me feel quite calm just reading that there are others out there in the same boat.

So the baby is nearly 1... and then the count down is on until he's 2-3. I know all this. But hearing you all say it has helped so much. Thank you. I feel refreshed ready to carry on!