How will I cope when dh goes back to work? Dc3 only two weeks old!

[buffythebarbieslayer]

Just had dc3, she's gorgeous and two weeks old.

The others are 8 and 4 and we've had a lovely two weeks whilst dh off on paternity leave. He's been getting up, doing school runs, cooking etc.

He's back to work Monday and I'm dreading how I will cope. Getting out for school run, dealing with after school, evening meal, homework etc

Any tips from seasoned mum's?

Don't bother getting the baby 'dressed'. Make sure she's had a feed and remember to take her with you but apart from that carry on as normal and be glad you don't have a two year old to contend with.

Is your four year old starting school in September or already there? Well done you for nice sensible age gaps. You'll be fine.

Thanks Smiley. Yes dd starts school August, so for nowhave afternoon nursery run as well.

Yes two year olds and school runs can = hell!

This thread was started ages ago but is very good for tips in general, I got loads of ideas from it on how to make life easier in general.

When DC3 was born I kept him in his baby grow for the school run, I also did (and still do) at lot of meals that involve me putting the slow cooker on after lunch (nap time) and just doing a re heat of ready made fresh mash or cooking some rice or pasta or doing jacket potatoes. That leaves time for homework.

Do you have your shopping delivered? I do Ocardo mainly because they so very rarely substitute anything and they do the massive boxes of nappies and quite often have offers on their baby stuff.

I also have to have one of those calendars with 5 columns so everyone can see what is going on, if you have DC's at two different schools you end up having to remember 2 lots of inset days and early finishes at the end of term.

The other thing I did was have enough uniform so that it didn't matter if I couldn't get the washing machine on until the weekend, I'd get a weeks worth of uniform ready on a Saturday/Sunday evening, doing it all the night before is ok, but the less you have to do for the next day the better imo as there will be days you might need so tired that you'll want to go to bed as soon as the DC's are asleep. I also train them up as early as possible to find their own uniform from the wardrobe and get dressed.

How's it going, Buffy?

When my ds3 was under six months he stayed in his babygo all the time! no need to dress a tiny baby unless you ant to.

hope it is going well op?

Had a tough day. She was more unsettled, wanting to feed all the time.

Had a stressful nursery run, she doesn't like the pram and screamed all the way there. Had to carry her home. Should of used sling.

Feel guilty about my older dd, teary and tired.

Oh well dh home in an hour and tomorrow is another day

You know it'll get better. You're both just finding your feet..she'll come to learn that it's part of her routine and will learn to fit in.

Not long till half term xx

Thanks Misfitless

Currently in bed trying to feed her to sleep, she's been really unsettled

Might be a growth spurt or wind. Or a bit of a cold, my eldest has one and she sounds a bit snuffly.

I've snapped at my middle dc needlessly today and just feel like a bad mum. I hope tomorrow is easier.

Better day today. Baby much more settled. Managed a cuppa at a friend's. Used sling for school runs but hope she gets used to pram as well.

Still feel guilty about lack of time for others but hopeful that will ease.

It all gets so much easier as they get even a few weeks older. SO glad you had a better day today. Try and remember that you have given your older two a baby to play with, I have found that now ds2 can sit up and laugh, the older two are just so enchanted with him it feels like I have given them the best present in the world. Like a super-pet!

Reading your posts brings it all back, Buffy.
I too am was a snappy mum. We're all human, don't be too hard on yourself.

Hope that tomorrow is an even better day x

@ super-pet, Humphrey!!

Granny managed to get her to sleep in the pram while I took middle one to her practice school lunch (starts school after summer hols). It was nice to have half an hour with my middle one, she's definitely had a bit of a reaction and is playing up a bit.

Now sitting with a cuppa and hoping baby sleeps for a while longer. Peace before the carnage of after school and evening. With no real down time to look forward to as baby needs settling.

But she is gorgeous and I know we are blessed to have another so don't want to wish it away too much. This is our last.