Update: to My Drink Question a THANK YOU!!

C., bless your heart! What A. awful story about the last 3 years! The juice is the least amount of your worries - it's the total package that sucks, and I'm so sorry.

I can't imagine that your husband can't go outside with a bluetooth and his computer or go sit in the car to take his phone calls. My husband has done that. Is there not A. office that he can work at?

The reason I ask these questions is that there could be many ways that he could get the quiet he needs, yet allow a semblance of normalcy in your life with the kids. You are right - letting kids do what they want just to keep them quiet is a terrible way to raise kids, and I'm glad your pastor is helping your husband see this.

What you need now is to be 100% consistent in what you do at home. Keep a good schedule and tell them before you transition to another activity. Do clean up together also, before starting something else. Make sure they have breakfast, a morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner at pretty much the same time every day. Having a schedule helps children feel safe and secure. And it's also important to get them to bed at the same time every night, after a short but sweet night time ritual. Get your husband to help with the night time ritual - that will mean a lot to the kids after they get used to it.

And if you institute consequences for bad behavior every single time, they will become much better behaved and help you and your husband all the way around.

I hope so much for you that things will work out at home. Good luck!

Dawn

It's hard to keep kids quiet, but you do have to explain to them that when Dad is on the phone they HAVE to be quiet. It's very easy to brain wash and control our children. They should know when the phone rings it means "quiet time"... and if you have to remove them from the room, isn't worth it knowing that hubby is bringing in that paycheck?
*Just as A. example: My grandaughter is 3.5 yrs old. I just had a visit with them. Her dad's cell phone rang and my granddaughter looked at me and said "Shhsh Grandma, my dad is on A. important call"..
I figure it's all in the training from the get go.
Sounds like you are doing a great job, all of it is a learning experience for sure.

we have a dedicated office so when I am working and calling potential candidates, I am behind closed doors.

take your kids to the park and get them on a schedule. They should still be napping in the afternoon. So that will offer your husband some quiet.

Still need to get on the same page, though. just because of the work situation you shouldn't be kissing your kids butts. Maybe you can find some mommy and me play dates to get out of the house and get them socialized???

Life isn't easy. It's great that you are recognizing things need to change! :) that's always a good thing!!

My sister got a shed to make her temp office for days when her kids were too much, she got a fan for hot days and a space heater for cooler/cold days and was able to work from her laptop and the phone system was thru the computer - not sure if any of this is feesable for your set up or not but lots of people make it work from home with creative options.

Wow... you are in a difficult spot with needing to keep the kids quiet while dad is working.....

Does your husband have a separate room he can work in, and can close the door so that lessens the "kid" noise? If not, maybe you need to see if you can re-arrange things so he has a separate office.

Maybe start the new regime of no juice on the days he isn't working, so they may be more used to it on the days daddy is working.

Good luck!

Does hubby have a dedicated office space where he can shut the door and work?

I am in laboratory sales calling on OBGYNs but must work out of my home office as well (I'm in CA, my company is on the East Coast). It has been this way my daughter's entire life.

Thanks for the update. YOu knew what you needed to do in the first place, so hope it works out for the better!