How do you survive days at home?

[littleraysofsunshine]

My children are 3.5 and almost two. Usually play nicely but recently they are following me everywhere. I have a 10 week old too.

They don't seem happy unless I'm giving them my attention all the time.

I also need to have my time to have a relax even if five mins and a cuppa (hot cuppa)

I just find my patience very shot and snapping.

I usually do groups twice a week with dd2 Nd newborn and dd1 has nursery usually but it's half term. So it's odd for her too. But I am tearing y hair out because I get mum guilt really bad like I'm not doing enough but I surely deserve to have small amounts of time to myself even if five mins for a wee! Ah!

What do you do? How do you cope? How do your kids cope with days at home?

put the big ones in the bath. Mine used to get lots of daytime baths. with bubbles and toys'

but not funnels. not since DS1 sat on one. never that.

All day at home ?
What about the park or a muddy puddle walk if it's raining

Or will they watch cbeebies so you can have a cuppa ?

Honestly I try not to be at home as much as possible! Which means my house is a pigsty but I prefer that to constantly losing my temper. I go to groups 2 days a week and meet with friends or family on the other days, or we go to the park or the library. Being with friends usually means I get to wee in peace!

We had the intentions of the park today, it's cold but the sun is shining, so I thought they could go in the garden, but no. Crying happened. And you know the days where you feel tired and don't want to leave the house (my motivation obviously isn't present today which is bad I know) ten week old has been feeding lots and it's just a faff getting out the house some days. I should've got them out before now as the damage is done, it's been tearful and hard this morning. It's as if they just hover and won't play unless I am with them.

I've read six books to them which they enjoyed, just now, then I had my cuppa (cold) tea.

If they see me doing something that's not for them, they won't play on their own or together. Or if they do, they'll do something bad to grab my attention. Which I usually behaviour I guess on a level.

I just get terrible mum guilt daily where I can't be a clown 24/7

sounds very normal and wuite likely linked to new baby. I used to spend a whole day resisting doing some bit of junk modelling they wanted to do, when it would have been quicker just to do it.

I had three 4 and under. I had a thing called "quiet time" for an hour after lunch every day. Absolutely compulsory. You had to go to your room and read quietly, or if younger, watch a video, or if very young, sleep. For one hour. No exceptions.

Mummy kept sane by this means for many years. Seriously, an hour watching crap on telly will not rot their minds and it will give you the patience you need.

My 2yo has just been through this. From when DS was about three months old she got horribly jealous and clingy (more so than when he was new). With hindsight it was just as he was starting to demand attention too and get a bit interesting (I also read it takes about three months for little kids to realise that a new baby isn't going away). I did all the usual things - play groups, having friends round, Cbeebies and DVDs of the dreaded Peppa. I still lost my temper a lot as well and got massive guilt about it. The good news is that it's passed now (was two months of hell). What seemed to snap her out of it was a gigantic telling off after a week of complete naughtiness. I guess sometimes kids need to know that you have limits too. Remember you're knackered too and that sleep deprivation is a form of torture. Don't be so hard on yourself and have your warm cuppa resolutely, with the chaos happening around you.

It makes me question myself too if I'm the one who's causing it, but then I need to remember that kids are learning so much everyday so there's going to be days like it full of frustration on both parts. I always think I'm the one they're getting the stroppiest from too. It's just when I'm trying to have five mins (like now) with a hot chic, quick check on mumsnet, I have one wanting a book to be read to her the other clingy on me. Luckily newborn sleeping but due to wake any minute.

Dd1 also has this thing lately where if she wants our attention, or anything she will scream and shout instead of asking nicely. Dd2 keeps screaming and pulling hair and hitting dd1. Anything I ask for them to do, I have to ask about three times as asking them the first time never works and results in shouting.

What a shitty few days. It comes in leaps and bounds. Like every 2/7 days are like this. Or we'll have a horrendous week, then good three weeks. Bizarre

Bump

Can you kick them out into the garden for 30 mins so you can get a bit of peace and quiet? Or as it's half term, hire a friendly teenager who'd like some childcare experience and pocket money to come and play with them for a few hours a day. You might find a teen who could come after school too during term time.

Do you have a HomeStart scheme in your area?

Failing that, I second finding a teenager!