Anonymous
09/06/2019 13:16
Subject: How do you survive the evenings with 2+ kids?!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I disagree with 2244.
We dont do screen time that close to bedtime and theres no need why you can't have regular fully cooked meals for dinner.
I solo parent an baby, 2, and 4 yr old. We play outside starting around 445/5. Around 620ish we come in, the girls play barbie, puzzles, color, help with dinner, whatever.
For dinner, 95% of prep is done already. I do it during nap/quiet time/night before, etc So much easier using a crock pot, or cedar plank salmon on the grill, or a chicken bake....all examples to streamline dinner.
Sometimes we'll play again outside after dinner or just stay inside and play. Baby gets fussy about this time so I ditch cleaning up the kitchen (it usually isn't too messy anyway) and leave it for after everyone is in bed so I can focus on bedtime transition. Sometimes all 3 are in the bath tub at the same time, sometimes it is a quick in/out bath or shower. I'll tell a story, read, talk before lights out.
Awesome! How do you suggest work parents prepare meals when they get home from work and want to spend time with their kids instead of trying to cook a meal with kid(s) whining for their attention the entire time?
I’m a WOHM, and I chop/prep on weekends or the night before. My 3yo and 6yo often help me cook and set the table.
Anonymous
09/06/2019 13:03
Subject: Re:How do you survive the evenings with 2+ kids?!
You do you and what works.
I liked having the baby go to bed late (8pm, sometimes 9pm) because she fell asleep on me during the older kids' reading time or afterwards, then woke up late (8am or 9am). The quiet mornings were nice at the beginning of the day rather than feeling like I really ought to go to bed and get sleep at night instead of clean/shower/relax/whatever.
I liked having the baby go to bed late (8pm, sometimes 9pm) because she fell asleep on me during the older kids' reading time or afterwards, then woke up late (8am or 9am). The quiet mornings were nice at the beginning of the day rather than feeling like I really ought to go to bed and get sleep at night instead of clean/shower/relax/whatever.
Anonymous
09/06/2019 11:07
Subject: How do you survive the evenings with 2+ kids?!
I didn't read all the responses, it seemed like a lot of posters were beating up on people trying to genuinely help you OP.
I have 4 kids. My youngest is around 2 now, and my eldest is 9. It gets much easier once they get older.
When I only had two and my kids were around your kids age (I had a two year old and an infant), the kids ate a lot of easy to warm up foods and I did a lot of cooking on the weekend. I never really cooked during the week, it was mostly just either warming up something (like veggie burgers or chicken nuggets) or warming up something I made over the weekend. I also used TV a lot around bedtime to occupy the older child while I was putting the younger to bed. Fifteen minutes of tv won't hurt your kid.
When my eldest turned 4, and I had three instead of 2 kids, I got better at kind of managing kids, I don't remember being so overwhelmed. I cook a lot of fifteen minute meals -- grilled chicken/fish/etc. and pasta/rice. My kids still watch tv for fifteen minutes when I put the youngest to bed. Its fine.
I have 4 kids. My youngest is around 2 now, and my eldest is 9. It gets much easier once they get older.
When I only had two and my kids were around your kids age (I had a two year old and an infant), the kids ate a lot of easy to warm up foods and I did a lot of cooking on the weekend. I never really cooked during the week, it was mostly just either warming up something (like veggie burgers or chicken nuggets) or warming up something I made over the weekend. I also used TV a lot around bedtime to occupy the older child while I was putting the younger to bed. Fifteen minutes of tv won't hurt your kid.
When my eldest turned 4, and I had three instead of 2 kids, I got better at kind of managing kids, I don't remember being so overwhelmed. I cook a lot of fifteen minute meals -- grilled chicken/fish/etc. and pasta/rice. My kids still watch tv for fifteen minutes when I put the youngest to bed. Its fine.
Anonymous
09/05/2019 23:12
Subject: How do you survive the evenings with 2+ kids?!
Anonymous wrote:I disagree with 2244.
We dont do screen time that close to bedtime and theres no need why you can't have regular fully cooked meals for dinner.
I solo parent an baby, 2, and 4 yr old. We play outside starting around 445/5. Around 620ish we come in, the girls play barbie, puzzles, color, help with dinner, whatever.
For dinner, 95% of prep is done already. I do it during nap/quiet time/night before, etc So much easier using a crock pot, or cedar plank salmon on the grill, or a chicken bake....all examples to streamline dinner.
Sometimes we'll play again outside after dinner or just stay inside and play. Baby gets fussy about this time so I ditch cleaning up the kitchen (it usually isn't too messy anyway) and leave it for after everyone is in bed so I can focus on bedtime transition. Sometimes all 3 are in the bath tub at the same time, sometimes it is a quick in/out bath or shower. I'll tell a story, read, talk before lights out.
Awesome! How do you suggest work parents prepare meals when they get home from work and want to spend time with their kids instead of trying to cook a meal with kid(s) whining for their attention the entire time?
Anonymous
09/05/2019 18:20
Subject: Re:How do you survive the evenings with 2+ kids?!
Anonymous wrote:I am a SAHM and I have outsourced cleaning and lawn maintainence. I love being with my kids and my DH helps out a lot. Since I do not WOH, the normal chores associated with taking care of the children does not happen in a stressful manner. I am not strapped for time and I am not wasting my mental energy thinking about my job. I am in the moment and loving how very cute my kids are.
lol is this a joke?
Anonymous
09/05/2019 18:10
Subject: Re:How do you survive the evenings with 2+ kids?!
I am a SAHM and I have outsourced cleaning and lawn maintainence. I love being with my kids and my DH helps out a lot. Since I do not WOH, the normal chores associated with taking care of the children does not happen in a stressful manner. I am not strapped for time and I am not wasting my mental energy thinking about my job. I am in the moment and loving how very cute my kids are.
Anonymous
09/05/2019 16:02
Subject: How do you survive the evenings with 2+ kids?!
Anonymous wrote:This should be not that bad. I wouldn't go as far to say easy...
But not "this is soooo hard" either. I have a 2,7,9 year old now and it is a lot more work than when I had baby and toddler. Now there is a bigger dinner needed, homework to be on top of, music and sports to be taken to..all while entertaining toddler. And then bathing and reading, but each child does this separately now (different genders and reading levels and interests) which is time consuming and lights out. On a smooth school night everyone is in bed by 8:30. In the summer it can go as late at 10.
Make an easy dinner, put the baby and toddler in the bath together. Have a bath sling for the baby in the bathtub. Wash baby up quickly, wrap in a towel and transfer baby to a bouncer seat in the bathroom next to you while you finish up toddler bath. Get their pjs on together. Nurse/bottle feed baby while you read toddler a bedtime story. Put baby in bed. Put toddler in bed and give some extra snuggles. Done. Go clean the kitchen. I would aim to have them both in bed by 7.
I have similar ages and I think it is easier than when I had an infant and toddler. Your memory may be fuzzy.
Anonymous
09/05/2019 16:00
Subject: Re:How do you survive the evenings with 2+ kids?!
I had the same gap. DH and I would each take a kid. When I was nursing, I would take the baby. DH used to travel a lot back then. I would put baby down first or hold baby while reading books to 2yo. It gets easier. Kids take baths together, read books together, fall asleep together. We put them in the same room when they were 1/3 and 2/4.
Now I have a 2yo and older kids in elementary. I kiss them good night and they read before falling asleep. I read books to 2yo at bedtime.
There is light at the end of tunnel!
Now I have a 2yo and older kids in elementary. I kiss them good night and they read before falling asleep. I read books to 2yo at bedtime.
There is light at the end of tunnel!