First child at school, wow

[dinoice]

So, we are now on day six, and I have to confess I am exhausted, never mind my child.

I am in absolute awe of how anyone manages this, plus works full time and manages to look like anything other than a person who has been dragged backwards through a hedge.

I try and be organised, I am organised, but wow.

I need to get four of them up, dressed and fed and out by 8am. Pre school we left at 830 anyway, but under no pressure to do so.

Now, absolutely certain someone will poo at 7.59.

Twenty minute drive, eldest taken in, she's managing well. Either leave other three in car or wrestle them all out and down and back.

Off to do chores, or work three mornings, with those three, play based job.

Back home, lunch, naps. That's now chaos, move nap half an hour earlier, absolutely bloody horrific. Chaos.

Leave 2.30 with three screaming children to collect for 3 (see morning point about being late).

Home 330ish, start on tea, empty bag, paperwork to fill in, snacks to sort for everyone tomorrow, water bottles, new clothes, gym kits whatever.

Tea, bath, homework. This is causing issues, everyone wants to do homework, so I have a two year old, three year old, four year old and the actual child at school doing the same homework.

Fall into bed and start again, plus the numerous wake ups, dogs to walk, everything else I've forgotten. Oh yes, I work admin in the evenings three nights.

Scared to look at the PTA stuff, house is a tip, why did I get white polo shirts.

Is it nearly the holidays!!!

I absolutely could not do that - hats off to you!

You've got four kids; you're doing double the work I am and I am fucked (with 2) so hats off

Didn't mean to copy PPs phrase 😂

@DoesItHaveKosovo I can't do it! I'm broken. Then I look around and everyone is beautifully dressed and smiling and I'm like I've been electrocuted and couldn't tell you when I brushed my hair.

Think I'm going to have to home school.

Not many people have 4 under 5 op

Yeah but imagine if I had to go to work as well, it's not possible.

I'm considering taking the wee ones in their pyjamas. I saw one mum do this. People raised eyebrows, but I thought excellent idea

Have you a partner/husband to do his share?

My elder DD used to start at 7.30 (not UK). Younger one was grabbed out of bed at 7am,nappy sorted and breakfast in pushchair!

@GrazingSheep ironically due to your name no, well yes, but no. Farmer. So no. Haven't actually seen him in a few weeks.

@PuttingDownRoots perhaps I should sacrifice my car and feed them there!

@BrianBettyGrable sadly not, I often do for others, very rural so all over the place.

I'm being semi lighthearted, in the sense it's like another newborn this school stuff, all the unexpected things and timescales

I really really doubt it oP unless the younger one was, let’s say 15 year olds and we are talking a silk lingerie slip

I'm there with you but with fewer children! Day 6 and I'm broken. This morning was particularly harsh. Usually I get a slightly later start at work on a Wednesday. I'd drop the kids at nursery (5 min drive away) at the usual time but then have time built in to stop at a nice shop and get myself a proper coffee and a croissant on the way to work.

Kiddo now has to get on the school bus. It works perfectly for me on paper- collects at 8.30 quite close to home, I have a 20min commute to work which starts at 9. But that means no time to stop and queue for my Wednesday humpday coffee. It's a small loss but omg!

The washing machine has just gone on the blink and usually I'd not worry, we have millions of clothes and can go at least a week before it gets bad so would make an engineer appt to suit me and work. Now I'm panicking about running out of clean uniforms.

And the emails! Oh god the emails! Over 30 in the last 7 days.

And I only have half the number of kids that you have!

I did not quite have what you had but did have 3 under 4.

I found walking to school easier than the car - baby slept in pram, toddler was strapped in too, buggy board / scooter for oldest. I did not have to worry about getting them in and out of the car and luckily ds3 was a good day time sleeper. I would leave ds3 to sleep in the back garden when we got home.

Ds2 had a habit of doing a poo just before we left for school so I used to get him completely ready before breakfast , strap him in the high chair then transfer him straight to the pushchair! No chance to do a poo!

I bloody hate all the school runs. 3.30 pick up messes up the afternoon and my younger DC's nap. Hats off to you with four DC close in age. But as someone with an almost 5 year age gap, I think you've gone the right way about it. I keep thinking when eldest can walk himself to school I will start all over again with the youngest. You will have a few wild years then back to independence, with DC similar age with lots in common!

You have four children under 5. I have one and I find it hard, I can't even comprehend how you cope. (I am not a natural at mothering, which is why I only have one...)

Taking them in their PJs sounds sensible, you can get them dressed when you get home. Does a reception child really need to be doing homework? And is after-school club a possibility? Don't do PTA, that would be mad.

Also, most people's husbands do some drop-offs/pick-ups. We take it in turns, unless one of us needs to be in the office. Any chance yours could do that? My friend's husband is a farmer, he does he fair share except for around harvest time.

Sadly I can't walk, or would. It's about ten miles rural roads.

Four children was accident, couldn't have children, adopted my two, then had two. All absolutely adored and loved.

And yes the emails!!!!!!! And the ordering the meals, twice because the system crashed.

Sadly I can't walk, or would. It's about ten miles rural roads.

op that is going to be ghastly come bad weather

20 minute drive for 10 miles on rural roads - speedy driver!

@Flipflipmania correct. Going to be farm truck or snowed in.

Oh my heart goes out to you OP. You’ll get through it but only with a rigorous routine:

1. everything that can be ready the night before, get ready, including clothes.
2. Pictures on the fridge for each child of the things they have to do between getting up and leaving.
3. have a leaving-the-house routine: shoes, coats, schoolbag (and anything else).

doesn’t help when dc2 needs a poo three minutes before leaving. Nothing helps in that situation. I had a dc2 like that.

@StopProcrastinatingGerald yes it is dc2

Ignore the raised eyebrows and do what suits you and yours, eventually they will be more capable and all you will need to do is set Alex for reminders to get X done at Y time.

Not the point of this thread but surely averaging 30mph isn't exactly speedy?!