finding time for older siblings

I feel like I have no time in the morning for my older children - 3 and 5. I f they had a dollar for every time I said "give me one minute" they would be rich. THey love the babies, but I feel guilty!!!

For those of you with older children, where did you find the time for one on one time with the older kids.

BTW - my twins are 1 month old.

 

Great question...I can't wait to hear the responses....Seems like our twins are the same age. How are you feeling in general?

 

It is very hard. I have a five year old. Luckily, I have a lot of family around who have been willing to take him places to do things. They have also watch the girls so he and I can go on special dates. I have had a talk with my son, and I think, for the most part, he understands that the babies need me a lot more right now. He enjoys being a "big boy" that can help mommy out. He also knows that I cannot provide him with constant entertainment and that sometimes he has to play on his own. I will say that he has always been very good at playing on his own. My best friend comes over with her kids once a week as well to help out.

 

I know what you mean and it seems like my older DD ALWAYS needs something right when I have my hands full w/ both babies (feeding) I try to give her one on one when they are napping and let other things like laundry and dishes fall to the wayside. she is very good at entertaining herself on the most part and although the green eyed monster rears its head every once in awhile she is doing better and is actually starting to enjoy being the big sister more.

Alyson

 

I have no family here, only over 4000 miles away. I have a baby sitter 2 x 4 hours (Mon pm and Wed am) for the twins. This morning I took my oldest to the beach and then for lunch. On Fri pm I have a nice student baby sitter who takes her to the park, etc. On Tu / Thu she's at school (summer camp). I really feel the baby sitter makes a major difference. She seems happy with it too. Wed pm we have her play group and we take the twins too. So it's basically only Monday morning and Friday morning. This Monday I had a friend coming over with her 2 kids, things like that. I also do stuff with her when the twins are napping in the morning (besides cleaning up and getting bottles ready), even if it's only 30 minutes. And yes, she does watch a little more tv now and then.

 

Right there with you! My oldest is 4. My twins are now 9 1/2 months. What I usually do is just take her places with just me and her and leave the boys with DH. If I need to make a run to Walmart, I'll take her with me for example. I try to do a Mommy/Kalynn time where I take her to McDonald's so that we can have lunch with just the 2 of us.

 

My mom is in town and often takes my older child to fun places. We also found a Mr. Rogers book that has really helped, explaining how kids might hear the expression "wait" very often and how frustrating it can be, but how mommy and daddy really enjoy taking care of them, too.

Now that my babies take more consolidated naps, it is a bit easier for me to do fun things. However, sometimes I'm completely wiped from night nursing and when the babies are napping, I try to rest. I nap in increments of Sesame Street, if you know what I mean. My record is once I napped for a Sesame Street and a half. It had been a rough night!

 

Jayda is 2 1/2. She is always with me doing what im doing. dishes, laundry, talking to daddy on the computer. Here and I have always been together cause daddy spends alot of time away from home. but I do the walmart thing too. I'll leave the twins with my dad or Joey and take Jayda to do the shopping or clean the van all that stuff. I spend alot of time at my moms when Joey is away and my neice who is 6 is there and they play allll the time. its sooo hard tho to go places expically when Joeys not here. were taking the kids to the zooz on friday and im dreading it!!! 2 teathing babies and a 2 year old. Im gonna need some help!!!!

 

QUOTE(Sofiesmom @ Aug 1 2007, 03:04 PM) [snapback]353105[/snapback]
I have no family here, only over 4000 miles away. I have a baby sitter 2 x 4 hours (Mon pm and Wed am) for the twins. This morning I took my oldest to the beach and then for lunch. On Fri pm I have a nice student baby sitter who takes her to the park, etc. On Tu / Thu she's at school (summer camp). I really feel the baby sitter makes a major difference. She seems happy with it too. Wed pm we have her play group and we take the twins too. So it's basically only Monday morning and Friday morning. This Monday I had a friend coming over with her 2 kids, things like that. I also do stuff with her when the twins are napping in the morning (besides cleaning up and getting bottles ready), even if it's only 30 minutes. And yes, she does watch a little more tv now and then.


I want to be as organized as you in my next life!

I definitely need to make more time for my older son, just empathizing!

 

to be honest, i didn't find alot of time for poor gavin in the beginning. life was just a blur and i think he did miss out. i feel horrible but he watched ALOT of TV in the first few months after the twins were born. they were colicky so they were screaming all the time. i did start to try to include him when i had to do something to the babies. like i would have him help me feed them (he would hold the bottle with me) when i fed them bottles. or when i would do tummy time with the babies gavin and i would get on the floor in front of them and i would teach him body parts. he would show me where the twins' noses, eyes, tummies, feet, etc.. were. we did this alot! he had the body parts learned very quickly. i would just try to get them involved with taking care of the twins. they think it is playing. good luck!!