Boy oh boy

[goodnightspaceman]

I really wonder how other Mums do it. I work 4 days a week and today was my day off with the kids. We had a lovely day until 3:00pm hit and BOOM! The DC were fighting, jumping off of things, throwing things, hitting things off the wall and glass doors and just being totally nuts!

I know that doesn't seem too unusual but here is where I need help...I had absolutely no control over them and they wouldn't listen to a word I said which resulted in me having a total tantrum I just feel like this happens every week and all I ever get from their grandparents/nursery is that they have been "perfect" or "no problem"... I always try to be calm and come down to their level, use distraction and so on but nothing seems to work and I'm fed up feeling like a shit Mum

Any advice?

How old are they?

I've been a FT working Mum, part time working Mum and SAHM.

Part time was the most difficult!!!

I’m afraid I have the same problem so I’m just here for some words of wisdom!

I just had to do bedtime on my own for the first time with my 3.5 yo, 2yo and 3 week old and It Was Not Pretty. The older two were both racing around, jumping off the bed and generally out of control and I totally lost it with them. I hate myself for it but when their boisterousness nearly leads to the baby getting Kung Foo kicked in the head whilst I’m trying to feed him, I see red.

I think it’s par for the course for them to test boundaries though with their parents rather than GPs or child minders.

They are 4 and 2 @Dinosaursdontgrowontrees

@chloechloe oh my goodness, you must be so tired with 3 of them I can't even imagine! That's exactly how I felt yesterday, I just ended up totally losing the plot which meant that they just started kicking off even more...then when they are asleep I went over and over how I could have handled things differently

Just some random thoughts - not saying you have done anything wrong, just some things that may help. Does the 2yo still have a nap? If so was this before for after his nap?

Does this type of behaviour always happen at hte same sort of time? If so I would try and have a quiet time after lunch for both of them - stories, game etc It sounds as though they perhaps got a bit over excited through being tired.

Were they playing on their own when this kicked off - perhaps they need a bit more supervision when playing together.

If it does happen, then divide and rule! Remove the younger one (I am assuming that he would be the easiest to pick up), and then give them specific things to do - eg older one could start clearing up. A couple of minutes apart should help calm them down, and then step in with a specific activity for them to do.

And we've all lost it at times - sometimes it even works! Don't be too hard on yourself.

Spaceman The fact you’re replaying it and trying to do better next time shows what a great Mum you are. Don’t be too hard on yourself!

Those are some really good tips seeline! My too older ones generally play quite nicely together so then I use the opportunity to “just” load the dishwasher and tidy up and get dinner ready and and and.... Invariably they then start fighting over a piece of lego or invent some dare devil game that threatens an A&E trip. If I sat down with them more it would likely be easier to intervene before things escalate.

My kids behave much better for their grandparents too, and reserve their worst behaviour - my mum rather sweetly insists it's because they're so absolutely confident that I will love them no matter what!

Thanks for the replies and suggestions - really appreciated!