Help!! Kids are a handfull and a half!

“Help! Serenity now!


I am taking care of my three neices, 3, 5, and 8 years old on my own for a while since their folks are in Texes and I think I'm going insane! The 3 year old must be the easiest kid out of the three :S. The five year old REFUSES to mind when were shopping or in the car and refuses to wear shoes (she even kicked the cat) and the 8 year old just like to tattle on everyone and nag her younger sisters. NONE of them will eat good food or go to bed on time. They do have their good moments ( The 5 year old asked if the mean man down the street that traps cats was Saddam) and i know its tough because of the storm so they couldnt play outside but sheesh....I don't think I ever want my own kids now...”

“Good luck!”

“Have fun!

8)”

“Yeah I'll need the luck! Hopefully the weather will clear up so I can take em to the zoo...maybe leave a couple of them there with the monkeys!

Kids are a full time job!”

“Lot's of luck!!!!

I don't have kids and everytime I see the nieces and nephews I am reminded why--that job is not for me!

Best!”

“There is no child care problem that cannot be solved with the proper application of duct tape.”

“Bit- that is if you could catch em!”

“They have to sleep sometime. If you're having problems with that, turkey sandwiches and milk before bed helps a lot.”

“They don't like turkey...and won't drink their milk(except with cookies)”

“Think anyone would notice if you sold them or put them up for adoption? :-)”

“Ever wonder why grandma gives so much cookies and milk? Tranquilizers in the milk, of course. Or, you could always rock them to sleep with a real rock. (I'm kidding, I'm kidding)”

“I've got 4 of them little kids. 4 blonde haired girls ages 6, and twins 8, and then a 10yr. old. I take them camping, backpacking, rock climbing and rappelling. At times I wish my other two adult childern were young again and with us, and at times I wish these were adults and out on there own. We don't give them everything they want. But we give them all the attention they want. We have fun. Kids need and like structured activity's.”

“Its been my experience, after getting one out the house and still having 3 at home, all teen-agers, that when they are little, they are more work. When they are older, they are more worry (and I've got pretty good kids, I think). I'd take the more work part if given a choice. I still admire Mark Twain's timeless advice on raising teen-agers: When your kids turn into teen-agers, put em in a barrel and feed them through a hole. When they turn 16, plug the hole.”

“3 boys, 5, 9, 11 and full of pi$$ and viniger. they are my purpose for existing. the most joyful problem one could have.



free....try nyquil.....”

“Don't know how you do it. My 2 yr old grandson wears me out. The minute I sit down to rest, he grabs my hand & says "walk". He has 50 cousins but I think I'm his favorite playmate.”

“Having little kids around is a young person's game.”

“I had children to amuse myself. They are the funniest things on earth.”

“One way to control kids is to play with them and acknowledge the existence of their attention span.

A person's attention span in "minutes" is approximately equal to their age in "years". In other words, the attention span of a 10 year old is 10 minutes. So, every 10 minutes be ready to do something to get them back into whatever you are doing (e.g., "OK, now lets see who can do that again the fastest", or, "OK, it is time for a snack.").

You have to find out what kinds of things they like to do, so test the waters.

1. Some like games: board games, follow the leader, Simon Says, 20 questions, license plate games, etc. Puzzles could be included here. It may be the competition they like. See who can make the best paper airplane.

2. Some like crafts or activities: clay or Play-Dough, paint some statuary, bake cookies, go to the park, go for a hike, build a tent inside the house with sheets, cook something together.

3. Creative activities - Some kids like to be creative. Painting pictures, making posters, Legos, telling stories, building things out of wood scraps (one of my favorite things to do when I was a kid).

I told my daughters when they started babysitting that if they "played" with the kids instead of just "watched" them, they would have no trouble, the kids would love them, and they would always get invited back. They told me many times how much that advice helped them get all the babysitting jobs they wanted and they always had a good time.

My four kids are 26 (tomorrow), 24 (Saturday), 21, and 16. We really enjoyed our kids when they were young. We were very busy with sports, Scouts, church activites, school, etc. Frankly, we miss it.

Oh, yes. If you are close to a theme park: ANNUAL PASSES!! I still take my 16 year old daughter to Disneyland about once a week (if at work, turn down volume before clicking on link).”

“Free23,

Those are my children's ages! Would you take mine for a week so I can go backpacking? I pay well! Pretty, pretty pleeeeeeeez!

:o)”

“I have five children and they are everything to me. Now they are M10 and M10 (twins), F13, F14, B18.

Yes, they are a handful. It doesn't get e4asier as they get older, it just gets different. But I wouldn't give them up for the world!

But there are days when I look forward to them being all growed up and moved out... ;)

Sunshine, I'll take your kids for a week anytime. Seriously.”

“what the heck does the "B" stand for? bionic? it's prolly just hard to type when you have trollishly small fingers. LOL!
;-D”

“Bedeviling, more than likely...”

“Oops...I started with B for boy then changed 2 out of three of them to M for male.

Troll schmoll, lyra, I have met more TT'er on the trail than you ever will...you've never even been on a trail, HAVE you, lyra? Hmmmmmm????

So don't try calling ME a troll!

So there.”

“just as i thought. (he's protesting a little too much!)
;-)”

“No I'm not!

I'm not protesting too much, I'm not, I'm not!

And I am not a troll, really, I'm not a troll, so don't keep saying that, because, um....I'm not!”

“I can not say enough about how hard the parenting gig is, it is a constant challenge. I think it's a good idea for parents to take small, but important, breaks every once in awhile. Just a few hrs. a wk. or an overnight every few months, makes a huge difference in how much energy and enthusiasm (sp?) I have for the job. However, and you will know this when it is your own kids Free23, it is a very rewarding job too. The first time your child gives you a big hug and says in a sweet little voice, "I love you!" every hard moment is repaid. Plus, it's like having your own stand-up comic.”

“I think that taking care of someone else's kids is way harder than taking care of your own. You know your own kids, their personalities and issues. Someone else's kids are a mystery, so you feel very uncertain about what they want (if they don't talk well) or what they are upset about or what they are fighting about amongst themselves. Also you can't help but do things different than their own parents, and they probably don't hesitate to complain about the differences. This just makes things uneasy, but it should get better over time.”

“Fritz: will you take my four, too, so Sunshine and I can go hike together?”

“Kids are the best. I find that I am getting bored by the repetitive schedule that children need. I understand that they need that structure, but there are times that wish I could read them another story other then "Put me in the Zoo, by Robert Lopshire" or sing another song other then "The meatball song" Watch another video other then Maisy. It wears on you. Thank God for warmer weather. I least we can go outside and play in the water.”

“Sure, Craig, no problem.

Yours can help me watch hers. :)”

“LOL I took em to the zoo and to fairytale town and that was fun (the actually went to bed easy becuase of that) I tried taking them to the Jelly Belly but they were acting up too much in the car so I brought them back home. the five year old wouldn't quit screaming like a two year old. And her sister was provoking her.”

“Oohh! I've been to the Jelly Belly factory! Lots of fun. Took home a couple bags of Jelly Flops. :)

I like being the aunt, since I've never been asked to watch the kids more than a quick overnight. I can suffer that long, then mom and dad are back to take care of them!”

“I have a question for the experienced parents of more than one child . . . did your oldest child start asking for a brother or sister at any point, before you had a 2nd child? Newergirl is starting to meet alot of kids at church who have siblings, plus she understands that my sister's babies are brother and sister. So, naturally she has started to randomly say things like, "I want a brother and sister" or "Mom, I'm playing w/ my (imaginary) sister." We are not at all in the market for another kid, for a very, very long time (if ever) and I'm just wondering if this will pass. It makes me kinda' sad for her. Her dad is also an only child, but I'm the oldest of four.”

“oh, kids who have siblings usually hate them when they're young. so rest easy that she'll never be satisfied, no matter what you do. LOL!!”

“Yep. I hated my brother. My sister was the middle child, the peace keeper, so she was OK in my book. But my brother and I always fought. Wasn't until he left for college that we started getting along. :)”

“I sort of agree w/ that Lyra. I hated my siblings at times and then at other times I was really glad I had them. I lived in the boondocks, I needed a ready-made group of friends. I also needed a team to battle my fat cousins w/. Ever been shot w/ a b-b gun? LOL!

My bf often says that he wishes even now that he had siblings. Not that I think any of that is a good reason to have another child. We are not at all interested or ready right now, but I just wonder how Newergirl will deal w/ that.”

“I don't think my daughter ever really had the chance to ask for a brother or sister. She was only 2y9m when our son was born, and we told her very soon after my wife was pregnant with him that she was going to have a brother or sister.

My kids get along amazingly well, to the point where people think they're twins sometimes. (My son is tall for his age) But that has begun to change as my daughter gets older, and my son hasn't been happy to lose his playmate. I'm trying to pick up the slack though.

Anyway, as it will with most childhood phases, it will pass.”

“Yeah, that's a good pt. Bit. I think alot of kid's who do have siblings, are usually so young at the time the next one comes along, they never really have the chance to "want" a brother or sister around. I think the only really reason Newergirl is suddenly interested, is because she is starting to spend alot of time around kids who are siblings and she's "curious" (for lack of a better word).”

“newgirl, that is cute, "...having your own standup comic..."!

If newergirl and the twins spend a lot of time together, instant brother and sister.

I only have three boys. The cousins have spent time together since they were babies.
Its like having a large family without the large family.”

“That is probably it. I wouldn't sweat it too much. Kids ask for all sorts of things they can't have.

On the "having another" thing, I understand your reasons for not wanting another child. I do think it is an enriching thing to have siblings though. My brother Scott is the only other person in the world who "gets" me.”

“Newgirl - I don't think they really care about siblings when they are young.

My 21 and 24 year old daughters are best friends and have always got along.”

“I am only 13 so I am know how their minds work! aha! anyway, make it a game. To get them to do something make it seem like a game to them. Or, if that doesn't work, or you aren't creative, BRIBE them. Wearing shoes is worth and ice cream cone..”

“I am only 13 so I know how their minds work! aha! anyway, make it a game. To get them to do something make it seem like a game to them. Or, if that doesn't work, or you aren't creative, BRIBE them. Wearing shoes is worth and ice cream cone..”

“Ever washed half a 'Sidewalk sandwich'from your $350 down bag ?”

“Sauron started asking for a little sister when he was 7. I felt it to be an excellent oppurtunity for him to learn that we don't always get what we want ¦ ) . He's still an only child (he'll be 16 in a couple of months) and he's OK with that.”

“All my friends say you're not a real parent until you have at least 2 kids. I only have an 23 month old son and he's a full-time job when I'm not at work. When I take him hiking he rides along in a backpack and typically picks up a stick at the trailhead before I get him into the carrier. Imagine, if you will, each time I stop to take a break, he whacks me on the head with the stick(kinda like Cartman) and says "go Da, go!". I really have a lot of respect for those with multiple kids. The responsibility that I have to groom and raise this little person, at times, seems overwhelming but it's a total blast!”

“Newgirl, Abby has been asking for a baby too. She's fascinated with them and says she's even willing to share her cookies and toys!

I have two brothers who are 8 and 10 years younger than me. I love them very much and enjoyed their growing up. I don't think there's anything wrong with waiting a LONG LONG time between kids if you want to, or not having more than one. Newer girl has cousins who are close to her, and they count for alot. She'll get over waiting or having no siblings. =)”

“LOL sale! I hid my good down bag....and the five year old STILL found it LMAO. Luckily nothing bad happened to it. I let them play with my old mummy bag that I don't use anymore tho.

Actually yesterday (even though the day started out baddly) I did have fun with them in my garden letting them help plant beans and pumpkins. The older one was very interested in it and the five year old had fun chassing bugs and picking flowers.

I tried teaching them to play hacky-sak but that lasted less then a minute LOL

Anyway they are back home with thier parents now. WOHOO! I am free again!”

“Free23, I was going to tell you that a big box to crawl in and out of and play peek a boo is a great toy. Cheap too! Glad to see you survived the three little monsters.

Newgirl, I have two a male 21 & female 19 who are out of the house now. They were hard work but well worth it like everyone else wrote. I say don't rush into anything and if you decide to not have anymore, that's fine too. But having two sisters and a brother myself has given me much joy especially in my adult life. It's nice having a brother or sister in the household with you. If nothing else, there's always someone there to play board games with! What do only children do? No board games!

Cairn, I kinda agree with your friend that you really don't have it hard until you have more than one. Before my daughter came along, it was me and my little son. He was my buddy. He was so easy! Then you throw one more in the mix and you're whole life changes. It's busier, less time & money for yourself but it was worth it.”

“I was the 5th child of seven. I had two older sisters, two older brothers and two younger sisters. Guess what. I begged my Mom for a younger brother!!!

Kids are expensive and time consuming. Different people can juggle different loads differently. What's good for one family, isn't for another. Do what is best for you and your family. If you do the best you can and are confident in your ability to make decisions, you should have no regrets no matter what your choices.”