To wonder does 3 children get better?

[Bedroomdilemma]

I feel like I just want to run away to be honest, I’m not cut out for this. 7, 3 and 4 months. No special needs, all adorable in their own ways but oldest 2 can be difficult. I just need to plough on but I want to run away! Only an option open to men!

I now have 4 under 5 but I struggled when it was 3. I found going from 2-3 the hardest. The first year was a sleep deprived blur that nearly sent me mad and I did contemplate doing a runner many times. Everything turned a corner when DC 3 turned 1. Hang on in there OP.

My friend has 11 children. She always told me that going from 2-3 was the hardest transition she did. Out of all of them. She says you've only got 2 hands. Two knees. But it doesn't get easier. When they go to school etc xx

Oh. And the bedroom.

My mantra is. They won't be sharing our bed when they are teenagers! I don't mind. But my dh loves our bed. He hates all the moving. We are lucky in that we have 2 spare rooms. So we just move to one of those. It doesn't last forever

Place marking with sympathy!

Ours are 1, 3 and nearly 5 and it feels like every day is some bizarre assault course with people yelling at you constantly and throwing obstacles in your way. The house is a tip as the 1 yo yanks off the cupboard locks and then pours packets of rice, pasta and oats into the drawers with glee. Then he climbs on the dining table while I try and get dinner and knocks everything on the floor. I actually found the baby stage a walk in the park in comparison - sorry, not what you want to hear!

I find our middle child the most difficult too - I think they struggle to find their place.

I started back at work a month ago (but 70% with part time home working too). It’s doable but it means getting everything ready the night before, which means that I rarely have any time for myself.

We’ve started booking a babysitter for 3 hours every Sunday morning so DH and I can go out for brunch together. We can’t even have a conversation otherwise as there’s always a kid crying, fighting or needing a snack / plaster / bottom cleaned / whatever.

It’s mental. But I love all of them to death. Especially when they’re all sleeping.

Ours are 1, 3 and nearly 5 and it feels like every day is some bizarre assault course with people yelling at you constantly and throwing obstacles in your way. Yes!!!!

It does get easier but then it gets hard again later (IMO). Mine are almost 14, almost 16 and 18, and a couple of weeks ago I was also wishing I could take a train somewhere far away and forever!

It’s the fact that they are all cynical, sometimes surly and rude teenagers at the same time, and the two youngest are very needy in different ways. And I am on my own, so no one who loves them equally to let off steam with.

Gosh, thanks so much for all your stories. It helps to know that I’m not the only one who has two who fight like cat and dog, or a middle child who’s difficult because he’s struggling to find his place, and a lovely baby who gets up to no mischief yet (I know it’ll be different in a years time) but causes the sleep deprivation which makes the whole thing just that more difficult to deal with! I was feeling like a totally useless and incompetent mother so it helps to know that it’s not a piece of cake.

Ours are 12, 10 and 8..... our 10 year old is severely disabled and 12 year old has ASD and even with that things have got easier by far! The older two can make their own breakfast and lunch. Dress and somewhat wash themselves! We dont really have squabbling in our house! They get on really well!

@chloechloe I too love the sleeping cherubs
Glad we aren't the only ones who struggle to speak to each other

I only have 2 (2.5, 1.5) and DH and I actually feel like you all do with 3! I don't know if we've got especially hard children or we're just rubbish parents!

We always thought we'd have 3 but to be honest we've said no now because we struggle as it is. If we struggle this much with 2 I can't imagine how hard it must be with 3