How do i divide my time between 3 boys?

[workingonitagain]

I know a lot of you have a lot more dc than that but i seem to struggle finding the balance. I have 5,3,1 yr old boys. The 5 yo goes to school now and 3 yr old goes to preschool 2 days a week. My main problem is still the middle dc whose behaviour seems to be getting worse. I don't know if it is a boys traits but they permanently want to be sitting/cuddled by me when we are at home.I find physically overwhelming.Everyone seems to be jealous of the other. When my eldest gets home he understandably wants to sit with me for a bit but then my little one climbs on me and of course my middle one who definitely struggles to be the middle one jumps in and the chaos/fight begins. They are all well adjusted sociable kids outside the house but when we are in is a struggle. Any tips/advice

Where's your dp in this?

You sound like a single parent.

Can you try giving them 5 minutes each. Get a timer and tell the older two that you're going to spend 5 minutes with each of them and the other isn't allowed to interrupt.

Put the little one in his cot with whatever might keep him distracted for 10 minutes and spend 5 minutes with each child. It doesn't have to be any kind of directed activity. Just listening, cuddling, whatever, then suggest they go and play with lego/watch telly etc while you spend 5 mins with the next one. Make sure you spend 5 mins with the baby too, so the older two know the rule is for everyone.

It might take a bit to get going, but you should be able to extend the time to 10 mins or more each.

Thanks deankoontz great idea just bought one of these www.amazon.co.uk/Learning-Resources-LER-6900-Tracker/dp/B0007DHU0S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422823870&sr=8-1&keywords=Kids+timer and already tried it with and ds2 had no problem waiting 5 min. Then put it on for the older one and he waited through nicely too. Will see how it works during the week when it's just me and them thanks again

That timer looks great! Good luck with it.

It isn't just boys! I have 2 boys and a girl, 6, 5 and 3 (girl in the middle) and they are like this too. The second I sit on the sofa they descend on me. I usually try to just get comfy with all of them, but do get a bit touched out at times. I aim to spend 15 minutes with each of them individually at bedtime, when we talk and cuddle, etc.

I'm thinking this too with my two girls and boy (4,2.5&1)

I'm jealous of your cuddly children. DC1 will happily still cuddle for ages but is getting too big to sit on me! DC2 can't cuddle for more than 15seconds we've timed her DC3 will only cuddle on her terms, she kisses us rather than vice versa and DC4 is under 2 so small enough for snuggly cuddles but developing independent toddler 'put me down'ness...

I want a new cuddly baby!

Haha i know it doesn't sound very child friendly trying to get out of the cuddles but when all 3 literally sits on you as if you were a sofa it just seems too much but what bothers me more is that there are always 2 left unhappy that moment and that then defeats the purpose of having a nice quiet cuddle with mummy as the other 2 cries and fight. Happy times