How to occupy 2 preschoolers in bad weather when I feel sick as a dog...

[Abirdinthehand]

I've got morning sickness - nothing compared to the awful time some people have, I know, but still making me feel pretty grim and utterly exhausted. 4 year old and nearly 2 year old home pretty much full time, and now they are getting bored of DVDs and going a bit crazy. I'm still in my pjs and have been feeding them shreddies all morning as it's the only food I can face being near. The house is a wreck and they've had more screen-time in the last 4 days than they usually get in a month. Now they've started attacking each other with cushions - this will end in tears! Help

Little bump?

One more bump...

Cushions & blankets? Let them make a den?
Dried pasta & string to make necklaces.
Dr equipment then you be the patient & lie down.
Sorry you are feeling so rough.

Put all their toys in the bath and let them clean them.

Get them to play hide and seek

Play drs and nurses and you be the patient

Get them dusting

Cut up all Xmas cards and make pictures

Video them on your phone and play it to them

Get the 4 y/o vacuuming

Put a fitness DVD on and SSS if they want to 'dance'

Spider hunt? Dd1 loves this! Use torches and dusters- you will clean at the same time

Will try bath later, thanks - they love that, but obviously will have to be in bathroom in case they drown each other

Did the Xmas cards a coupled days ago

Watching tintin DVDs now for 5th time - poor little things

Managed to make them toast for lunch. If it was summer they could play outside but we're stuck in little living room!

Scared of spiders!

Take them to soft play. Or swimming if you are up to it.

Second the idea of a den. Two chairs back to back with a blanket over the top and cushions inside. My two can be enthralled for hours with this and it becomes a shop, a fire engine, a house and an ice cream van / they bring me endless mega block ice creams of varying sizes and flavours. Sympathies to you, being ill with no choice but to carry on is the hardest bit of being a mum.

Soft play not an option - none near, no car, and thinking about that funny smell they have is making me retch!

Have sent 4yrold to get the trip trap high chairs to make den. Good plan! Promised them chocolate raises (retch) as a picnic in there when it's finished.

How on earth do people manage who have long term health issues? I know this will only last a few weeks, but god it's grim, looking after them

Can you get your DH/DP to prepare some lunch/ snacks the night before so you don't need to spend any time preparing food.

Also maybe think about getting help for later on in pregnancy, I found 36 weeks onwards with two little ones the hardest bit of all, moreso than the newborn phase.

But just get through today first.

More sympathy

And a dry cracker

Ohhhh gooood the 4 yr old is wailing the den is not right the cushions are not right, his brother has messed it up... Seconds away from calling dh to come home.

Oh no. Sorry. Sod it all and call Dh. You deserve a break.

In the meantime - two dens?

liger
They have calmed down now.

Hope the rest of the afternoon was smooth and relatively retch free. Not long to go now!

Thank you
Small one asleep - will pay for it later, but dh will be home then, he can deal with it. Arranged for my mum to come and help tomorrow. Poor 4yr old watcheddvds all day.

I know this may sound like a crazy idea, but has your 4yr old got a friend or cousin you could invite to play for an afternoon? I find that its easier as they entertain each other and play is spontaneous! Your 2 yr old will have just as much fun chasing the other two to join in whatever they are doing!

Works for me and I am exp DC4 in 13 weeks! I have a 4 yr old, 20 month old and a surly 12 year old! Keeping them all entertained while suffering with SPD has been a challenge over the holidays. I often invite friends over for that very reason,and it changes the dynamics which in itself helps, lessening the predictable fights/arguments between siblings iyswim.

Another tip regarding mess in the house, get a large box/washing basket and get the kids to grab as many things as poss,then regardless of what it is and where it should be, chuck it all in and get DH to sort it when he gets back. I did this in my 1st trimester,kept me sane!

And don't give yourself a hard time,it wont last forever and things will get back to your usual routine when you are feeling better!

(Also as an alternative to TV, story tapes or music/nursery rhyme tapes?)

Good luck!

thanks more
I do find it bit easier with a friend over sometimes - but I amdthe house are in such a state at the mo I would feel a bit answering the door let alone asking the mum for a cuppa (which I would kind of feel I had to)..

I was so glad to see dh this evening when he got in. He is exhausted though - he's doing EVERYTHING, while I sit on the sofa!