The ages of my kids are 11.5 months, 12 months (my son) 15 months, 22 months and 2.5. The ages seem fine. The 22 month old just started and he is currently sleep training - not doing very well. Cries a lot - and I have to sit down in the room with him until he falls asleep. My 11 month old TALKS until she falls asleep which keeps everyone up because she is so loud (the kids are scattered around the house, but i had no choice but to make two kids share a room - the 11 month old and 2.5 year old). My 15 month old has never napped properly, but up until now he's had his own room, but I had to put the noobie in my room. The 15 month old is now in the basement and he HATES it (the basement is our main play area). Even my son doesn't seem to want to nap. My son is acting out (pulling hair, hitting) because I think there are just too many kids. Sometimes I see him just standing there, watching everyone playing and being kind of overwhelmed. Also, the 2.5 year old seems to be acting out as well - grabbing toys, being mean when I'm not watching, not listening when I say no (he was really good before, but I wonder if it's because he just started 4 weeks ago and now he's coming out of his shell).

As I mentioned before, the basement is my main play area - going up the stairs is great because everyone except the 11 month old can climb the stairs. But bringing them down the stairs is tough. I have to carry two at a time, and leave three upstairs. Then I have to carry one, hold the other's hand and luckily the 2 year old is OK to do the stairs.

I'm really struggling. I am stressed all day and by the end of the day, I'm exhausted. Last night, my husband and I went out for supper, he thought I needed to be taken away from the house, I was so tired I was delirious and I almost fell asleep in the car on the way home. I really don't think it's the age group. The 22 month old doesn't come until 10 so I only have four right now, and it's fine - calm and everyone is playing nicely. The 11 month old leaves at four, so for an hour and a half last night, I had the 12 month old, 15 month old, 22 month old and the 2.5 year old and it was fine. I do find though, that the only one the 22 month old has bonded with is the 2.5 year old. I know he's only been here three days and I just need to give him time. Last night, the dogs were barking upstairs and he got nervous and ran over to me and hugged me. (I mentioned in another post that I'm having a difficult time bonding with him because he won't let me. He comes to me for comfort but otherwise won't smile or anything. He smiles and laughs with the other kids, but he just stares at me, this blank look in his face. It's really hard to bond with a kid like that - especially because he can't talk)

LUCKILY (yes, there is a silver lining) the 11 month old is leaving soon. That will be less babies to carry. In the meantime though, I'm finding this very difficult. I've put an ad on kijiji for a volunteer but not bites I just put up the post to see if this has ever happened to someone (felt they took on more than they could handle) and what they did