Is this "normal" or have I "spoiled" my children

[Bathsheba]

Quick summary - FT SAHM to 3 DDs - 1 is 8 on Thursday, one is 5, one has just turned 2 a couple of weeks ago.

Elder 2 are at school.

Came home from school pick up - girls got changed, homework done all together at the dining room table (so lots of attention and working together. DD1's friend came round and they alternated playing outside and inside. DD3 was having a quiet time watching some TV and DD2 was "pottering".

I had an online job application to do. I asked them to leave me alone in the kitchen (where the PC is) for a little while (no point specifying half an hour as the younger 2 have no idea of how long that is).

I ended the half hour job application process in tears. NO-ONE could leave me alone at all for a second.

They had a huge potential to entertain themselves and each other. They were appropriately fed and watered. They were dressed appropriately.

I was pestered for

• the contents of yesterday's party bag
• food
• snacks
• drinks
• the toilet (by someone perfectly able to take themselves)

DD1 wouldn;t let DD2 do things.

DD1's friend wanted paper to draw on

DD3 wanted to meow like a cat at me

DD2 asked 4 times where her dinner was.

EACH AND EVERY time I said "Please do not disturb me, I AM BUSY".

In the end I was screaming "get out" at them

I would LOVE to think this is because I am such a great Mummy that they "need" me and want to spend time with me, and want to share their minor thoughts with me because I've taught them to be great communicators...

But just once in a blue moon I want them to leave me alone to do half an hours work (I do voluntary work as well that requires a fair bit of IT admin and I need to make a huge song and dance to get anything done, waiting till DH is in, and then ensuring that he knows I am WORKING and that HE needs to be IN CHARGE at that time instead of this constant stream on little people saying "mummmmmmeeeee"...

Tell me my children are normal and not badly behaved and spoiled and bratty....

Normal.

I think saying you wanted time alone is what did it. I can often 'sneak' half an hour of MN time while they're amusing themselves, especially after tea! But if I said it. Even now I can hear some shrieks of pain coming from an upside down tent...but hey ho, they'll deal with it!

Mine are exactly the same. Last time we had a snow day I told them I needed 10 minutes to do one v important work thing then I was all theirs all day (which seldom happens). They pestered me constantly over random rubbish, I ended up bellowing at them to leave me alone, morning ruined. I generally find it's better to wait til they're engaged in something then quietly sneak away but that's a long way from foolproof

Don't wadte your precious evening ironing!

Ironing is a waste of time. No one notices anyway.

And your girls sound normal. If I had told 8yr old DS to leave me in peace for a while he would have, but he is not normal.

Well, I am going to come over like a right harridan here, but...yes I think the older ones should know that you mean business and let you do your work for half an hour.
I would have made it very clear what I needed, and if I didn't get some peace I would be removing toys/ putting in Time Out.
You can't really expect it with the 2 year old though.

Ironed clothes are the sign of a wasted life!

Normal.

I can't make phone calls. Mine are 6 and 5. If I go into another room they follow me, going "mum...mum..."

Your mistake was to ask them to leave you alone. Try sneaking off next time.

I am sorry but I just can't understand why you are all allowing youselves to be held to ransom by children?!
Maybe I am an evil shouty authoritarian barstard, but I wouldnt put up with that!

Normal.

Don't iron.

you should have chucked them in the garden and locked the door.

Why didn't you do job application while the older two were at school though?

I think totally unrealistic to try and do this while they are awake, esp after school, unreasonable to even try!

Sounds normal to me, especially if you let the little blighters know that you need peace/quiet etc to get something done

I learnt this especially quickly with regard to going to the toilet, if I ever made the rookie mistake of saying "Mummy's just going to the loo" at least one of them would rush off to the bathroom saying they were bursting!

Completely normal for the younger two - I expect my twin eight year olds to entertain themselves for up to an hour, in their rooms, when required though.

Never iron, always fold carefully

I'm with carhelp.

Really normal.

Really, don't waste any more life ironing. I do DP a shirt, and DS school uniform, the rest can go hang!

I feel the same and I only have one! I go to work to get my personal stuff done!!

After being shut in with OH, DS and MIL at Christmas I finally escaped for two minutes me time in the loo (don't knock it, I take peace and quite when and where I can get it ). Clonk clonk clonk as DS comes downstairs. Knock knock knock on loo door (which is at bottom of stairs).

Exasperated shout from me: 'Oh FGS, can't I even have FIVE minutes to have a bloomin wee in peace in this place!' Cue MIL's weedy voice 'sorrreeee'! Whoops!

Oops Mycar!

Oh and completely normal Bathsheba! Mine can play perfectly quietly together until THE SECOND I pick up the phone to have a chat to anyone. Then I am the centre of the whole world and need to be bloody mithered to death paid attention to

I think it partly has to do with time of day - I feel that with kids that the time between end of school and bedtime is a write-off in terms of getting any time to self. It is the time where they're tired, hungry, demanding,etc etc and you have to lower any expectations of getting anything done at all.

Same in this house OP, the minute I need peace for 10 minutes all hell breaks loose (and that's just two - I couldn't manage 3).

I am also in the non-ironing crew. I don't even iron uniform as I have perfected the art of hanging them to dry in such a way that they are perfectly crease-free without ironing. Ironing would be pointless anyway as they would be a state by the time they walk through the school gates in the morning anyway.

Totall normal I'm afraid. I'm definitely at my most interesting when I'm a) on the laptop b) having a lie in c) reading the newspaper etc. Also, DS(8) always seems to need the toilet when I'm in the shower [sceptical] although I am getting more strict about not letting him in. Unfortunatly I can't lock the bathroom door as I have epilepsy so there is a risk that I could have a seizure and be trapped in there.

Another non-ironer, tumble dry with dryer balls and hang straight up, also only but clothes made of cotton jersey, denim, fleece or that contain lycra.
The kids are normal, mine (20 and 2) don't let me have a wee in peace even, although it did take the biscuit when the cat started wailing at the bathroom door because he had an urgent need to drink out of the toilet, minger.

You're all total sluts not to iron

I wish I didn't but am compelled to do so. I love everything ironed, must be passed down from my mum. I stop short of sheets though these days but I actually iron my sons boxers!

FT SAHM to 3 DDs

you have 16 other hours in a day to do a job application. If you want quiet time, do then the older two are at school and the younger one is napping.

Bloody ridiculous to have a hissy and demand quiet time straight after school and before teatime.