How do you manage?

I am the mother of three boys 15, 13 & 5. All play sports and we are constantly running around during the week and on the weekends to games, practices, etc. Luckily, the girls are great babies and have really just adjusted to our crazy life style. But how do you get your babies on a schedule when you are so busy? I take the kids to school in the morning, I pick them up from school with the babies. I am taking online college classes. I work part time from home and one day in the office a week.

Am I crazy? Am I taking on too much? I just feel like there is no time to clean my house, organize the girls room, exercise, diet....

I honestly feel they would have more of a consistent schedule if I had them in daycare. At least they wouldn't be dragged around everywhere while I run my errands during the day.

I feel really overwhelmed. I have a great husband who helps me out tremendously, but I know he is tired when he comes home from work, so I try to give him time to rest. At least I can catch some sleep during the day, he is up with me sometimes at night and is at work all day.

I don't want to go back to work full time, but if I did life would be much easier financially.

I don't know. With my singletons I went back to work part time 8am - 3pm at 3 months, but I can't afford to do that with two babies in daycare. And it is funny because with my singletons I was ready to go back to work by 3 months, with the girls I am no where ready to go back to work.

Do you think they are better off at home with me running around the city all day or do you think they would be better rested in a daycare?

Does what I'm saying even make sense?????????????

 

Great rambling - but makes total sense! Wow - you are so hectic! I personally believe that if you have the choice at their age then it is better for them to be with you. I know some mums have to go back to work and daycare is the only option. But I don't think the running around will affect them -they will just become used to it and take their naps in the car. They are too young for any kind of schedule anyway so I would just enjoy having them with you!

 

I think at this age they sleep most of the time so it's fine, but as they grow older it might be an issue. But in the end though lots of moms have had kids with older kids in the house and they all grew up fine.

Just make sure they get good naps in their crib as they older and not just cat naps in the car.

 

I know some people have great daycare providers to send their kids to - but I personally don't know anyone who runs a daycare or has daycare in their home. So for my girls, I feel like the care they receive from me is better than they would get from any daycare, no one loves them like I love them (except for maybe their dad, but someone has to work). However, I also don't have any other children so the only thing my girls share attention with is this website.

I don't think there is a way you can do it all every day. It's just not possible. I have been struggling with this lately too b/c the house cleaning has been taking a back seat to the care of the girls and exercising for me. What I'm trying to do is alternate exercising and house cleaning. One day I go to the gym and the next day I really make an effort to do some home organization and cleaning.

Don't be too hard on yourself, I think alot of us have "mom guilt" and we are all just doing the best that we can. It is not going to hurt your girls to be in the car while you drive their brothers to sport practice and games. :hug: I think it will just take time and you'll find a groove that works for your family.

 

Hire someone to clean your house and/or a mother's helper. You deserve it!

 

Wow. I am in awe. You have a ton on your plate; I feel bad now for feeling overwhelmed by my life. I'm a full-time, outside the home working mom; and I would say that if you can avoid daycare, do it. They have wonderful teachers, and I feel good about my choice to work and their care situation. However, my boys have been sick so often, and that is extremely stressful to me. It's pretty much unavoidable with daycare, which is not to say they wouldn't have gotten sick at all otherwise; but I do think it would have been less frequent. Plus they don't nap all that well at daycare--so there's no guarantees on that front as well.

I think the cleaning service/mother's helper ideas sound like a better (and cheaper) option.

 

Do yourself a favor and reach out to the (now I can't remember the name of it... darn it) triplets and large families forum (?) I only have four and they give me so many ideas.

Things change as you have more children. I have one teenager, and one autistic 4 year old... and my twins are 8 month old road warriors... and we are GREAT! Your expectations need to change with your additions .

 

Firstly, you sound like you are doing a wonderful job juggling so many children and other commitments and congrats to you for keeping involved in your boys activites, working and continuing your education.

You sound like a super mum already.

It is normal to feel overwhelmed. I did, and it was a heavy feeling that didnt go away until i acknowlegded i needed help.

I got a cleaner in for 3 hourse once a week. It wasn't for long, it was all i could afford, but boy did it help. Having a clean house, and being caught up with the majority of things made me feel so much more together.

I would definately think your babies are better off with you than in daycare, they are still so little, and don't underestimate what you are giving them even if you are running around.

As a prev poster said make sure your babies get some good sleep in their cribs, maybe you could plan for them to have atleast one good sleep in their crib eg the afternoon sleep, and try if you can to shedule other things around that sleep...but knowiing youre busy life, this could be difficult.

give yourself some credit, mama, you are doing great, and i think a few hours of paid help in the house a week would go a long way.