3 under 5 - when does it get easier?

suejb2

It doesn't get easier as such just different

duchy

melb wrote: »

i'm not perfect - far from it - but it's too much to cope with so many young ones at once as they have different needs. Children want a bit of undivided attention sometimes!

And telling the OP she should have left a four year gap is useful to her with three under five how exactly ?

j.e.j.

I can see where melb is coming from, though obviously it doesn't help the OP *now* to tell her that choosing to have three kids so close in age and all under 5 is bound to cause difficulties.

Spendless

Is the eldest at f-time school? It gets easier when they all go, well at least it's easier between 9-3 term--time:D You also swap toddler tantrums and potty training issues for things like detentions for missed homework/kit, bullying, peer pressure and loads of other things.:rotfl:

I had a 3 year gap between my 2 as I very much disliked the 7 years between me and my only sibling where I felt we had nothing in common. Health, housing and money issues made it as much as a 3 year gap and though it was easier when little, I often feel that I am waiting for the youngest to play 'catch up' and it is still restricting me though the eldest is a few months off being a teen. You will find it easier as they get older.

Savvy_Sue

When does it get easier? Maybe when they go to University ...

Tea-and-Cake wrote: »

When will this get easier, life is not much fun at the moment, I knew it would be busy with 3 young children but I also thought it would be fun!

I realised when we went on our first holiday after DS1 was born that holidays were just doing the same things, in a different (and less convenient) house.

I realised when DS2 was born that I didn't much like 2 year olds. DS1 was 2.5 years old.

Then we had one of life's happy surprises, arriving when DS2 was 2.25.

And when DS3 was a year old, I wondered if I'd like 2 year olds any better when I didn't have a baby at the same time. I didn't ...

TBH, I found the worst time when DS1 started nursery: if I walked STRAIGHT back from dropping him off, without picking anything up from the shops, I would have time to wash up the breakfast things, get lunch ready to cook, AND sit down and have a cup of tea before I had to go out to pick him up as he finished at 11.30 am. If I had to do some shopping, there was no time to sit down. It was slightly easier in term 2, when he was staying for lunch, but I still had to pick him up by 12.10 pm. And he'd had his lunch, and couldn't understand why I wanted mine ...

Anyway, you lower your expectations for a while, and you survive. You identify which bits ARE fun and try to make time for one of them every day.

And every day, you make sure you look at them once they're asleep. They're lovely when they're asleep, whatever age they are!!!

sulkisu

I will shortly have three under two :eek:, so guess I'm screwed.
I know that it will be hard for the next few years, but it's the choice I made when deciding (although I didn't actually decide) to have children close together.

OP, once your oldest child starts school full-time, it should get easier but I agree with other posters that perhaps you need to lower your standards a little for now. Also use whatever you have available to you to make life easier, e.g. cooking in bulk and freezing, shopping home delivery, etc. I even use an ironing service - not very MSE perhaps, but one less thing for me to deal with.

owen_money

Does it get any easier? I have a 17 and 15 year old and I wish they were 4 and 2 again!!!!

Valli

counting_pennies wrote: »

you need to drop your standards.

The million things that need to get done, don't need to be done.

When you are with the children, you are giving them your time.

The house will become a mess the minute it is tidy. When they are in bed, do a little whizz about. No more than 20 mins.

The only job i say to do when the children are awake is the washing, and get them to help. Get your food shopping done online, and get the delivery booked for when oh is home.

Ironing, just do work shirts for oh, or get him to do them. Put less in the washing machine, so it does not crease so much, and shake everything firmly out and fold as soon as it is dried.

Can you afford a cleaner, £20 a week or a fortnight? If not, oh needs to pitch in.

The only arts and crafts i have in the house is the contents of the recycling bin and cellotape and some crayons and value printer paper from tesco. Paint, play dough, and felt pens are strictly for play groups only, no where near my house!

Drop your standards on tv also, you have a new baby. If peppa pig needs to go on repeat on the dvd then do so. It was the only way i survived the dreaded morning sickness with my second child.

Cbeebies on the internet is also great.

Don't see tv as a demon, see it as your friend these next few months.

4.5 year old must be in preschool, have you any chance of increasing that? Or are they even at school now?

The 2 year old must be able to get into a preschool somewhere locally to give you a break. If you get a chance, try and do a couple of full days as opposed to 5 half days.

Do whatever you can to get help to stay sane in these coming months. If you don't have friends or family near by contact homestart who have volunteers who come and entertain the children for 2 hours a week to give you a break.

It does get better, hang in there, you have a new baby, everyone is reacting to the change.

This is ALL excellent advice.

Valli

sulkisu wrote: »

I will shortly have three under two :eek:, so guess I have been screwed.

Corrected for you;)

RunbeforeIcanwalk

I have 3 too. 3 under 3.5 when my youngest was born. Now things are easier. both eldest are at school all day and my youngest is now at 15 hours of preschool.

My eldest 2 were in preschool when the baby was born I started my middle child at age 2, 3 sessions a week as I knew how hard to would be. Luckily my baby was a fantastic daytime sleeper so i got lots done. TV was my saviour and the eldest helped lots.