To not want to look after 6 kids for two weeks

[washyourface]

Ugh venting. I'm a walkover.

DH has two (lovely) DDs who were moved overseas by their mum years ago. Therefore we only see them during holidays. I have one DS.

Next week the two DDs are coming over and Dh has decided, with the girls, that it would be fantastic to have DNiece, DNeohew and other DNiece at the same time.

O-my-fucking-G. I'm not sure I'll cope. For two fucking weeks!!!!

Of course Disney dad agreed to it because he feels so much guilt for not being able to see his girls more frequently and they wanted to see their cousins.

Wahhhhh

So I will have
15yo boy
13yo DSD
9yo DSD
14yo DNephew
12yo DNiece
5yo DNiece

Please send wine.

In DHs defence he works very short days 10am-1pm so he will help with the breakfast duties etc. And be back earlyish to keep them entertained

But I'm so used to having just one child in the house (a quiet teenager) that having all these kids makes me so anxious.

And there are so bloody many of them I can't fit them in a car to take them out and keep them busy!!

Please, coping strategies from those with many kids?

DH grew up as one of 7 siblings so this is his normal and totally dismisses my concerns.

Tbf they are all nice kids but just soooo looooud. And hungry. So so hungry. All the time.

Hellllppppp

Do you absolutely have to have the 5yo? She is not going to fit in with the activities and will make it much harder, even if lovely. Plus I do think two weeks is a really long time for her to be away from her usual set-up. The others will more or less entertain themselves if you provide food, tv, Xbox...

"the youngest is his sister's husbands daughter from a previous relationship"

This poor child is too young to be staying for 2 weeks. She'll be up crying during the night looking fur her parents. I'm amazed her parents are letting her go.

Congrats on the job! I bet he'll scale it back massively once the reality dawns.

@TwoPupsandaHamster*

That has been my life for the past 28 years (foster carer of different ages children). Your DH finishes work at lunchtime. Give the kids plenty to do in the morning, including chores....then when DH gets home have lunch altogether. Clear dishes and kitchen between you all and go out for the afternoon. Take a picnic

Some key differences between you and the OP

1. Being a foster carer in a job, for which you get paid. Admittedly not enough, but it’s still paid.
2. You Chose to do this job.
3. You enjoy having lots of children around.

This isn’t the Ops job, she didn’t choose it and she doesn’t expect to enjoy it. And now she is living with someone who sulks when she points out that her opinions matter too.

When are you going to tell him about work?!

The parents of the other children must be rubbing their hands together with glee; two weeks during the holidays with free 24/7 childcare, food, drink and entertainment for their kids!

I can’t imagine my kids would’ve been happy to go for two weeks at 5 and I’m fact I don’t think my almost 9 year old would either.

However your dh is there most of the time and the kids are mostly old enough to not need constantly entertained.

This isn’t the Ops job, she didn’t choose it and she doesn’t expect to enjoy it. And now she is living with someone who sulks when she points out that her opinions matter too

OP is free to make her feelings known. If OP really doesn't want to take responsibly for 6 kids she needs to stand up to her DP. Like all adults we either deal with it or challenge it.

I have two stepsons and my DH used to just inform me when His DS's we're coming up even though I was going to be doing the majority of looking after them and often invited his younger brother who is the same age as his eldest as well as his nephew up at the same time (he works much more then 4 hours a day as well!) and we have two very young children together.
He doesn't do this now but it took an extreme to fix it.
We do a lot of beach days and huge picnics that can do a meal and several snacks, lots of trips to the park, visits to family or friends with similarly ages kids.
And lots of crafty days. We also do nerf gun battles in the garden, they help me with the garden and we make a new small flower party every summer that the help plan and plant.
We walk up the hill near our house and build forts in the woods.
Plan a couple of big family days with DH for the time they are up too.
Always make sure you have a few chill days though as you will all need that.
Then make sure DH buys you a week long spa break for a thank you for allowing and enabling This fortnight to happen afterwards.

Your husband is an inconsiderate arsewipe OP.