If you've got three or more kids

[Mog]

just how exhausted are you? I feel completely done in at the moment. dh is working away from home and have children of 6, 4.5 and 3. Is this normal? Just feel there is never a moment spent not meeting their needs.

another knackered one here - my DSs are 5.7, nearly 4 and 6m. The youngets is waking every 2-3 hours at night and the younger ones wake up at 6am

I'd been looking forward to holidays and now I can't wait for school to start

It might be worth getting some bloods done, I kept getting, 'oh you have three little ones, what do you expect' but I am quite badly anaemic.

knackered! It's the fighting and squabbling that wears me out. I work 2 days, and that is bliss!
But they are very cuddly little boys and I feel so treasured and loved.
the house feels empty if one of them not here.

I was very anaemic a couple of years ago. I pop the pills now and then when i get more knackered and breathless.

.............and palpitations (all symptoms)

Fraid don't have anemic symptoms, just knackered!

I don't look anaemic, I don't get infections or palpitations, my only symptom is exhaustion. There are other possible causes too that can be looked at.

of to bed now - finally, dont worry mog, u're not alone . try and get some time to yrself, i've been to the sanctuary and plan a weekend in paris with dd1, cant wait

Yes, knackered. By the evening I feel I have no more of myself left to give.

Mine are 6, 4 and 18mths. dh is away for 6 weeks(!) at the moment. I'm an only child, always wanted a big family but did NOT think this through re NOISE LEVEL in the house. Good grief it never stops. I find that the most tiring thing, but maybe mine are particularly talkative.

It's worse in the holidays - loads of fighting at the moment. On the home straight now!

Does feel like a lovely big family though.

mog yes go to yr GP.

I have 3 (8, 6, 4) and while it's easier now the youngest is 4 it is still very busy.

But I always used to say to people who said "you must be exhausted" no, busy, but not exhausted.

Then I did start to get tired - and turned out to be anaemic. On iron tabs now and have had copper coil out (think that was cause of anaemia) and feel a lot better.

Mog, sometimes I am completely exhausted, I mean, the is nothing left of my energy, I can´t hear the phone, the bell, the discussuons among them, the radio, the TV. Sometimes I wish I had not to work so hard to support us since I am a lone partent with 3 children for almost seven years now. I have 3 children of 12, 14 and 17 and they stil argue and fight for nothing.

I have been some difficult times over the years, and some very difficult problems to solve because of my ex-husband.

But I can assure you - my kids are the VERY BEST thing of my life. They are the most important thing that ever happened to me. Even without a father (some men can really become monsters), ir sure is worthwhile.

impostant message to all parents with 3 or more children

If you have 3 or more children and claim tax credits you may be enititled to a reduction in your water bills. Look up "vulnerable households" or "social tariffs" on you local water boards website.

Has anyone found that outside help has made things easier. We've thought about a cleaner but worry that I would get more stressed tidying up for them coming (our house is untidy). Or what about a teenager to help entertain them in the evenings to let me get some breathing space? What have people found has helped.
Also my children are so full on. I look at people with nice quiet children and wonder how they do that. Mine are NEVER quiet except when they are asleep. Can really identify with whoever said about the noise levels.

My DS's are 9, 6, and 2. I am usually too exhausted to even go on mumsnet !!
I love my boys but would not recommend 3 kids to anyone - i really feel like i have bitten off more than i can chew - beginning of day feels daunting - i start to feel really tired mid - late afternoon and then ifeel like i claw through the rest of day.

I was in the queue at the supermarket and the check-out lady said 'You look exhausted. When do they go back?'

I was quite shocked. 'Do I?' I said, 'In what way?'

She smiled at me and looked my three up and down and nodded.

It's the end of the holidays. We're meant to be tired. I like having three, I like how different they are, how funny they are, how they fall out and make-up again, how they all wear eachother's clothes and how they look after a bath.

It's okay. It's just tiring, but I don't think this is meant to be easy is it? Wouldn't be so interesting if it was easy.

Mine are nearly 6, 3 and 5 months and I am beyond knackered.

Oh 100 times, "how different they are" yes that's it, right there, that's what I love.

Well, there are rare occasions when I feel exhausted.

But mostly it's brilliant. I have DCs aged 2, 4 & 5 and we're ttc no. 4. Big rowdy house. Love it!

I'm too busy to feel tired but every night I go to bed and I'm asleep before my head hits the pillow. I think if I just stopped for a minute I would be asleep. I don't think I'd manage to get through the day without coffee.

I have 4 btw and two new kittens.

Mog - it was me who talked about noise levels. Very noisy day today, and even though most of it was happy noise and not fighting noise, I still wanted to press the pause button. The little one doesn't even talk much yet, so it's going to get worse.

Spidermama - that's me exactly. Lots of coffee and don't stop or I'll fall asleep. I found they don't pester me so much if I look busy anyway. I just arrived home from holiday yesterday and there's no coffee in the house. Anything else work just as well?

NO coffee is the only thing, occassionally powered by small amounts of chocolate.

It's very noisy here, everybody talks all the time. Is positively Italianate sometimes.

I'm jealous of people with 4. I just stared and stared at this woman with 4 on holiday. It unsettled her I think. But I don't want a fourth, I just wish I was the sort of person who could, if that makes sense.

Normally, I don't find 3 so bad. Expecting number 4 any day now.

But I am exhausted when DH is away for any reason.

I'm jealous too. I always wanted a big car and for all these kids to spill out and know they're all mine. Now I have 3 I'm not so sure. DH is VERY sure there are not going to be any more.

Hmm. Ceolas we shall be watching you with interest. You must report back please.

I want them all spilling out too. BUT I don't want them getting out and hitting each other and nobody having any socks on and half of them having nits. This is how it would be I think, because it's already a bit like that. Anyway, I've left it too late I think. My three are all quite close in age, I can't have one with a six year gap can I? Can I?