Ahhhhh!!!!

[My4SunshineGirlsNY]

It's going to be a LONG summer and it just started! I have 11 kids here today...4 are mine, the rest daycare...just 2 days out of the week I run full like this...this is my first summer day running full and WOW, I'm exhausted!! Anyone else here have many of their own kids AND run full?

I have fed/cleaned up, done crafts, cleaned up, played softball, cleaned up....feeding 11 mouths all day long and cleaning up is a chore in itself!! I feel like I'm just cleaning up one meal before the next one rolls around, or snack.

I can't go anywhere with this many kids as my van only seats 7, now I'm feeling a little "trapped". Anyone else with me? It's been a LONG day already and I still have 2 hours to go. I have a feeling this summer is going to drag.

[Vesta]

I have 2 days where I can get up to 10.
It's only happened once this summer(my husband was home to help), but I get occasional days of 8.
I do not like it at all. I have to put my head down and drive through and hope I come out alive and well at the other end. Blech.
It's one of the reasons I quit working at and won't work at a center.
I know 10 to 1 is legal(at centers), but who in their right mine would do it every day?
Pile on cooking and all the clean up afterwards?? Oh no.
I enjoy the school age kids (I'm freaky that way), but I'll be happy when school starts and I can get it back down to my 4 or 5 a day.
Our summer break started May 27th, so it's already getting old.

[Crystal]

I have 14 kids every day, so yeah, I hear ya! But, I do have my husband as my assistant and my 17 year old works for me during preschool hours. Honestly, though, I prefer to have all of them rather than just some of them....they entertain each other and need me less.

[My4SunshineGirlsNY]

I have 14 kids every day, so yeah, I hear ya! But, I do have my husband as my assistant and my 17 year old works for me during preschool hours. Honestly, though, I prefer to have all of them rather than just some of them....they entertain each other and need me less.

If I had help it would probably be less stressful...my older kids help a little, but cannot be in 100% control at any given time. My oldest daughter is 13 with ADHD so she's a little more inmature, so I'm the only adult here.

[Crystal]

Yes, that would be stressful. I am so glad that I have full time help.....I JUST hired my daughter to work for me, which has been awesome. She was looking for a job, but not easy in this economy. We were going to buy her a car this summer, and have her help if she got a job, now I am just paying her $10 per hour and that will go towards her car.

[katie]

I am so with you. I have only 6, 4 being mine, 7 soon. But here's today, I can only laugh!
6:00 am Wake, look at the clock...try to convince self to go back to sleep
6:40 am ok, get up now!
7:05 dck #1 arrives, we read since everyone else is still asleep
7:10 dck#2 comes. They fight, they battle.
8:00 The dead arise and my 3 kids slither in. 9yrs, 7yrs, 4 yrs.
8:30 Dch leaves, help! I"m alone!
8:45 Fix various menu requests for kids, eat the leftovers
9:00 my 5 month old wakes up, nurse, change, change poopy 1yr old dcb
change 3 yr old dcg who refuses potty
9:30 walk, double stroller. Neighbors think I have way too many kids. Too hot outside to explain.
10:00-11:30 outside in the sprinkler/baby pool. Fights ensue over turns on the slide, the water is cold, she's touching me, etc.
11:45 Porch for lunch. Feed all 6 while stripping bathing suits. Dispose of very evil sandwich crust. Evil crust! Clean baby puke off my leg and out of my shoe.
Eat my own pb&j- my own!
1:00 rechange everyone. 3 youngest down for nap. 1yr old cries for duration of nap, mom is trying to potty train at 1 yr old. She is sure it is time. So baby hates pullups and cries the whole time.
2:00 now I can clean the whole house again!
2:45 collapse on daughter's bed and listen to 7yr old read princess book
3:00 get all up, rechange, battle the potty. Snack, reclean kitchen
4:00 all kids drag the porch toys in b/c of storm. Battle son, no son , the
girls all under 7 do not want to watch star wars. Turn the tv off!
4:05 dad picks up 3 yr old. Mom and dad recently split. She goes nuts crying.
He looks at me like what torture device did you use on her today?
4:45 mom#1 call for the fourth time today to check on potty training progress of 1 yr old. My hair is gray.
5:00 Let's bake cookies. Fight ensues over licking the bowl between my own kids. Yes, you can now watch star wars.

When is national child caregiver day????????

[Crystal]

When is national child caregiver day????????

LOL! You just missed it...it was in May.

[tmcp2001]

I am so with you. I have only 6, 4 being mine, 7 soon. But here's today, I can only laugh!
6:00 am Wake, look at the clock...try to convince self to go back to sleep
6:40 am ok, get up now!
7:05 dck #1 arrives, we read since everyone else is still asleep
7:10 dck#2 comes. They fight, they battle.
8:00 The dead arise and my 3 kids slither in. 9yrs, 7yrs, 4 yrs.
8:30 Dch leaves, help! I"m alone!
8:45 Fix various menu requests for kids, eat the leftovers
9:00 my 5 month old wakes up, nurse, change, change poopy 1yr old dcb
change 3 yr old dcg who refuses potty
9:30 walk, double stroller. Neighbors think I have way too many kids. Too hot outside to explain.
10:00-11:30 outside in the sprinkler/baby pool. Fights ensue over turns on the slide, the water is cold, she's touching me, etc.
11:45 Porch for lunch. Feed all 6 while stripping bathing suits. Dispose of very evil sandwich crust. Evil crust! Clean baby puke off my leg and out of my shoe.
Eat my own pb&j- my own!
1:00 rechange everyone. 3 youngest down for nap. 1yr old cries for duration of nap, mom is trying to potty train at 1 yr old. She is sure it is time. So baby hates pullups and cries the whole time.
2:00 now I can clean the whole house again!
2:45 collapse on daughter's bed and listen to 7yr old read princess book
3:00 get all up, rechange, battle the potty. Snack, reclean kitchen
4:00 all kids drag the porch toys in b/c of storm. Battle son, no son , the
girls all under 7 do not want to watch star wars. Turn the tv off!
4:05 dad picks up 3 yr old. Mom and dad recently split. She goes nuts crying.
He looks at me like what torture device did you use on her today?
4:45 mom#1 call for the fourth time today to check on potty training progress of 1 yr old. My hair is gray.
5:00 Let's bake cookies. Fight ensues over licking the bowl between my own kids. Yes, you can now watch star wars.

When is national child caregiver day????????

SO funny! I laughed out loud! Hope they all sat down to watch Star Wars for you tonight - now you need a glass of wine!

[professionalmom]

I am so with you. I have only 6, 4 being mine, 7 soon. But here's today, I can only laugh!
6:00 am Wake, look at the clock...try to convince self to go back to sleep
6:40 am ok, get up now!
7:05 dck #1 arrives, we read since everyone else is still asleep
7:10 dck#2 comes. They fight, they battle.
8:00 The dead arise and my 3 kids slither in. 9yrs, 7yrs, 4 yrs.
8:30 Dch leaves, help! I"m alone!
8:45 Fix various menu requests for kids, eat the leftovers
9:00 my 5 month old wakes up, nurse, change, change poopy 1yr old dcb
change 3 yr old dcg who refuses potty
9:30 walk, double stroller. Neighbors think I have way too many kids. Too hot outside to explain.
10:00-11:30 outside in the sprinkler/baby pool. Fights ensue over turns on the slide, the water is cold, she's touching me, etc.
11:45 Porch for lunch. Feed all 6 while stripping bathing suits. Dispose of very evil sandwich crust. Evil crust! Clean baby puke off my leg and out of my shoe.
Eat my own pb&j- my own!
1:00 rechange everyone. 3 youngest down for nap. 1yr old cries for duration of nap, mom is trying to potty train at 1 yr old. She is sure it is time. So baby hates pullups and cries the whole time.
2:00 now I can clean the whole house again!
2:45 collapse on daughter's bed and listen to 7yr old read princess book
3:00 get all up, rechange, battle the potty. Snack, reclean kitchen
4:00 all kids drag the porch toys in b/c of storm. Battle son, no son , the
girls all under 7 do not want to watch star wars. Turn the tv off!
4:05 dad picks up 3 yr old. Mom and dad recently split. She goes nuts crying.
He looks at me like what torture device did you use on her today?
4:45 mom#1 call for the fourth time today to check on potty training progress of 1 yr old. My hair is gray.
5:00 Let's bake cookies. Fight ensues over licking the bowl between my own kids. Yes, you can now watch star wars.

When is national child caregiver day????????

When did you have the time to notate all this? I would need a professional following me to make notes.

[professionalmom]

I have 14 kids every day, so yeah, I hear ya! But, I do have my husband as my assistant and my 17 year old works for me during preschool hours. Honestly, though, I prefer to have all of them rather than just some of them....they entertain each other and need me less.

14?! Don't you just love it when you see a mom with only 1 or 2 kids and they seem so frazzled? I always think, "lady, you have it so easy. Try 4, 5, or 6 at a time, all by yourself. Then we'll discuss who SUPERMOM is."

Also, when I tell people I'm having twins (DD will be 2 yrs 4 mths when they are born), people always say, "oh, you're going to have your hands full!" Then I laugh and tell them, "Well, I'm a daycare provider so I get plenty of practice so I'm sure I'm up for it. I always like a challenge!"

[My4SunshineGirlsNY]

I am always amazed when I turn on the Dugger's...wondering how they do it! Or the octomom...she's in over her head! Just NO WAY one person could do it all 24-7. At least with daycare they go home so we can clean up and get things done.

[Janet]

My personal favorite

is when people find out that I have 5 or 6 kids every day (I can have 6, and I have no desire to expand...I value my sanity, !) and they are totally shocked that I only have one child of my own. She's 14 years old so I would never want to add another of my own! I have this whole dream it place that involves my daughter being in college by the time I'm forty and if I had another kid, then I would be starting over again! I'll get my baby and little kid fix by enjoying my proffession and then sending my little turds home at the end of the day

[professionalmom]

I am always amazed when I turn on the Dugger's...wondering how they do it! Or the octomom...she's in over her head! Just NO WAY one person could do it all 24-7. At least with daycare they go home so we can clean up and get things done.

I hear you regarding Octomom. As the mother of twins due in Nov., I can honestly say, it is very hard to chase after toddlers with 2 inside. I can't imagine having 8 inside and trying to keep up with 6 little ones. If she didn't have mental problems before, she has to by now. No one can survive that and not go at least a little crazy.

As for the Dugger's and other large families, there is a secret to it. Once you get to the 5th or 6th child, it starts to get a little easier - my personal theory. Here's why: By the time #5 comes, the oldest is probably 6 or 7 years old and can start helping out with chores and keeping an eye on the younger siblings while mom tends to the new baby. Once the 9th or 10th comes along, the oldest is probably a teen and you have a couple preteens to help out. The older siblings become mini moms and dads to the younger ones. That's how it seems to work on the Dugger's shows (16, 17, 18 ... kids and counting - I have no idea where they are at now).

Plus, when my grandma had her 5th pregnancy, her oldest was 6 years old. Grandma went in to deliver #5 (my mom) and had another contraction. So 4 minutes later, my aunt was born. She brought 2 infants home with 4 toddlers/preschool aged children. The 2 older girls (#2 & #3) helped out. #2 was assigned to my mom (#5) and #3 was assigned to my aunt (#6). The older girls went from baby dolls to real live babies. So grandma had helpers in her older girls (ages 3.5 & 5). Needless to say, grandma & grandpa took a 4 year hiatus before they had their 7th and final child. I think grandma started taking a frying pan or rolling pan to bed and conked grandpa over the head when he got frisky.

[MarinaVanessa]

Needless to say, grandma & grandpa took a 4 year hiatus before they had their 7th and final child. I think grandma started taking a frying pan or rolling pan to bed and conked grandpa over the head when he got frisky.

Sheesh, I'm only expecting my 2nd (due in November) and I've already threatened my fiance that if he doesn't get snipped after this one (as long as it's a boy so I have my set) that I will castrate him myself and personally remove his yam bag with a pair of rusty scissors while he's sleeping (all said with a straight face). He now agreed to have the doctor do it instead of me.

Honestly, I love daycare but I can only handle 2 for 24 hours a day, the rest I get to send home everyday.

[Jenjo]

I have 4 of my own and up to eight dck! 4 of the dcboys fight constantly. This post made me smile it is nice to know others feel the same way as me. I am TIRED! When does school start again?