CM Club: struggling to handle my 4 year old DS when minding!

[NumberFour]

Help! DS goes to preschool 5 mornings a week. I collect him at 11.30, then it is lunch and a bit of a tidy in the kitchen then I put two toddlers to bed - nappy change before hand, bottle for one of them, maybe have to put up 2 travel cots if I had not had chance to do so in the morning.

DS wants my attention all the time. Well, 90% of the time and I am turning into a real dragon with him. He might play pc games but then wants to me to help him or wants me to play football or play fight.

I am at my wits end because there is always something to do and even if I do play with him for 30 min, it does not seem to be enough for him.

How does everyone else handle their own DC while minding? It was easier when he was younger.

help....... and

This is going to be a really crap answer I'm afraid but been there done that..............ROLL ON FULL TIME SCHOOL!!!! is all I can say, sorry

Sadly, I have to agree with LT! Now dd is at school full time, my job of minding has become SOOOOOOOOO much easier!! Sorry!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!

I have even considered asking my DH to come home for 30 min each lunch time because he works very close to home but of course he cannot do that. He does not know from one day to the next if he will be at the office or out on a job.

DS used to watch two movies in a row and I used to feel guilty but at least I got things done. Now I yell and screech at him, still feel guilty and get bugger all done!!!!!

What kind of things do you need to get done? Any way you could involve him to "help you"?
Any time your DH could come home would be a help, even if it wasn't everyday.

It's hard isn't it. I always found that my own DD was the one that was hard work, whereas looking after other peoples children, generally, was easier!

Could you try and explain to him that you really want to sit down with him for half an hour every day when the littles ones are in bed, but for you to be able to do that then he has to occupy himself while you tidy up. I know you probably have, but sometimes trying to sit down and explain things to them helps them understand a bit better. Or get him a special colouring or sticking book etc that is only used for that time when you need to tidy etc.

I do feel for you as I remember very well what it was like. DD is still a bit like it when she gets home from school but not nearly as bad, thank good!

It's the pits isn't it. I must say things got a lot better when ds1 went to school full time BUT I now have a whole new load of guilt......that he gets NO time with me after school now as we get back near 4ish, get everyone's coats and shoes off, check nappies, do snacks, b/f ds2 then start making dinner, then sort washing hands, sit them down for dinner and then when they leave at 6pm, I've got to clear stuff away and get ds2 ready for bed then dh gets ds1 ready for bed. I want to make it up at weekends but instead end up working on paperwork, housework, everything that's NOT spending time with me kids!

I really do believe my kids would get more quality time if I had another full time job and they were with a childminder!!! BUT, there are many bonuses to being a childminder and we just have to remind ourselves that our kids DO get a lot from us doing this job!! xx

Thanks for the support! I was so close to tears earlier, hating myself for getting so cross with him.

Going to dash off for a bit to do a few things. will reply more later