Thread: Who will die first kids, dog or me

Guessed right I'm having a bad time atm dog won't stop barking, chewing things, emptying my bins.
Kids driving me mad won't do as I ask,generally being little shits more than normal, fighting, won't tidy up or go to bed,
Hubby gone off to phase 2 on 2nd jan after nearly 3 weeks off he drove me mad drinking lots getting wasted most nights not what I had planned for our time together, leaving stuff everywhere, messing up my routine, just been lazy slob, rather selfish and thinks only about what is best for him but this is kind of the norm for him, looked forward to him going back
Work in hotel so busy since nov organizing other people's celebrations working long hours getting no thanks doing job I'm not paid to do coz if I didn't do it no one would, all my staff have turned into moaning, bitchy creatures we normally a happy friendly little family.
Home can't be arsed cleaning it kids and mutt just go round after me messing it up again, sure im washing things kids haven't worn, kids rooms look like well not sure how to describe it, pig sty, bomb site, fire hazard i thought they had a carpet in there rooms but can't see it with stuff covering it and I'm refusing to give in now and do it for them like I normally do but it's driving me mad.
Me I'm a full time mum of 3 10, 6, and 4 year old 18 month old boxer work part time as a supervisor in a restaurant feels like I'm manager most of time, changed my life around when oh went off for training had first babysitter arrange work around kids school and nursery after school activities have no social life now coz don't want to take piss with babysitter, thought phase 1 would be tough for me and kids but we got on enjoyed our time together few disagreements but we copped better than I expected, but now I seem to have changed from a heartless bitch to a blubber at anything wimp.

Hugs, sounds as if you are having a hard time.

How organised are you on a daily basis? When I was a single mum I worked full time with four kids under 4 and it was chaos unless I was super-super organised. I have some ideas for you if you are interested, let me know .....

TLC x

I have a routine I do certain jobs each day, have tea cooked when working so sitter just needs to is heat it up so kids have a propper meal at night, all kids have a job to do each day to get a take away on sat night (treat night), think I'm pretty organized, but any help would be greatfully received. Prefably on how to deal with brats

I have to be honest with you. I think the change in behaviour in the kiddies is a result of the changes at home. Daddy going off on basic and now you are at work as well, especially if you are out at meal and bed time, they must feel as if their whole world as they knew it has changed. They have gone from having both parents at home at tea and bed time to neither of you. All children will react to such a big change.

I have to ask, how good is your sitter? You may be leaving a meal but how sure are you that the kids are actually eating it? Are you kids actually not having an evening meal, because this will manifest itself in children as bad behaviour, fighting and low energy. Is the sitter also responsible for getting them into bed? If so, what time is bedtime? Perhaps they are now going to bed a little later than usual and again this is having a knock on effect.

TLC x

Sometimes when they really get one on them there is no dealing with them! Sending to the bedroom, early night or loss of fave toys/pocket money usually works for a few days (til they forget the previous punishment and push their luck again!). But dear god never show signs of weakness!!! The first time you back down on a punishment because they've tugged at the heart strings will be your downfall!

If it's still new to the kids mr jenny being away even if their routine has been kept the same to the amount of breaths they take per day, they will more than likely still be inclined to push the boundaries and see if this new situation can be exploited to their advantage. Kids are not stupid! And they will pick up on your stress and react to it. You can guarantee when you feel like crap anyway you can always rely on the kids to make things worse!

If misery loves company this might help. On Thursday Little Tree whinged at everything, threw tantrums every 20 seconds and catergorically refused to sleep making him even more irritable than he already was. At the same time my cleaning survey was supposed to happen at 11am that morning. Mr Tree is away on course so couldn't help so it meant handling said toddler and a hyperactive dog whilst trying to give and get the info i needed. My stress levels were pretty damn high. After running round giving the house a spruce up whilst taming tantrums in between (and during) I then get a text half an hour before cleaner was due telling me his van has gone in for a service so he wont be coming.

I was fit to explode but am now thinking ok this day can't get any worse......big mistake! Little Tree carried on all day and when I collected big tree from school god only knows what they'd been feeding him 'cos he was bouncing off the walls hyperactive and refusing to listen to a word he was told.

By the time mr tree arrived home for the evening I had sent the kids into the back room to play and generally do what the heck they like and I was sat looking for new ringtones for my phone purposefully ignoring the chaos going on around me! (the kids were safe and fed just being very noisy and making one hell of a mess)

Admittedly ignorance is not the best way to handle the situation but I had reached the end of my tether so i gave up for the day! I then gave myself the day off from everything non-essential the next day and was just generally kind to myself. Make sure that amidst everything you are still taking a little bit of time to be kind to yourself. And remember you are worknig to support your children and that's what you use the babysitter, it isnt a crime and no-one will judge you for using the babysitter for an evening while you go out and do something for you! When you feel stuck in a situation with no end in sight everything always seems a hell of a lot worse. A trip to the cinema or shopping or something (try and avoid alcohol, hangovers and bratty kids are counter-productive) can give you the time out you need to come home and think ok i can do this bring on your worst little bratlings!


Sorry for the book!

ST is right. Sometimes you just have to switch off from all the chaos.

How long is your OH away for? Do you have anyone else apart from the babysitter who can help you? I used to find that if all I was juggling was work, home, kids, work, home, kids that my brain used to fry. Try to organise yourself and get out for the night, can you farm them out for the night so you can go out, recover and relax in one hit?

TLC x

My sitter is hubby's auntie for 2 nights she has 3 older kids done it all b4 they go to bed on first night half hour later than normal as they at a club 2nd night they in bed for half 7 have 15 mins to read then lights out sitter sticks to it,
my mum and dad do other night at there house the kids use to spending time with them they take them to caravan and they use to take it in turns to stay a night for sleepover before oh went in training,
before oh went back after Xmas kids were doing good few little problems but easy to sort but ever since he gone back it's like a war zone, I think it has to be bye bye to sat night take away and no after school clubs for them,
Thanks for advice girls it's always welcome