3 boys aged 12, 10 and 7- help please!!!

[Myeaglewings]

Hi tips please for managing my boys when I'm on my own with them. Lots of yelling, fighting etc. What I have found is 1) life is always always better outside and 2) these days I just stay in sportswear all day! I would really appreciate any other tips please as I don't know anyone else with 3 boys and imagine it's quite a specific dynamic..... thankyou!!

It's hard. I'm not sure if it's the gender/sex of the children or the number! I hit rock bottom during lockdown and now I am much stricter. If they physically fight both children will have a consequence. I tend to leave them to it if it isn't physical and not get into silly arguments with them.

I try and get them out everyday and not allow them to spend all day on screens. They moan about leaving the house but are usually fine once we are out.

Hard to do but I'm also trying to have some one to one time with them more regularly.

Thankyou @chillandrelax

Helloooo I have 3 boys the same ages as yours. Would you like to share my medicinal ?

I have always found the same as you - keep them outside as much as possible and keep them moving. We have a couple of dogs too which makes it easier as that provides a lot of the impetus for getting them out. We walk miles. I should be thin but I’m not. They still love climbing trees and messing about in streams etc so that’s good. Football is also popular so they’ll play that for a while.

There is still a lot of fighting tbh but unless they’re actually hurting each other I tend to ignore. It’s often one of them winding the other up and then it degenerates into them rolling around on the floor.

Routine helps plus healthy food with as little sugar / rubbish as possible. My youngest is very affected by additives, the older ones not so much.

Lots of sleep! Mine are still sent to be early as I’ve had enough by 8pm and they’re early birds so I need a break from them.

Home ed was easier than I expected - we stuck to school hours and they weren’t allowed screens until they’d done what they were meant to do. Mine are very very much creatures of habit and if I’d allowed Minecraft at different times that’s all they’d have gone on about.

My 12 year old has the biggest deepest voice and I’m forever telling him to be quiet. Some UTTER BASTARD has just taught the 7 year old to armpit fart which is now does all the buggering time.

It’s hard work!