help, dh has gone abroad for a few days and I now have to face the fact I have three children!

[Enid]

and making dd1 and 2 their breakfast this morning while dd3 (2.5 weeks) screamed her head off was bloody stressful.

Also dd1 and 2 were ultra clingy and demanding (a 6 year old having a tantrum over her socks anyone?).

Can't believe I have four days of this. Hoping to come out of it a stronger and better person

Could you hire a postnatal doula? As you are postnatal?

Or call a local nanny agency, see what they can get you?

I find it hard to manage my two on their own, DH often comes home quite late, and goes on business trips too.

have friend coming round to help tonight

Oh Enid, Don't beat yourself up over it. I'm sure DD1 will have forgotten all about it now but know how horrible you must've felt.
Today is a new day and will be absolutely fine

we did have a cuddle later but I still feel absolytely rotten

its not a regular occurrence Chez Enid

You have my sympathy, my DH is half way through a 4 month overseas tour and to say i am struggling is an understaement, and i just have an 8yr old and a 6yr old, no baby. Good Luck

Enid, I lose it at bath time EVERYTIME and especially did when ds3 was tiny.

Please don't worry about the tidying. Blimey when Ds3 was 2.5 weeks old the only housework I did regulary was washing everything else went totally to pot.

Ohhh, I really do feel for you. It's a nightmare isn't it....almost like being left at home for the first time when you are a new mum of just 1. I remember being totally freaked out by having to look after Ds1 when Dh went back to work.

I know you love to cook but just while your dh is away why not just let the girls have really simple dinners. Boiled egg and soldiers....poached egg on toast? that sort of thing.
And if they normally have a bath every night, forget it and just give them a wash over with a flannel.

I hate to sound patronising but it does get easier and IME it suddenly got easier at around 3-4 weeks. Not because the baby is sleeping more or anything but just because you all used to him/her being there.

Forget the house work and watch trash TV all day and sleep.

aw thanks

I think the thing is I have spent the last two weeks in a lovely bubble with dd3 while dh did everything. So its been a real shock to have to suddenly crash back into real life.

also we are having a stupid dispute with our farmer neighbours and they sent us a really snotty vaguely threatening letter yesterday which has really uspset me hence losing it.

luckily I have frozne lots of nice meals for the dds

Wrap the letter up in one of DD3's dirty nappies and send it back to farmer with note saying "listen bucko....don't mess with me and my hormones!!"

have u a nice mumsnetter nearby that u can ask to come over for a little bit and just hold one o fthe children while u sleep/make tea/tidy whatever u want to do? or anyone who u can drop on in on amnd go "surprise"?!

Enid, I'd be feeling pleased with myself if I'd ONLY lost it with ds1 at bath time...don't feel bad about it, 3 is a lot to juggle especially with a tiny.

Your neighbours are clearly idiots, and should be ignored!

Hope you have a good day, and am very impressed at frozen meals - my kids have been living on fish fingers and pasta.

well i am obsessed with cooking so made tons of stuff before dd3 was born

I have a friend coming round tonight thank god so am aiming to stay calm with dd1 and 2 and read them a story each.

Bathtime, breakfast, dinner, school pick up, drop off, anytime inbetween... I'm very versatile when it comes to losing it with DS1 & 2 :)

I feel SOOOOOOOOOO bad when I lose my temper

its pathetic really as I KNOW it is pretty normal and natural

If you didn't feel bad, that's the time to worry :)

You also need to use up all the stuff in your box of treats and then insist that your DH replenishes it when he returns.

I sympathise I have 3 under 5 youngest just one and when dh does his nights I am a single parent
still b/f dd4 and the stuff the other two get up to when I tke my eye off the ball is unbelievable

bathtime busy feeding and dd3 couldnt wait ran a 1-2cm bath herslf poured half a bottle of bubblebath init and stripped off and paddled !!
her answer was she couldnt wait not much hlp but might make you laugh

I was the same when dh went back to work just after having dd4 was hard with a baby a 2 yr old and a 4yr old
just dont forget the th wine when they are all asleep it helps !

It does get easier Enid. :)

I am the most useless mother going but if I can do it, I'm sure you can. You seem far more capable and organised than I am.

Oh Enid - much sympathy - fwiw, I could not have coped alone with a 2.5 week old baby - and I only have two children. Agree with everyone who's said do the absolute bare minimum - keep them (and you) fed and dressed and get the older ones to where they need to be. Let the rest of it go, it'll keep.

Hi Enid

I have just had this discussion with my DH. I said that I wish when our daughter was born that I could of had some help eg house work or organising the dinner. I can't wait to show him this in the morning. He thinks that there is no mums out there needing an extra pair of hands.

Where are you based?