Hi there, i hope  your doing ok.  i understand your frustration, and I know how hard it can be to be home all the time with the little ones. As much as we love them they do tend to drive us up the wall.

What has worked for me is to form a mothers group with freinds in your home.  Having some adult conversationa and coffee while the kids can also play.  Make these a fun day for both you and your children.  Set up a play area that you can both use ie: a silly cubbie in the bedroom or a pirates ship out back.  

I found that spending quality time with them one on one made the days run smoother.  When i say quality time i know that we all give that no matter what, I mean just do things at their level, get in the sand pit, get covered in mud, play dressups ect.  Spend fifteen minutes (or what you can spare) doing that a day and you will find then they will be more willing to play on their own.

Hope this helpsxx  Nikki mum of 4 Boys.

 Hi there,

the best advice I was given was to create a daily routine- that has something in it for everyone. something like breaky, dressed, go for a walk, short TV show, jobs together, then a rest time, include a special play time with the children.  Some great books I found useful with activity ideas are: "350+  Free Activities for toddlers" by Trish Kuffner,  "Your Child at Play: one to two years" by Marailyn Segal and " Brilliant Brain Games for kids to enjoy" byHamlyn.  They are easy activities and use stuff around the home.  Don't forget to find some time for yourself to relax- even if its 20mins while the kids are watching a show.  There should be heeps of community activities you can also access through your local Recreation centre, playgroups etc. Check out the Library!  hope this helps.

I have been a stay at home mum for 3 years now.  And I fully understand the craziness of being with toddlers all day. It is perfectly normal to crave adult companionship.

I cope by doing several things to fill that need. I take my kids out to the park and the library and the zoo or any other activities that get us out of the house. It gives you a change of scenery and also wears them out a little. Usually when we get home my kids are happy to play quietly by themselves for a while. This gives me the chance to do some things I like to do, like reading or going online. 

I also find that joining a mothers group can help. Your kids will make new friends and you can chat with other mothers who most likely feel the way you do.

You should also try to get someone to look after your kids for a couple of hours each week. You can still be a full time mum but having some time to yourself can be a lifesaver. It will give you the chance to recharge and feel good about yourself. Go get a haircut or your nails done or see a movie with some friends. No other job expects you to work 24/7 so why should being a mum be any different.

Dont be afraid to ask for help when you think you need a break. Grandparents can be great for this. When they offer to babysit take the oppertunity to have some time to yourself or some time with your partner.

Being with your kids 24/7 and not having more adult contact will make you feel rather gaga.  I know, I'm the same.  As I can't get out very much (5 kids!!!!! All under 6!!! No drivers license!!!) I started my own website, which is really hard to get right (at least I think so).  I also joined a discussions group called MyLot .  It is great because you often have to think really hard before replying to what you are reading.  Oh, and you can earn a bit of $$$ too, though not a lot.

There is also a formal writing site I have found that is really good.  You get to keep your typing and writing skills up too Helium.  You can write about what interest you or what you know and it gets seen by the world.

Playgroup will help you too.  Contact and socialisation for you and your children in a safe enviornment and you will be able to share experiences with other mums in the same situation.

Most of all, don't be so hard on yourself.  We all lose it with our kids from time to time, its part of being a parent unfortunately.

Being a fulltime Mum is a very challenging job! Especially if you have two youngsters like you have plus an older sibling!

Don't be so hard on yourself, it is a huge adjustment to make in your life. The dreams that you had of full time parenting are now being changed into the reality, which I can vouch is never the same thing! I'm sure that with your first child you imagined just what it would be like when they were finally here and daydreamed nice rosy images - only to find that the arrival of our precious bundle is nothing like the Huggies Advert we see on TV!LOL But the other thing you realise after awhile is that athough it is different it is richer and more real than anything you could have imagined!

All I can advise you to do is to make sure that you make time to 'mother' yourself! Try to ensure that you can have some time where you are not having to put some elses needs above your own. Remember that your job is a hard one, and that you are only human - we all make mistakes or become frustrated.

If you need more stimulation of an adult kind, try to find a playgroup near you to go and socialise with other parents.  If that isn't possible, try to get friends with children to come around for a play! Or find an activity that you can go to alone that will provide you with the opportunity to talk to other adults ( like a yoga or martial arts class or whatever takes your fancy!)

Please don't think that I think it's easy to find the time ( and energy!) to do these thing, I am a stay-at-home Mum of three, I don't drive and have no immediate family that live near me!  I really do know where your coming from!

If you would like, you can always hook up for a chat to me - I'm home and online most days!

Kindest Regards,

tina72

Hey there, I have been a stay at home mum for 10 years now and i still find it hard, so easy to run out of things to do, The best thing you could do is have something fun set everyday. From crafts oneday, playgroup the next, park the next and so on. Its really hard and surly there is no one on here that says otherwise. Write downa list of things to do and plan it out over a week and stick to it.  The children will look forward to certain days.

The solution I've found is to find activities for them.  Our favourite is the local Playgroup.  We only go one day a week, but whilst there they get to play with other children and I get to talk to other adults!  In general though, just get out of the house as much as you can!!!  Local parks are good - they're free and there's always someone else in the same boat there with their kids :oD

hi im a stay at home mom. i manage to handle it by interacting with them. i have 3 yrs old boy and he likes to talk, so what i do is try and find out whats his interest and use that. i try playing with him and giving him something to do. try that. i also have a 5 months old baby girl so, its even tougher now. just try  talking to her she probably just want a hug and attention from time to time.

Why not look at getting a part time job.  Contry to what society dictates to Mothers some of use are not cut out to stay at home and make play dough all day everyday.  I work for my own sanity and that of my children, you can't be a good Mum if your not happy and if that means going to work then so be it. 

Hi there just think of it as a whole new learning process. Your all having to get used to each other again and yes there is always trying times but you get through it. Ive been in the same situation as you and NO your not a bad person your allowed to get cranky you wouldnt be normal if you didnt!!!!!! My kids ( 10,6, 3 and 11 months )and hubby coped it all the time but when I put the kids to bed I would sit down with them and tell them why I got cranky and we would try and sort it out. 9 times out of 10 it would be something silly but in the end it would be fixed and I always make sure they know how much I love them. I tell them its my job to get cranky and they buy it!!!!! My 6 yr old started school this year and she has become a absolute gem before she was the worst kid anyone could have!!! I thought she'd be the death of me oh I had the worst 5 years of my life with her!!!! I have an hour set aside each day for myself and my 3 yr old sits and watches telly and bub has his nap. I get on the computer and talk to my friends on facebook, I get on minti aswell!!! and  usually  someone drops in to visit. I also look after a friends 8 month old and 4 yr old aswell so I do find it abit hard to get out and about as I have them 4 days a week all day. I know the computer thing isnt for everyone but so far its working for me and I have met alot of people all over the world and its so interesting to see what they all get up to!!! So don't stress out your doing a beautiful job and after abit of time you won't want it any othe way.  xoxo

I have been a stay at home mum for 7 years now and i know how you feel.

I have had times when i just want to shut myself away and breath for a while. But in the 2 years since my eldest started school things have become a little easier. it gives you a routine and you get out of the house even if it is 5 minutes while dropping off to school and in doing this i have had time to talk to some of the other parents and get some of that much needed adult conversation.

Partners are great if they are understanding that it is hard but sometmes partners dont understand and when they get home from work they tend to want to relax and because they have been working all day and some of them believe we do nothing while at home that they dont have to do anything.

My partner figured out how hard it was when i had my youngest now 14 weeks old. he had to have the kids for 3 days while i was in hospital and he soon realised you dont just do nothing.

I have made a comprimise with my partner now that if i feel like i am going to snap or things are getting on top of me he will have the kids while i go out for half and hor or more. Even if it just up to supermarket or to the club for a quick can of coke or something like that. Just to have that breathing room and some me time.

But as we all know this is not always possible but at least take 5 extra minutes in the shower for yourself or sit on the toilet for longer than it takes just make sure you get some time to yourself

This is the way i have coped for the last 7 years and trust me it does get easier when the whole school thing starts.

Good luck and i hope it becomes an enjoyable experience for you.

What I've noticed with some other people is that if you don't nip pretty much everything in the bud straight away, and enforce disaplin, what ends up happeneing is either the mother or father has a "melt down" I've seen it with heaps of my friends. The way to avoid it is to set rules and have consequences for bad behaviour, which I'm sure you do, but you have to be very consistant. I have had people have a go at me for pulling my kid's up for everything they do wrong, and that I'm too strict and I have too many rules (these are only the people with out of control children though, were the children swear and hit each other ect), yet!! my kid's are happy and I never "blow out" cause there is no tention building, so no need to. There are rules my children have to follow and they are NOT aloud to hurt any other children or each other or anyone for that matter. I can't stand watching parents who's children bite or hurt another child and the parents don't punish them, and they wonder why they continue to do it (sorry not really relivent to what yoru asking)  My way of explaining it is like this- You can either let your kid's walk all over you and let them get away with everything, and just put it down to "there only kid's" (yes that's true but they are very clever and need to be tought right from wrong, otherwise they only get worse and will end up with no friends) no disaplin or inconsistant disaplin results in parents who yell and scream OR you can set rules and punish and reward them when neccasary, which resluts in no yelling or screaming as everyone knows there place. Sorry hope that makes sense. 

You could find out where your closest local play group is? Meet other mothers and friends for your children. Not for everyone but putting it out there. And if you live in QLD you're more than welcome to come over for a coffee lol I'll talk your ear off and give you a shoulder.

You are a perfect example of what happens when people learn that being a stay at home is hard work. People that have never been one can sympathize, but until they live it, they will never truly know just how emotionally draining it is. I've been a stay at home mom since my first son was born. I now have a 25 month old and 7 month old. Its hard, but if you can learn how to manage it, it can be some of the happiest and greatest moments of your life.

When you first get into it, its very difficult getting used to it. You no longer have people to socialize with and talk to. This is when you need to get your hsuband involved. If he is understanding, he will help you when he gets home from work.

You also need to realize that you must take time for yourself. If you kids take naps, that's when you relax. But there will be times when you will not get the chance, and sometimes you will go crazy. Its just important to remember not to do it in front of your kids. If you start to feel overwhelmed, step out of the room and either scream into a pillow or go outside and cool off.

Don't feel bad though and think you are a horrible parent or anything... it happens to us all. Sometimes I just get so overwhelmed with all the whining and constant up-and-downs of my day that by the time my fiance gets home, I just want to go to bed.

As time goes on, things will get better and you'll learn to tune out some of the tantrums and whining fits. But your children will also learn that you mean what you say, and when you say no or stop.... they better do it.

There are so many positives of staying home though... you have to keep that in mind. You get to watch your children grow and learn every second of their lives... all their firsts, you'll get to be there. You will bond with them and get so much closer to them than you could have ever imagined, that all the bad times and stressful times won't even matter anymore.

Hang in there, and don't ever be afraid to ask friends, family, or your husband for help.