i will be at capacity...i think i'll be fine but how do you all cope?

[5uperduper]

For the first time since I started childminding I will have ...2 x 13months old children plus my own 2 year old son from 8 - 6 every day. I also do before and after school drop offs and pick up. This means that maximum I will have On Thursdays 3 littlies all day, 2 x 5 yr olds after school, 2 x 9 year olds, 1 x 7 year old plus my other 2 children.

Have I lost my marbles or will it be fine. I reasoned with myself that during the day will be good because they are all boys and will amuse each other and grow up to be friends. Do any of you have this many children. How do you do it, do you have any tips on how to keep it all together. Im actually seriously considering getting a cleaner as I dont know if I'll have time to do it justice.

The only other problem being...what if I ever need an appointment..I've got no free time, do parents sometimes let you take their kids with you for short appointments. E.g..I have a consultation booked in May that would only tsake about 20 mins. Or is that out of order?

That's a lot of children! I also seem to have my best and most fun days when I'm bursting at the seams, I find that the kids tend to be so busy with eachother that they don't care what I'm doing, a lot of the time when I've just got two all they want to do is climb up my leg!

Personally though, I do not do school pick ups as I think it's too disruptive to the babies (and I find it too stressful) so all of my after-schoolers are dropped off here.