[EandDmom]

My 8 year old niece was in a car accident last friday afternoon. She was lifelined to Riley hospital (childrens hospital for those of you not familiar with it luckily one of the best in the country). She is doing better but she has nerve damage the left side of her face is partial paralized and has a skull fracture and a broken collar bone. She did get to go home yesterday.
Anyway, my point is I have been taking care of her two sisters ages 2 and 6 all week. So parents can focus on her. I have had 5 kids 6 and under and I am about to go insane. They have been pretty good its just that the two two year olds are huge on rivalry for my attention and fighting like 2 year olds do. The extra mess and extra noise is getting to me. Why oh why does it have to be winter? Those of you who do this many kids on a daily basis and these ages are amazing!!

[sethsmommy]

I am glad your niece is ok!

[thelowlanders]

Find every covered, enclosed "arena" possible to go play at Even pavillions at the park. Bring the push toys and 3 wheelers. They'll have a blast.

Otherwise, I put em in rain coats and boots, and let them get muddy. We hose them off (w/ outside wrm water hook up) and come in for "warm chocolate" and some cuddles and cartoons. Can you tell what state I'm from? haha

[chevyjewel]

I sympathize.

Right now we've got a 1 and 2 year old along with our 4 and 5 year old.

The mess alone from everyone leaves my skin crawling at the end of the day. I feel like it's a fruitless effort to even TRY to get the whole house clean. Sort of like that whole analogy, trying to shovel the driveway in a blizzard....


Yesterday I spent the better part of three hours cleaning up poop. The two little ones apparently ate a few too many raisins at snack time and well, that'll do it. Woke up from naps with poo up backs, down legs and all over beds and surrounding walls.

I WANTED TO RUN AWAY!!!!!!!!!

I have moments like that most days

Thankfully all it takes is a smile or a giggle to remind me why I stay.



I'm so happy to hear your neice is going to be ok though, what an ordeal.

Just remember to breathe, you'll get through it hopefully with most of your marbles still intact. Who needs 'em all anyway, life is more interesting missing a few

[EandDmom]

The church 5 min. up the road has a giant enclosed playground like the ones with tubes the kids climb through but I am too afraid to take them to it because I'll never get the baby out if he gets stuck. Usually my own kids are with me but they are at their dads. Hubby has tomorrow off but of course he is sick so now I have to deal with that too. It doesn't matter all that matters is my niece is alive and considering her head was hit by a telephone pole all the rest is non important.

[EandDmom]

Originally Posted by thelowlanders

Find every covered, enclosed "arena" possible to go play at Even pavillions at the park. Bring the push toys and 3 wheelers. They'll have a blast.

Otherwise, I put em in rain coats and boots, and let them get muddy. We hose them off (w/ outside wrm water hook up) and come in for "warm chocolate" and some cuddles and cartoons. Can you tell what state I'm from? haha

Great ideas but its 30 degrees outside.. I'd freeze to death.

[thelowlanders]

Awww...that's cold!

Break out the easter eggs early. Have dinosoar egg hunts


What an experience for your niece. Thinking of you and yours.

[meshsgrl]

let them jump on crib mattresses in their rooms...
take them to a Mcdonalds play area
try to find things to do WITH them... for some reason when I am a part of the mess it doesn't bother me as much.

[EandDmom]

The biggest hits so far have been making sun catchers out of wax paper and melted crayons and musical chairs.

[Mommyofthreetobe]

You dont have a single friend with a teen aged daughter that would like to play "mothers helper" for a bit? Maybe just after school to play with the kids at the church thing and ferret the little one out of the tubes? Heck, even one of your friends with a slightly older child (six, eight?) would work for ferreting...set up a play date!

I do not envy you... when we get together with my friend on the weekend we have 7-8 total all under 9 years but there are always 2-3 adults...that would DRIVE ME NUTS!!!!

-Does your local library have story time?
-Can you put in a a kids dance video? (or if you have on demand i think this is listed under "fitness"?)
-Simon says is your friend.

I'm sorry to hear about your niece. I will surely keep her and her family in my prayers. How long do you have her sibs for?

[thelowlanders]

Good one! That reminds me of one excellent video I stumbled across. It's a children's yoga video. Called "Silly to calm". It's excellent and keeps their attention. Maybe the library has it.

[EandDmom]

Originally Posted by Mommyofthreetobe

You dont have a single friend with a teen aged daughter that would like to play "mothers helper" for a bit? Maybe just after school to play with the kids at the church thing and ferret the little one out of the tubes? Heck, even one of your friends with a slightly older child (six, eight?) would work for ferreting...set up a play date!

I do not envy you... when we get together with my friend on the weekend we have 7-8 total all under 9 years but there are always 2-3 adults...that would DRIVE ME NUTS!!!!

-Does your local library have story time?
-Can you put in a a kids dance video? (or if you have on demand i think this is listed under "fitness"?)
-Simon says is your friend.

I'm sorry to hear about your niece. I will surely keep her and her family in my prayers. How long do you have her sibs for?

All great ideas but A. I have no friends and B. live in the middle of the country with no local library.
Normally, I have my son and daughter around to help with the tube rescue but she has to help with her grandmother. I am picking my son up today so we may get to hit that on the way home. The 6 year old went home yesterday now I have just the 2 year old she is supposed to go home today. They said friday or sat and my dh quickly said no friday. The end is in sight...We have been putting on the radio and dancing and they love that. I got the christmas tree up yesterday so heaven help us I think we are going to try to decorate that today. It is mostly the unorganization the extra 2 have caused that is driving me nuts. My nieces have no discipline in their lives and boy does it show. We tell the 2 year old to pick up toys and she looks at you like you have 3 heads and are talking french. She now knows what time out is..lol.

[onhazier]

Many prayers for a positive recovery for your neice.

Many hugs for you for what you're doing.