Being a mum to three 18 months down the line

18 months down the line, what, how? No your having a laugh it was only yesterday I just had Ami. 18 months of being a mum to 3. 18 months of change, 18 months of learning to love all over again. I was the youngest of three but I never realised quite what having three children would mean. I didn't realise it can take Twenty minutes to just get out the house. 6 shoes that all seem to be lost, 3 coats that nobody wants to wear not to forget mummy who has forgotten her cost due to sorting the kids out. 

It's busy three children take it out of you. I glad that Asti is at school as two is a bit more easy to deal with, I sometimes look at my friends who have just one child and think oh I remember that luxury. The time where the kids didn't fight for your attention, where I didn't have three children wanting things ALL THE TIME. 

I do love it though. Each three of my children are so different, so full of fun. It's a blessing it really is. Don't want to make you vom but it can be nice. It's those times I need to focus on when the days come where I feel overwhelmed. That does happen too.  Having to get all the kids out the house for nursery and school is done in military position. I come home knackered and it's still early. Dinner time comes and there's nothing but fighting from the kids, arguing over who gets to watch the TV, arguing over nothing. I wait for bedtime then it comes and I can not wait till there up. Me and my husaband spend the evening sharing stories and pictures. Then the morning comes and Ami wakes everyone up and 6 and we wait for bed time again. 

There is so much bickering too much, many hits made and a lot of shouting. Nobody invites us round for lunch or dinner were to large and noisy. Our stuff gets lost everywhere we go and we never go to coffee shops with all three. Well except drive through Costa where they can have a babycino in the car. 

Washing is a big thing i have mounds on a weekly basis, I'm forever loading and folding. My least favours job of putting it away too. Every wash the machine Sachs a few socks as have a basket full of odd socks!  

Three children is busy busy busy, it's non stop and each day brings new challenges, but I wouldn't change it for the world. Those times when they behave and everything is going a bit too much step ford wives like then I realise it's great. Watching the kids play nicely is great, drinking a hot tea is the best. Life is good. 

My Sunday photo 10 May

The days where I feel pants

Do ever have days where you feel like your a failure mum, where everything goes wrong and you just want to lock your self away and sleep but sadly you can't. You don't get a break well except those five minutes where he kids are glued to the TV set and you wonder how many times of the same episode of bing is enough before you loose your sanity. Well that's me. 

Today of all days I feel awful. The TV is on I am trying to get one toddler to nap my ideas of messy play are out the window as I'm too tired to deal with it all out. It's blooming hard work. It all started with three children whinging and whining,  "im hungry" "I'm thirsty I don't like cereal I want toast" all the usual np anger mixed with gale force winds out side and heavy rain. The prospect of walking to school did not fill me with joy. The fighting continued over who got to watch there programs and it goes on and on. Thankfully after we left for school my friend offered to take my eldest to school meaning I could take two screaming toddlers home as they didn't not like the rain cover. 

They then continue to fight all morning more shouts of "I'm hungry and thirsty" continue and I can not wait till bed time tonight. See I've been solo parenting for about a week now the only two days my hubby was home I spent working long days to make up my hours. It's not always like this though solo parenting is hard. Not seeing another adult in days is hard. Spending too much time on social media and ignoring the kids for a few minutes becomes the reg and before you know it you have wasted another day. 

Thankfully rubbish days are few and far between and there are days where I'm full of energy and ideas but lately I'm not. I'm a tired mum who is after a nap and a nice hot tea. I love my kids don't get me wrong but I am actually missing adult interaction. I'm missing talk that doesn't involve Ben and holly or Minecraft. I'm waiting for my hubby so I can share the load. I have a lot of respect for single mothers or parents who have to go solo all the time with partners that work away. I was a single parent for many years and I took it in my stride but now I miss my husband. 

It's a short time this parenting before we know they will be away and I Will be alone. I won't have to tidy up 16 million times a day and I can sort my self out. Sounds like a dream come true but I Bet I would swap in a heart beat to go back to now. The time where the kids are small and loved to cuddle. The time when they didn't worry or know the rubbish that comes with being grown up. So I'm glad these days are few because they are pants, I need my energy back and to stop wallowing that I feel tired. Enjoy e kids and enjoy life. 

See I'm not a failure I'm just tired. Tired of the same old same, I just need a bit of energy and a bit less time looking at a screen then I can be the mother I want to be. The mum that plays with her children and teaches them the right things, I'm trying my best I really am.

Yours sincerely one tired NoT a failure mum.

Wicked Wednesday's - what are you saying no more Ben And holly

The Do's and Dont's of Soft Play Area's

If you have ever been to a soft play area as a child or with your child you will know they are a place where time stands still. Minutes seem to last ages and you want to make your money's worth but going up and down the same slide 150 times in a row is enough for the hard core mums and dads. So here's is a little list of do's and dont's when it comes to soft play areas.

Do get your self a nice hot tea.

Don't be prepared to drink it as your child wants you by there side the whole time

Do remember socks bonus for matching pair.

Don't forget to check for holes as nothing like the embarrassment of a sticking out toe.

Do go with friends.
Don't think you will have the chance to talk to them as your children go in different directions.

Do remember to ask child if they need a wee regularly.

Don't let a child leave your site when starting potty training as experience tells me you will find said child bare bottomed and the knickers and trousers striped of due to toddler tiddling in the bool pool (the shame).

Do invite friends it's much nicer to have company at these places.

Don't forget your children to find them drinking fruit shoots that arnt there's.

Do make the most of going through the soft play

Don't let little kids boss you around when your at the top, you go down the slide on your terms your a adult, ok I do what they say.

Do make the most of the deals such as free Lunch and play.

Don't go in school holidays as you will pay a small fortune to be pushed around by older kids it's not fun at all.

Do find out the wifi so you can browse social media whilst wanting to blow your brains.

Don't think your kids will let you sit down for longer than 2 minutes.

Do watch out for toddler scraps.

Don't bet on which child will come out worse.

Do jump in the ball pool you are never to old for that. 

Don't get caught by the soft play bandits or worse throw a ball and it hits another child Doh.

Do try to race down the slides with he kids.

Don't forget the kids and leave an afraid toddler at the top of the slide screaming. Then don't walk away like its not your kid (thats never happened I promise). 

Do take plenty of photos especially ball pools they are always good ones.

Don't forget to look out for the photo bombing gran trying to get into every pic, oye love I don't know you get out my pictures. 

Do make the most of the whole time to make he most of e expensive entrance fees.

Don't fall asleep in a dark place to find your kids back on that table trying to steal other kids fruit shoots.

Do smile friendly at other adults, make sympathetic faces when there kid tantrums over not going on the Peppa pig machine. 

Don't get caught staring or looking smug because remember toddlers and kids are like time bombs it could be you next.

Do tell your child that all machines are broken.

Don't start buying the snacks as before you know it they have had cakes ice creams and the idea to not spend loads has gone out the window, all that money could have gone in the peppa pig machine for 5 mins peace.

Do enjoy soft play its a lot more fun when you get stuck in although only the other day I got caught climbing up a step monkey rope thing at digged into my feet if kids weren't around I would have swore all the way up the sodding rope. 

If you have endured soft play what are your do's and Dont's.

How to survive train journeys with toddlers

Ok I am not saying I am some kind of expert on train journeys but the other day I managed to travel across London catching 6 trains and still living to tell the tale. Often you may find the idea is a lot worse than the actual journey and you end up enjoying it. So here is some of my advice when travelling on a train.

1 - First thing to do is to make sure you find either a table or somewhere that has a bit of space for the kids to be free. I found tables to be good as I can sit in front of the toddler to stop them escaping and running up and down the isles.

2 - pack food or be prepared to buy food before getting on every train. Food like crisps and raisins that take time to eat are a good idea. I prepare a massive bag of treats just to make sure if they get restless I can give them something to eat. Also drinks drinks drinks, if your toddler is like both of mine they drink for England and always want a drink. Strong shoulders are a must if you do not have a pushchair. 

3 - make sure you take a stroller, I once made the mistake of going to britmums conference with just a baby in a sling?? What was I thinking. All those different tubes and trains my shoulders ached least with the pushchair if they have a sleep you can put them in it. Although I didn't take a pushchair with ,y 2 year old just packed some reigns, is then backfired when she fell asleep on the tube. People are usually happy to help if they see you struggling up the stairs or on a train. 

4 - colouring and sticking are a good time waster. My toddlers spend the time sticking them to them selves and the table and ignoring the colouring. I always take crayola as I know they wash off well if they go on clothes or face. 

5 - as back up I packed my iPad where I downloaded lots of programs they like in order to calm them down when they got a bit hyper. This worked when they didn't fight over the iPad and who got to hold it.

6 - remember lots of little games such as I spy or look out the window at the bird. These are usually last minute games to help those times where you are desperate. 

7 - don't worry about packing anything for you, if your lucky you may get a child that naps but most the time you will be trying to keep a child entertained and wondering why oh why did I do this 

So I hope some of these tips have helped, I'm no expert just a mum that likes to have adventures how ever crazy they are.

My Sunday photo 03/05/2015