Anyone else feel like they’re the only parents struggling?

[BlueSprout]

I’m finding parenting, three children under six, so tough, I feel like the only one who just doesn’t have it together and I’m not the mum I thought I’d be!

Is anyone else finding it really hard? I got myself a hot chocolate and it took two minutes for the baby to tip it all over the carpet, wall and sofa, I know that’s totally on me and I’m glad it wasn’t over herself of course. It’s but one example of constant chaos that I am living in!

please feel free to vent below if you can relate?

My children are teens now but when mine were that young (I had three under five for a while) it was very hard and we basically did the school run twice a day and stayed at home the rest of the time while I BF and did housework.

My youngest was born (slightly) premature and I spent a lot of that first year worrying about him and then he was in and out of hospital with asthma (sorry, viral induced wheeze) which we didn't have the knowledge at that point to control properly. Because he was early I was in hospital when my eldest started school and it took her ages to adjust even though she'd been at nursery for much longer days for years, we had a mile walk to school and she would bite me every day on the way back, I don't think she got to watch TV on a weekday for months. We had no family nearby (although Mum came after DC3 arrived to help for a few weeks while we were in hospital) and DH had a commute that was over an hour so he left before 8am and didn't get back till about 6.30pm.

Gosh, that's making me feel anxious just writing about it. But now I have teenagers, they are all doing well at school, have nice friends and get on so well together and I'm now worried about how I'll cope when the eldest goes off to study medicine in September because the idea of no longer seeing this amazing person every day is heartbreaking.

There's a reason most women don't have 3 kids in such succession, it's horribly hard! I can't even imagine it tbh. So from my point of view, you're amazing!!

I also had 3 kids under 5 and it was hard, that first year was just a complete blur and I honestly don’t know how I got through it at times. DH was self employed at the time so literally had 4 days off after our third was born then worked all hours so I was on my own a lot. My family are abroad so only in laws close by who weren’t always helpful. It was tough, my youngest is now 8 and things do get easier / more manageable as they get older and you get some time back but it’s still chaos but on a different level. Sometimes I do miss them being little as it just went by in a flash.
I know it feels tough now but it will get better, just try and enjoy them as much as you can while they’re still little ☺️

I’ve got 1 ds and im struggling with his bad behaviour (4)
I’ve just put him to bed as he’s tired and taking 30 mins to decompress before I log on and have to run my business!

Yes! 2 dc, 1 and 3.5. It’s bloody exhausting and relentless. The younger one is a shit sleeper and is up every 2 hours. The house is always a tip. I’m drowning at work. Hats off to you with 3! I bet you’re doing a brilliant job. It’ll get easier (I hope!!)

Gosh, 3 under age 6 is a proper handful, of course it's tough! I bet you're doing a much better job than you think you are! What got me through when mine were that age were -

mum friends, you don't have to have loads but a few good mum friends to meet up in the park with, have a coffee with and have a good old moan with is priceless imo.

Pretty solid routines, especially in the evening. Mine had tea 5.30ish, bath at 6 (let them splash about and play for a good while) then in bed by 7, couple of stories and then lights out. I was quite strict about bed and sleep because having a couple of hours to myself in the evening to unwind was a necessity not a luxury!