I have 3 boys (ages 7,11,and 12),and a daughter(15).I am tired of constant chaos and noise.
2006-10-22 13:30:07 · 23 answers · asked by MaryBeth 7 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
I have 4 kids under the age of 7, and I don't really get and peace and quiet. I'll just try to get the older kids doing a quiet activity while the baby is sleeping. There's a lot of other kids in the neighborhood, so a lot of the time I have other kids here playing. But my kids will also go to the other kids' houses too. I try to arrange it so that my older kids go to the other houses the same day. There have been plenty of days that I am ready to pull all of my hair out. When it gets to the point that I am just going to yell at my kids when they haven't done anything wrong, just being kids, I'll send myself to timeout. I make sure they are all ok and safe, turn on the tv for them, and send myself to my room for a few mintues to catch my breath! (I don't think a little bit of tv hurts every now and then! and no, I don't use it as a babysitter.) They know that for those few minutes they aren't to disturb me, and my oldest keeps an eye on the baby (16 month old).
Good luck! Before you know it, they will be out of the house.
2006-10-22 16:20:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes, its chaotic most of the time. l have 4 kids, too. From 13 to 2 years old and they light up the house (and clutter all the time). We live in a small house so you can see and hear all they do and there really is not much privacy and no place to hide either.
What l do is watch my favorite shows when they're asleep (send them to bed at 8 or 8:30). Read the papers every chance l get. Listen to my radio for a few minutes (in earphones since they dont like what l listen to). Spend time alone in Yahoo! (or else they will beg to play online). Pray and ask for strength and guidance to be a better person AND thank Him for giving me beautiful children that l'm really proud of even if l get a headache looking after them. They are still a wonderful blessing.
l do all those things daily with my other chores at home. We mothers must really be Wonder Women to accomplish that.
You are not alone.
Cheers to all busy mothers!
2006-10-22 20:55:58 · answer #2 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Organization... Make sure there is a set bedtime that gives you an hour to so alone at night after they all get to bed.. Institute a before bed "Quick Clean" get 5 boxes let the kids decorate thier box however they choose, make sure the decoration includes a name.. the 5th box is mom and dad etc. about an hour before bed say "Quick Clean" which is the signal for all the kids to hurry around in 10 minutes picking up all items and putting them in the appropriate box "All little Johnnys stuff in his box: then each kid takes thier box to thier room and puts thier stuff away... that will cut down on the chaos...
try talking in accents for fun... for instance an english/australian/ swedish/ indian accent for a day you and the kids do it they will likely be unable to yell and stay in accent... Make it a contest give each child a cup with 25 beans when caught speaking without the accent of the day who ever caught them gets bean... at the end of the day who ever has the most beans gets a prize (pick a place for dinner the next day or pick what will be cooked at home ect...) It's also alot of fun to be silly with accents...
Or try whispering I often begin whispering when my house gets a bit noisy I will speak only in whisper without realizing it the kids all begin speaking in whispers until one says "Hey why are we whispering?" to which I reply "We are,? I thought this was a great noise level"
The chaos and noise can ony be mind boggling if you allow it to be... Kids are by nature a bit noisy if you can think of ways to reduce the volume without impeeding thier creativity and expression go with them ...
2006-10-22 22:28:05 · answer #3 · answered by Diane (PFLAG) 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
HAHAHA yea right...Peace? Im a mother and step mother of four boys, ages 7,6,5,3 trust me peace DOES not exsist in this house. They go to bed, theres still no peace cause your dealing with other things, Hubby, animals, Making sure bookbags are packed, making any phone calls that need to be made, laundry dishes you know im sure. You will never find peace as long as you have children in your home. Im pretty sure of that now :) try to take a break once in awhile. Have family watch the kids for a weekend or heck even a night. And get out and forget everything else. Go have a blast with your huni! We always make at least 3 nights a month "OURS" :) GOODLUCK!!
2006-10-22 20:34:22 · answer #4 · answered by jess_n_flip 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
1. No TV/Music/Video games played with audio on. As a rule, all sound devices need to be private mode only.
2. No shoes on in house. Like Japanese. This really helps.
3. Assigned "quieter" times. Ex. Everyone really keeps it down from when they get home from school until to dinner. Time for homework, reading, napping. No chores done during quiet time.
4. No beepers/phones on audio ring. Vibration only.
5. Phone conversations should be behind a closed door. When someone gets a call they leave the room, if others are in it, to answer the phone call somewhere else like the bathroom or their bedrooms. It's really a courtesy thing.
6. Your children are all old enough to have something else to do once a week every Saturday. Kick 'em out of the house as a rule every Saturday until 4 p.m. Saturdays, the house belongs to you.
7. No friends over to the house during school week.
8. I chored mine to exhaustion on a farm. Then, I fed them homegrown, homecooked delicious, wholesome pig-outs. Hot baths. Lap time and stories. And, they were in bed on their own every night by nine. The rest of the night was mine.
2006-10-22 20:56:43 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Make a corner of your bedroom or any room in the house your own private space. No one else is allowed to talk to you there or bother you there unless it's an emergency as in blood is coming out of someone, lol. Put a comfortable chair or rocker there, a small side table with a lamp. Use the space to meditate, read, listen to music or whatever you want to do. When you need quiet time go there for 15 or 30 minutes.
When you take a few minutes for yourself every once in awhile they will begin to respect your time out because you'll come back to them a better person.
2006-10-22 20:40:27 · answer #6 · answered by Bluealt 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Your children are old enough that you should be able to have some "Mommy" time. I have 2, a 7 year old son with ADHD and a 5 1/2 year old Autistic son. I am pregnant with my 3rd due in April and I am able to find peace. Each one of my boys is like having 4. If I can find peace, so can you..lol..
I tend to relax the most at night, after their bedtime.
Good luck and take a nice long hot bath with a glass of wine and light some candles. It will truly relax you!!
2006-10-22 20:33:26 · answer #7 · answered by jerseymilo9 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Wow...three boys. You've definately got your hands full. Set some ground rules for noise. No screaming. No arguing. No extremely loud music. Quiet TV IS allowed. While they are at school, go to a yoga, dance, or exercise class. Also, a periodic facial/massage might also help. Good luck!
2006-10-22 21:45:55 · answer #8 · answered by onbelay_belayon 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Put them to work! Have them do some chores that will lighten up your load a little. I have my kids do their chores along with when I'm doing some and we make it fun by playing music etc.and it becomes a bonding moment. I always feel at peace after the house has been straightened up and they feel a sense of accomplishment when they're done with the chores. They also want to avoid me for awhile afterwards so I won't find something else for them to do!!!
2006-10-22 20:46:44 · answer #9 · answered by flowergirl 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
They are old enough to understand...."Shut the hell up or I'm going to kick your @$$!!!" Then do it if they do not shut the hell up.
See, this is exactly what happens in households where the children aren't made to behave from an early age. Sorry. If there's a man in the house ask him to enforce quiet in the house. I hate goin over to someones' home where everything is so loud and chaotic. Be mean if you have to and get your kids under control.
2006-10-23 00:12:42 · answer #10 · answered by HazelEyes 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋