How do you stop from going nuts?

[sorkycake]

It's the one reservation Dh & I have about HE. My mum thinks it maybe the sticking point even though they've offered to help out in any way they can.
I love my kids of course, but the next 15 years at home with little break....
How do you all do it? When do you get a break? Or does it all change when you're all together and become satisfyingly Walton-ish?
Don't get me wrong I hate the thought of school and we will almost certainly be withdrawing my daughter at Christmas to HE, but I'm thinking ahead and trying to put plans together for space for all of us....please tell me it's all Waltonly...sob

maybe you won't need so much of a break as you think you will? Some of the stress of life with young ones is RELATED to school anyway isn't it - getting bags ready, washed/dressed etc etc etc..you won't have that so your days will be more relaxed at least!

If you have your mum willing to help out, maybe she could 'do' one or two mornings a week with your dd, depending on how much time she wants to give. Your dd can do different things with her, and learn different things.....this regular few hours may be enough to keep you going?

I don't home ed but am very interested in it and have a very inspiring friend who has just started home edding her DD...what they do in a day just sounds so lovely, and the fact that she is able to build the learning so exactly to her dd is great.

Don't look at it too far ahead, either - just take it a day a time rather than thinking "Gah! 15 years!"

Everything's scary if thought about in those terms

good luck.

How have you found it during the school holidays so far. Might give you an indication of how you will cope.

mine are younger than yours as I recall but nursery does often seem like a welcome idea. Ds did spend a few mornings in nursery last term (they had those big plastic card...he lobbied...then decided he had "done" nursery) and....no I think for me its harder when they're not in nursery.

Think this is a very realistic fear.

Ok my suggestions

1. be realistic with yourself about how much time you'll need to yourself. And enforce, if need be. Take the kids to a soft play session when you need time alone to drink coffee and read, say. Its perfectly legitimate to do this, IMO.

1. I am looking seriously into finding a good childminder or even just a responsible student to take my kids for a few hours a week. I have no family nearby and I do need an abolute break occasionally.

Ooh thanks everyone!
I agree with the 15 years ahead thing, perhaps I'm talking myself into an unnecessary panic
I hadn't thought of Mister Twisters etc tbh, useful if I was about to use the BIG voice at them heehee!
My mum misses them because she moved about 1hour away, but I would imagine that they would take them for the afternoon out somewhere, before she started schol they did this as a once a week thing.
The 6 weeks weren't as bad as I thought as well now that I think about it, they had their moments but don't they all?
I'm due in Feb so that may test the boats rockiness, and my son is due to attend the local Nursery in September which may change things slightly (it's a good place - one of the reasons I'm so dissppointed with school, having seen what is acheivable for state school).
I'm sourcing local peer groups atm, will try Rainbows on Friday, anyone been?

My husbands biggest concern when I considered HE was,
"How are you and dd going to cope being together all day long?"

I have a 7 yr old and a 3 yr old so the little one goes to pre-school 2 mornings. This gives me quality time with the eldest and we can do some more 'formal' stuff.

When the two of them are together playing, which they do really well now, I have time to myself.
They help with the boring chores of washing, ironing, shopping, tidying and today we did lots of digging in the garden. So they are not quite as boring any more!!
My 7 yr old knows how to work the washing machine and the oven and make a cup of tea. We cook and bake together too.

We go to HE groups where they can run off and play or paint and draw and I get a chance to chat to other HE mums.

If it's a nice day we go to the park and usually have it to ourselves.

We go to museums, exhibitions, the library anywhere in fact when it is not over run like it is at weekends and holidays!!

I go to salsa one night a week and yoga another and dh babysits!

My neighbours children are both in school and she doesn't work, so to be honest I wonder how she doesn't go nuts!!!

Now we are not stressing about getting out of the door in the morning with bookbags, uniform, packed lunch etc, I don't have to shout quite so much, my dds and I have time to chat about whatever interests them and although we are not the Waltons we are generally a much happier family.

(Dungarees and plaid shirts mmm..... make note to put that on xmas list)