to have a wibble about being left alone with 3 kids 4 yrs and under

[Babieseverywhere]

I am talking about our beloved and wanted children...DD 4 yrs, DS 2yrs and newborn DD2.

Tomorrow DH is back to work for the first time since DD2 arrived and I am started to worry about what I am going to do on my own, with all three children !

Just to add I'm ill with a cold and still on painkillers from the birth. DD1 really wants to go back to nursery, she is bored at home and playing with her brother. DS and DD2 have my cold and are very whingy and non sleepy respectively. Argghhh it is going to be a fun week :)

Tell me I am being daft. I was fine with one baby, then happily upgraded to two kids two years and under. Surely moving to three kids four years and under is a similar leap of responsibility and fun

Maybe I need a secret stash of chocolate, tissues, cold meds, plenty of gin water to keep me going and permanent CBeebies on the box. I have a feeling that I will be very happy when school reopens next week

you'll be fine. Bribe em with sweets, let the tv babysit and make sure there's lots of paints and stuff.

They're only kids, how much trouble can they cause you?

• Famous Last Words -

They're only kids, how much trouble can they cause you?
LOL :)

Yes, I have plenty of snacks, a garden ready to run around in with raincoats at the ready if needed.

I'm planning a walk to the nearest park (assuming my hips allow me to get the double buggy out of the house and down 12 steps to the pavement.)

If I feel the need to murder talk strongly to any of them, I have a nearby SAHM friend whom I can invite over for cake and tea. :)

DH better come home on time tomorrow.

aah cake.

There is no problem that cannot be solved by cake.

I don't know but will hold your hand...am in the same situation with DS (4), DD (2) and newborn DS2 who just wants to feed all day long. DS needs to go to school.

Two at a time seems fine. I had all three for a bit earlier and just kind of stared at them in horror.

I'm not even sure I like small children

Oh and I'm working on the theory that I dreaded being on my own with DS, then that seemed easy when DD came alone...so I will adapt to that won't I?

Should not have watched outnumbered the other night...

Wibble away - it's only natural.

You will cope. From all accounts three is quite different to two (according to my friends who have more than two) and takes a while to get used to BUT you will be fine!

It's just what we mums do :)

Well, I think we are doing alright.

All 3 kids and me are up, fed, washed and dressed. Which would of been achievement enough for approaching lunch time with my precious first born only ! Oldest two playing nicely in the back garden.

Dishwasher loaded, laundry sorted including cloth nappies and second load on. Living room, bathroom, our room and kitchen tidied (except hoovering) Leaving the children's room until tomorrow. Our bed stripped and remade.

Right, need to rustle up lunch which will be something really exciting like a cheese sandwich.

I need to get the food shopping done. But car has no brakes (!) and I am only taking three kids on the bus for food shopping if it is essential.

My mum has rung and invited herself over to to check how we are going. I gratefully accepted, it will be lovely to see my parents. :)

Off to make lunch, take painkillers and take the kids to the park this afternoon. It is such a lovely sunny day and that makes everything so much easier somehow:)

and you thought you wouldnt cope! It sounds like you are doing amazingly, i feel exausted just reading what you have done today.

LOL, it is only day one and I suspect getting everyone out and up by 8.30am next week will be a whole new kettle of fish (which I refuse to think about today) :)

Oh, we had chocolate as a mid morning snack (nawtee mummy) which boosted everyones energy levels,

Well done you!

I had 3 under 3.5 (when DD was born DS2 was 20 months and DS1 was 3yrs 4 months). I can remember having similar wibbles myself.

They are now 4, 6 and nearly 8 so they must have survived even when I had huge wibbles.

Years ago I had DD2 4, DD3 2.5, DS1 13 months and DS2 newborn.
DD1 was 8.5.
Routine was my favourite word when trying to get the two eldest to school but didn't always work. The number of times my newborn would have his 1st bottle of the day in the playground and would still be in his pyjamas under his snowsuit.13 mth old would be eating his toast for breakfast in the double buggy. My friends reckoned I was like a swan. All calm on the surface with legs going like hell underneath. Nearly 6 yrs on and life is alot calmer and the children all survived so I must have done something right!
Good luck and if all else fails it doesn't hurt to put telly on just while you have a cup of tea in peace.

I think you are doing amazingly well. Even MN into the bargain

Online shopping is the way forward too! Taking 3 children to the supermarket would be one of my ideas of hell!

You will cope dont worry about it....Just try and keep the older ones occupied while you feed baby etc. Play doh, colouring a film etc all do the trick. :)

Routine and mini goals kept me sane. Always showered and dressed, sometimes having had a coffee/toast cereal, before DH had left for work.

You'll be fine.

I am in the same situation - DS4, DS just turned 2 and 8 week old DS. Is your eldest going to school in sept? The only way I can see myself coping is getting up with DH at 6.30 (he leaves at 7.30) so he can tend to any awake DSs while I get dressed, then I pretty much have an hour to feed and dress 3 DSs including one non stop breastfeeder Sorry this isn't real advice!

Glad to see other people with me (or more !) little ones and coping well (or seeming to)

I guess I am concerned as routines and me don't mix well, especially when newborn is breastfed on request and DH is out of the house at 6am so I have the joy of the morning stuff all on my own. I am a do what is most needed at that moment and the rest will wait :)

That said happy to let my standards slide further and see nothing wrong with children eating on the move or going out in onesies etc. So maybe I can do this.

Though the oldest two have vacanted the living room as I finished my lunch whilst MNing and are being very quiet as I speak. Signing off and going in search of the mischief....I suspect it will involve strawberries from the fridge, LOL.

You've lept the biggest hurdle happy to let my standards slide further and see nothing wrong with children eating on the move or going out in onesies

You will be just fine :)

Silence is scary.... was it the strawberries??

Well, I survived the first week (four days) lets see how next week with the school runs goes :)

i've been wibbling in advance of having 3 under 3's and no childcare/nursery/school to send any of them to. and having to prepare a meal for all of us for when hubby gets home from work.

t.v and cake it is then and definately internet food shopping - i can't see how i can drag 3 of them round the supermarket - can you fit 3 in a trolley with a week's worth of food? maybe ds1 and ds2 in the trolley and newborn in a sling? there's no way i'm letting ds1 loose round the supermarket on foot. or maybe escaping to the 24/7 supermarket alone when the kids are in bed?!

i too am in the same boat, i have dd (4) ds (18months) and dd (6 months)!
my dd is starting school on mon and my phil and teds has just broken! am not looking forward to the school run!