familytastic!

Tonight as I tried to referee between 4 squealing children, feed the baby and make dinner for us all I wondered why I do this to myself!

Last night I offered to take Rays school friend for a few hours after school. He's a lovely child and great company for my two, and so it was arranged. We arrived home and as I proceeded to take off everyones coats, hats and gloves Ray's other friend from next door arrived. I didn't like to turn her away and so I invited her into play. Mistake number one!

From the minute they all began to play they screamed. Now happy screaming I can cope with, but constant crying, whining and telling tales begins to wear on me very very quickly. Not a minute passed without someone calling for me or bursting into the kitchen to inform me that they had been locked out of the playroom, or that someone had stood on their toe, banged their head, pulled their hair.....the list goes on and on.

To make it worse I had offered dinner to all four, and amidst all the refereeing and running up and down the stairs I had to watch baby D (who is now mobile in his baby walker) wasn't venturing too close to the cooker, and that the sausages weren't burning.

I am not feeling on top of the world anyway, I have a recurring sinus infection, and the doctor today referred me to the local hospital to see whats causing this. I am tired and just about worn out.

Thankfully after dinner Rays friend from next door had to go home, and for some reason everything calmed down. I don't think that she caused the trouble, but maybe with one less they had a bit more space, more toys and were less inclined to show off. Anyway they decided to watch a Dora The Explorer DVD and the 10  minutes silence was bliss!

Next time I invite friends over I am going to limit it to one at a time. I do wonder how childminders cope, I obviously just don't have the patience!