It's just after 9am and I'm fed up already

[HalyardHitch]

Dh left for work just after 7. The one and a half year old old puked everywhere at 3am. He's teething and has been fussing and crying all morning. Didn't eat breakfast. The 2 and a half year old is just being a two and a half year old dickhead. He also didn't eat breakfast. He's also been fussing at me all morning.

They're both hanging off my legs whinging at me. I'm just trying to ignore them for a second to get some head space but obviously it isn't working

We're all miserable and I'm at the end of my tether already and am going to lose my rag in a minute.

Anyone with me?

Will the 1yo nap soon? And honestly in this weather just let the 2yo eat ice lollies all day if that's what he wants

I've got a nearly 4yo and a 16mo to keep amused today, dh has been at work since 7 and won't be back until 11ish as he's off out straight after work. No way I'm taking them out in this heat so the plan for the day is to try to keep them cool and occupied and catch up on the mountain of washing that needs doing.

Stay strong 💪

Yes! First day of the holidays here and before 9am we had had - arguments over sun cream, arguments over sun hat, squabbles over toys, full on emotional strop from 5 year old over whether he will be able to eat Cheerios at a relative's house where we are visiting next week. Pestering me to go out in the garden then pestering to come back in and watch TV (can't give them free flow in and out for various reasons so we all have to go in and out together). Oh and a strop from 1 year old wanting to play in the filthy bird bath water. Could be a looong day....

He'll nap at lunch time. They likely both will. My two year old still likes sleep.

I've given an icecream (coconut milk and yogurt with a touch of blue and red food colouring for excitement).
Now the telly is on. They're finally quiet.

I've been reading a parenting book and have been so hard trying to improve my parenting. I haven't got the energy for all the change and self criticism today.

A twelve month age gap hasn't helped me and my boys have suffered

My eldest broke up from preschool on the tenth of July. I've been enjoying it this far. But not today

I'm with you OP!!
Only got DS who is 18 months, but my god I just need a minute.
Mine loves to play outside (I make sure he's in the shade) so I intend to put him out any minute now as he won't let me have a second.
As long as they are not killing each other you are doing great, hang in there xx

This was my day yesterday. DD is at a really really challenging age (3.5) and so is her brother (22mo).

I took them out in the car three times between 8 and 5 just to get peace. Even giving them a run in the playground was stress central as my DS lives running in front of moving swings.

This is how I survive with both (and a newborn) after DH goes out (so, 8am) - does it look helpful?

Run in the car (8-9)

Telly (9am)

General run around the garden/treasure hunt (hide clothes pegs a few places): 9:30

Playtime 10:30
I must confess I’m not good at playing. I’m tired and have fuck all imagination. But giving them a good 40 mins of my full attention and involvement usually pays dividends and makes for a less intense day over all... usually.

Lunch at 11:30

Nap 11-2

Playpark at about 2:30 with snack at the end

Hour long run in the car 3-4

Home and general running round/telly (4-5:30)

Tea time (5:30 - 6:00)

More run around OR telly (6-6:30)

Bath (6:30 - 7)

Story and pyjamas (7-7:15)

Lights out at 7:15

Sorry if I come across as patronising; I just feel your pain.

Plus 2.5 year olds are little nutters, my DD went feral bonkers for about a month at that age. She soon lost that wild edge but not the bonkers bit.

*Nap 11-2

Chrissakes I mean 12 - 2!!!

@PaulHollywoodsSexGut I'd absolutely love another but dont think I have it in me. Congrats on your newborn!

All is quiet at the moment. We wont do an awful lot today.

I've currently got the two year old my my lap because the one year old bit him and kicked him in the face the one year old gets it because he said "hurt hit"

I don't really think we should go out as I don't know if the one year.old has a tummy bug. The two year old was sick several times on saturday. I have errands to run but they'll have to wait and I don't want them passing any bugs to someone at the park or anything

Oh, been there, done that... and I still remember it vividly. Put the parenting books away and don't beat yourselves up about having to resort to CBeebies or whatever. Just hang on in there...

Yes. My younger two are 3 & 4. They got their holidays from pre-school on 20th June, yes June (Ireland). We are currently on week 5 of the holidays and we have 4 weeks to go

So far today we have had rows about:
Going downstairs
Going to the toilet
Having breakfast
Wrestling each other on the stairs
How many sheets of paper each person is allowed for colouring
Who has dominion over allocating the colouring pencils
Who will sit in the trolley in the upcoming supermarket shop (kill me now)

That’s just a selection.

18yo DD is still in bed

This was me yesterday! 2 yo DS1 wouldn't nap all morning, went to toddler group in the park for the afternoon, fell asleep on the way in the car. Let him sleep in the pram whilst at group, woke up in a tremendous strop and had to abandon 3 month old DS2 with lovely mum at group and walk DS1 round the park until he calmed down.

Got home, no one would stop moaning at me from the minute we got in to the minute they went to bed. I had heaps and heaps of washing to sort and put away, it's still there now!

Hang on in there! My 2 youngest (11 & 9) are on the first days of school hols and they’re both still in bed! I was up at 5am as usual and expected to see them both ages ago...! I shall enjoy the peace before they both appear and start arguing. Good luck OP

If you've got part of the garden shaded, give them a big paintbrush and a tub of water and let them 'paint' everything - walls, floor, garden furniture. Mine loved doing this and the water doesn't harm!

Paddling pool, bubbles and ice lollies. That’s all I can cope with today and especially tomorrow.

I have grand plans during nap time to rearrange the garden to create some space for some shade.

We have a plastic bike storage thing that is in the shadiest part of the garden. Dh will hate it as it's currently out of sight of the doors but I'm moving it anyway.

We currently have a gazebo set up on the grass. I don't know whether I want to move that yet

Don't be too hard on yourself love
Throw that parenting book away and do what's best for you and the kids.
If that means a lazy PJ day then so be it.
Don't worry about the house. Just do the essentials

If you've got the energy after their nap get them out of the house. Fresh air works wonders for the kids and for you xx

I think whatever age gap you have you will always sometimes feel that you are failing one or both children.... My age gap is bigger but just now the older one was trying to show me an elaborate show in the toy theatre while I was trying to catch the 2 year old every time he did a dive off the sofa or dining chairs.... There is no perfect gap so don't feel bad about that.

Oh god this was me yesterday. We were at the park for 8:30 cos DS seemed chipper, we left the park at 8:45 cos he just would not stop winging. I was in tear to my mum by lunch time. May have told DS to shut the fuck up (in my head!). Had to strap him in the pram for a nap so I could just get away from him.

The two year old has decided he doesn't want to nap today so he's busy playing with the hose I darent take them out because the one year old was sick again this morning

I'm with you! I have a 5 yo who is still tired from school and over excited about the holidays, and 2 yo twins.
With it being so hot I'm getting them out early - we were feeding the ducks at 8.30 this morning and on the swings by 9! We are now having a carpet picnic and watching Frozen while it's really hot outside but will get out in the garden when it's a bit shadier.

If you have a garden, just put a couple of buckets of water out with a spoon and ask them to water the garden.
Maybe wash a few toys too.

I've hooked the slide onto the paddling pool very slippery when wet which is great.
Also ordered something to give us more shade from amazon. Arrives Saturday

That’s literally a leisure centre right there @halyardhitch

Boys are much much calmer today. A massively noticable difference and I haven't done anything differently.

We've had homemade ice lollies, chocolate icy coconut milk, random lunch plonked in front of them now while they watch telly - peppers, radishes, cucumber, ham, apple, pancake slices (which they rejected for breakfast even though I got up at 6.30 to make them!!).

Not looking forward to late afternoon when the sun moves round and hits the living room. The two and a half year old was crying at me "hot day, hot day" yesterday afternoon