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.

Proplus KTnoo or lots of very strong tea.

I agree about the noise levels. My three boys and their dad shout all the time to try to be heard over each other while my dd and I sit there, waiting for a chance to come it, then take it in turns to go mad and shout at them all to be quiet and let us get a word in.

My dh is the loudest of all. He's an actoooooor trained to project, and is also a little bit deaf so he speaks up in order to hear himself. I can hear him five doors down, sadly.

I've recently decided I will unapologetically take breaks with my dd so we can have some badly, desperately needed girl time.

What's the age spacing Spidermama?

Mine are 8, 7, 5 and 2 ahundredtimes. I find they pair off, which can make life easier. There's also a good symmetry around the table. When you're cutting up stuff to share it's easier with an even number.

Gooooooo on. You know you want to.
< Evil laugh >

GOd, mine are 8, 7, 5, 3, 18 months and 4 months. Bleeding shattered. not from the physical work, just all the demands and the fighting. it'll get easier though.

How do your 2 & 5 yo get on Spidermama?

I currently have a 2, 4 & 5yo - is it going to make life difficult to have 3 DCs within 3 years of each other and then a gap of 3-4 years to the youngest? Will the baby get left out?

kitty. Nuff. Respect. You're are similar ages to mine, but you have two more. Another two.
Mine are arguing a lot too. I was the one in the park today borrowing wipes from another mum I didn't know to deal with a poo situation and leaving two hours later without having read a single word of the book (Siblings Without Rivalry) I foolishly brought along.

I'd say when it's good it really is great with lots of kids, but when it's bad it's awful. It's never boring.

My baby doesn't get left out because they all love him and they can all regress and play daft baby type games with him. It's great to watch.
I have to pitch things differently now though and can't lump them together (eg specific stories for the littlest and the second littlest - but that's OK because the older two can read their own stuff now).

Spidermama. I take solace in red wine I've just spent a week on 'holiday' in th I.O W with my mother and all the kids in a 6 berth chalet that was too small really and had a"living area" that was smaller than most peoples' bathrooms

Hmm. Duchess I think you're in a better position than me. Mine are 9,7,5 - and they are all due a birthday in before the end of the year - so that really would mean one far, far behind wouldn't it?

Ah you have a helpful mother kitty? Mine's not too keen on children, which is slightly problematic.

We just had a 'holiday' in a small Welsh cottage too. Luckily the weather was good otherwise ... well ... I'm sure you can imagine.

Ahundred the others will help you with the baby. They love baby siblings IME. It's a whole different sort of upbringing for the little one surrounded with brothers and sisters who adore him/her and think he/she is hilarious.

Salutes kittywits. How amazing - I had 3 in quick succession but after my 3rd I was a physical wreck, no way could I have managed another pregnancy so soon. Although I really wish I had!

Do you get proper cardio exercise Mog - not running around after children all day type exercise - but something that clears your head?

Oh god Spidermama STOP.

I don't know why I'm even thinking about it. I spend most of my time celebrating the fact we go places without a pushchair, nobody wears nappies and I don't have to say 'it's a red car, a RED car, yes, a RED car' anymore.

100 it is because you want to have another go, this time trying AP and EC and extended BF and wearing a Mooncup and stuff

you know you do

LOL. It could be a grand experiment couldn't it?

I can just see you with a sling, and a bit of baby sick in your hair

go on, it sounds great

beyond tired gone through exhausted and coming out the other side of shattered. Two was just so manageable in comparison. I also spend the whole time thinking people are looking at me in disapproving way. (I don't really care what they think but wish they would find something else to stare at). My first is so hyper it winds the next up and so on....

tired - but I have a 5yo with special needs, a 2yo and a 5 month old, am also on a few committees , help out at dd1's kinergarten, help out the local down syndrome association and am a new parent support person for parents who have had babies with down syndrome.

So am knackered but I enjoy doing it all and helping out.

Love my three girls - did not quite feel right with just 2 and dd3 has been a pretty easy baby. So feel good with my three girls.

I have 4 and sometimes feel exhausted; have skim read this and I strongly agree with the poster who suggested cardio exercise. I'm a lapsed exercise fan who can't wait to resume once she has a bit more time. It really calms your head and gives you a better perspective, not to mention raising your energy levels. Can you fit something in before after your times at work ? if not gym, then can you cycle to/from work maybe ?

I have three aged 6 3 and 2. My dp and I separated about a month ago and since then the only way I can cope with them is by going to bed just after them at 8pm! Hopefully it will get easier but some days I fel as though I'm heading for an early grave

It is absolutely knackering! I have 3 dc...(2,4 and 6)
Dh helps out when he can, but he is self employed and works long hours and most weekends.
You have my sympathy, its bloomin hard work!

Hi there

I have 4 aged 12, 7, 6 & 1. The 1yo wakes up between 3 and 20 times a night so I am tired but I sleep with him in the day and go to bed about 10ish so I get enough sleep and enjoy them rather than being knackered and staying up tidying/cleaning/doing stuff.

I have to say I love being a mum of a large family, I have loved it more the more children I have (though I am not having any more than 4). They are so funny and sweet, they make me laugh all the time. They fight and argue a lot and are also very challenging but parenting my children is definately the most rewarding thing I have ever done.

If I could give you any tips to help with tiredness it would be - get more sleep It really seems to work!

im quite lucky. i have three girls. 18 years, 16 years and a 1 year old.

the elder two 'mummy' the baby...they fight over who baths her and goes to her in the morning...bliss for me

I am pg with my sixth. I think that the secret is to do stuff as it needs doing, straight away as it generally takes less time than it seems when thinking about it - and the thinking about it is exhausting!

Putting away as you go and a big 'all together' tidy up of toys and crap at the end of the day is helpful.

Oh, and put them to bed EARLY