Ideas for surviving the Arsenic Hour - my parenting in the late afternoon leaves a lot to be desired...

[liath]

Help!!

I have increasing problems staying sane with dd 3.5 and ds 15 months. 4pm hits and it all degenerates into dd winding me up, me getting wound up etc etc. I feel terrible about it, I've lost my temper and smacked her & seem to spend my time yelling. I think a lot of it is tiredness on everyone's part but it's a miserable way to finish off what has usually been a nice day then after they go to bed I end up beating myself up about it.

Any bright ideas??? I often go to the park but that won't be an option wehn the nights draw in.

Poison hour here at ours. Tiredest time of day and most to do - even if I've tried to get organised earlier on.

I'm trying to arrange afternoon activities, even if its just going on bus to library and then a cuppa- boy loves having a mug of milk in a cafe. Or going for a walk up the field or going to playground. I try and get us home at 5ish and then boy gets to chill with a video OR help me make tea, till his daddy gets home at 5.45-6ish