How do you cope with the chaos of kids playing out? And in, and out and in and out?

[ChocolateCrepe]

My two eldest DC have recently started to socialise independently a lot more - which is great!

However, I’m struggling with the constant in and out, other kids in and out of my house all the time, not knowing who’s going to be around each day, always asking for sleepovers etc

I hate that I can’t just relax in my own home and slob on the couch in my pjs on a Sunday morning because there’s other children around or knocking on and if they’re playing out then I have to leave the door on the latch and they’re in and out in and out, my youngest want to get involved and I have to comfort them when they can’t, the dog barking with all the to-ing and fro-ing and argh 🤯

I’m a bit of an introvert and very much like my own company and my own space and I am finding this phase of parenting very hard
It just feels chaotic all the time

Does anyone else feel like this?

I turn into my own Mum and yell 'you're either in or you're out!!!' Or 'shut the bloody door!!!'

As for the constant stream of kids, I buy cheap crisps and ice poles and let them crack on. If I'm in my pjs, I'm in my pjs. If they're being too loud they get told they're being too loud and generally they respect me. If they don't, they're not allowed back.

Our block of flats seems to have developed an unwritten rule of no calling for others on a Sunday morning. Fine to go out and play and see if anyone come to join you, not fine to ring doorbells.

If it isn't raining or very windy, they stay outdoors.
I expect to be informed if they are leaving the communal garden and going anywhere out of sight of my kitchen window.
If no other time has been agreed, they have to be home at 12 or 6pm.
DH won't allow sleepovers so that's not a topic here.

Same. After the second or 3rd time they are told if they come back in again they are staying in. It drives me mad and living in a main door 4 in a block the slamming isn't fair on the other 3 neighbours either. You don't have to let other dc in if you don't want to. Tell your dc not on a Sunday for example

When my kids were at that stage they had to stay out and weren't allowed in each other's houses. That was the same for everyone playing out which made sense as I knew the other kids better than the adults in other people's houses.

I miss those days, one day you’ll wish for those times back.Passes too quick ☹️