to ask what you do when you need a break from your kids, but cant get one

[wontletmesignin]

I am having such a hard time at the moment.
Bare in mind, i am usually ok to handle all of this. There is just a lot going on in my life atm.

I have 4 kids between 3 and 10. I have no way of getting a break.
I have a short time while my youngest is at nursery, but it takes me ages to get home. By the time i have had a cuppa and squared up,its time to head back to get him again.

By this point, he is tired but refuses point blank to have a nap, and so becomes a little more whingy and demanding.

After this battle - it is then time for the school run. Which LO decides to go as slow as poss, which results in me pulling him along which pulls my back.

By the time we get there, his tiredness gets the better of him. Collect child 1 and when waiting for child 2, LO decides its time to kick off and lay on the floor refusing to move. Picking him up pulls my back further and then i have to keep hold of him while waiting for child 3.

Cries all the way home, and deliberately ignores. Demanding that i get off him and things so he can run off. Which sends me in a panic.

By the time we get home i am stressed to bits.

I am fed up of being stressed when i finally have all my kids back home.
I want to be happy and calm for them coming home.

I feel a break is what i need, but i have no idea how to get one!
So i wondered if any of you had any tips? On a break or just handling the stress better.

I have even thought of anti ds as im really struggling atm

[MrsAragon]

lie up on the top bunk with your book, they never find you there :)

[BeaWheesht]

woodrunner now see that would and did work with ds but dd (3) doesn't watch TV for longer than a few minutes. It drives me demented.

[msvenus]

Just read that you are getting a buggy. I was going to suggest this one as I got it for home time and its brilliant for day trips & v light.


www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product/partNumber/9104213/c_1/1|category_root|Baby+and+Nursery|33005732/c_2/2|33005732|Travel|33008428/c_3/3|cat_33008428|Pushchairs|33012089.htm

[msvenus]

Contact homestart as they provide practical support for families & lone parents. You might get a volunteer round to play with your ds while you can switch off.

www.home-start.org.uk/findsupport/

mobile.gingerbread.org.uk/default.aspx#bmb=1

[MrsMook]

I often carry my toddler in a sling or carier and find it easier oan my joints than levering him out in front in the pushchair, as his weight is snuggled up on my back. Admittedly he's quite light for his age and much lighter than his baby bump was! He prefers it to the buggy as he gets a better view in a "piggyback".

Another vote for doing something else between drop iff and pick-up.
I could afford the wraparound care, so use 12 of his hours on two full days. I would have found 5 mornings very restrictive around DS2's needs and more stress than it was worth, plus DS1 would be shattered every day and spend two hours napping when we get home so nothing like food shopping would ever happen! I saw no benefit to an extra half day.

[Jemimapuddlemuck]

The sure start centre near me does take a break sessions where they run a free crèche and parents can sit down and read a magazine, go online etc. TBH I find all sessions there, eg stay and play, are great because although it isn't a break as such, the staff are lovely about chatting to you, watching DCs while you nip to the loo etc.

Is there a cafe near nursery where you could plonk yourself down in between drop off and pick up, rather than trek home for your cuppa?

[wontletmesignin]

Thank you all
Im feeling a lil more refreshed today.

Thank you mouldingsunbeams!

My LO likes a bit of horrid henry from time to time. Youtube is great For this.
Sometimes i will get a half hour from that.
Other times, he is so clingy there is no hope.

He is a big 3 year old, and im only tiny. Hes got no hope of getting on my back lol.

I think a buggy could possibly solve a lot of problems here.
He has done fantastic to walk as much as he has, bless him.
Im quite frustrated at the fact i have fought against it. I kind of felt like i was going backwards if you know what i mean.

I wont be so panicky near the roads, i wont worry about him running off, i wont have to keep tight hold of him during his moments thinking its fun to run off and have me chase him.

Without all of that (and thats not all of it), surely then, i will be able to function on a more level head by the time we get in. So the kids wont need to deal with stresshead mam.

I will see how i get on with things with a buggy. I honestly think it will solve it. If not, then i will look into further support/help.

It is only until september. By then, i will be lost and wish he was still playing havoc with me ha. You cant win

[blahe]

He might fall asleep on the way home from nursery which may help his grumpiness.

[Perspective21]

Just reading this and so much good advice for you. Regards getting him in the buggy again, when I've had big toddlers that I just want to jump in so I could push them somewhere quickly, I've had special buggy snacks to keep them occupied. I know you shouldn't reward with food but I always saw it as a snack they'd be having at home, but they had it on the move! I used to get very cheap containers from B and M and pound places and you can fill with: currants, cut up grapes, cup up apple, tiny sandwiches, lower calorie crisps like hula hoops and French fries. Plus a drink in an easy flip lid type cup. Keeps them so busy (especially if you've not given a snack before you set off!) I could walk to school, wait in playground and walk home again with cheerful toddler. I also had a cloth bag rigged up on buggy and if toddle spotted an interesting branch, leaf or pine cone it went in the bag for exploring later at home. The advantage of this is they are busy looking for interesting stuff and so distracted and occupied.

When you get home, toddler can inspect his treasures, you have cuppa, older children get a snack before tea making begins. When my littlest was this age, I would do a hearty meal for lunch (simple though) and then if not in mood for tea after buggy picnic, they could just eat a little tea to fill up the gap.

I take my hat off to you, you are doing so well. I have 3 and a DP so to be doing it all without support makes you an impressive person.

You just sound v v tired x

[wontletmesignin]

I really like that idea of an exploring bag. It saves my pockets! He filled them with leaves one day and when i emptied them on the table when we got home there was a huge spider in!! Im terrified of spiders, so that was the last time my pockets were used.

Thanx for the tips. The snacks are also a good idea.

I am so very tired. I have slept since 8pm til 10pm im having a cuppa and then going to bed. So much on my plate at the minute.
I cant even remember how it feels to be awake awake!

[MyNameIsKenAdams]

Just to add - as a lone parent, around 70% of your childcare costs would be paid by the govt.

[WeddingComingUp]

Mine are 5 and 3.

If I need a break, I give them a 'treat' night. They are allowed to go into mine and dh's room with a hot chocolate, biscuits and a DVD.

They love this and means they are more than happy to go to 'bed' at 6.30. They are then usually asleep by 8.30 and I carry them into their own beds.

This is usually reserved for the odd Saturday night when we fancy a film and takeaway in peace

I have given them a treat night mid-week a couple of times though if I've had an awful day in work and just need a bit of space.

[Graceparkhill]

I just wanted to say how much I admire you OP . You have a lot on your plate but your love for your children and your optimism shines through.
It sounds to me that you are building a close family unit and will be supportive of each other . Things will get easier as they get older.
Only thing I can suggest is to foster the idea of team spirit and helping each other out. Even the wee ones could do something I am sure.

[Alanna1]

TV.

[randomAXEofkindness]

Mine are 1, 3 and 5. I was going to suggest the pushchair, but you've already sorted it. I understand why you might have felt like it was a backwards step, but I wouldn't see it that way. I just think it's sensible to have a pushchair for any small kid who still naps.

I'm sure you'll both be a lot happier on the school run when it comes. And of course, if he does nap, it'll have a knock on effect on his behavior for the rest of the day and he might not be as wired. You're almost there with bedtime, having a regular nap might just do the trick.

Also, agree with the tele idea. I haven't had any time alone away from mine since I was in hospital having the third a year and a half ago, I don't feel in the least bit guilty for putting sesame street (or tmnt ) on youtube a few times a day and hiding in the dining room with a four mugs cup of coffee while I read about what actual grown ups think on mn. I would go insane otherwise, I'm certain.

[Slatecross]

Sounds like you're getting on top of things, OP! Well done you! Some things that have changed my life are Resourceful Cook! You just pick a meal plan, and then click on the supermarket where you shop, it adds the ingredients and you just get it delivered or click and collect! for us that's meant that every night for a week I've been on top of what's for tea! I got a slow cooker (£15 tesco) and I shove everything in at lunchtime and it's all ready for teatime, so about 15 mins prep all in. That leaves the remaining time for me to put my feet up!

I'm also a fan of flylady.com. In my version I give myself 4 minutes to attach each room so it looks half decent. So long as the hall, lounge and kitchen surfaces are straight, I can relax. A good squirt of bleach down the lav and I'm done!

re the buggy, they are a Good Thing and aren't just about transportation, they're about control and lugging shopping too, so don't for a second think you've gone backwards!

Good luck!

[Slatecross]

Would a buggy board help for the older ones?

re childcare, sometimes (and I don't know the criteria) HVs can refer so that children get more than the 15 hours, which might enable you to have a couple of full days. I think it's worth asking. x x

[BratinghamPalace]

Buggy, buggy, buggy. Will stop you worrying and struggling. Changed my life with number three when I went back to it. A web site called imagination tree is FAB. Great ideas for young ones that are cheep and keeps that absorbed for ages. Baths durning the day. With mine she picks the book, we cuddle in bed, read the book then nod off, often together. Good luck.

[TempusFuckit]

I hope your buggy works the magic you and everyone else thinks it will - sounds promising.

My suggestions would be a strap to pull a scooter along on days when he wants to use that (they double up as across the back scooter carriers) and also the crèche at your local pool, if it has one.

[fanjobiscuits]

Is there somewhere near nursery you can have a solitary coffee/walk or whatever gives you a break, rather than losing that time to the commute home?

[wontletmesignin]

Thank you all for your great suggestions, tips and kind words

At the minute i cant even get home. My mam is ill so ive been having to go to parents house everyday. After school drop off and sometimes after school pick up.

The past few days my house has been quite neglected and so that is depressing me everytime i finally do get through the door. I manage to do a few dishes and have a little square up. But i am so mentally and physically exhausted by that point, i cant be bothered.

Im at my parents right now. Wishing id clicked to have thr buggy delivered herem i hope to god if it has been its been delivered to a neighbour and not sent to the post office.

That resourcelful cook sounds good and also flylady. Ill check them out when i get home.

Ignore my typos please.

I am so shattered today and i had a really good sleep. Although, 2 youngest mustve started messing about at half 4 this morn. Had to keep telling them to go back to sleep.

I think i just need a time out at the minute.
There is no hope for one at the minute though, and i think knowing that makes it that little bit worse.

[wontletmesignin]

Got the buggy and the handles have snapped. Oh my fucking god!!

[TakeYourPick]

Oh OP, that is rubbish. Do you have surestart in your area. Could you see your HV about getting some help? I'm a LP and I think I'd go quietly insane without regular breaks which I thankfully get due to my parents. Take it Dad isn't around to help?