You just described my day.  Exactly about that time. It is funny because lately my 17m old has taken a quick nap right at the time when I need to cook dinner and concentrate on not burning it. I recall the last ped’s appt they said to take away that nap and not let her have it so she will sleep better and earlier. Well, she sleeps fine, maybe goes to bed a little later than the olders but that hour keeps a little sanity and mouths fed. I love our peds but there is a difference between having one child and me having 4—it is called sanity.  And yes, a nice glass (or two) of vino is a nice prize.

Yes, been there…some days I still have it, even though the youngest is almost 12. What I really loved though was that photo! It really just says it all!

our peds is wonderful—have the upmost respect for the practice—sooo much better than the one we had for a bunch of yrs-the other ones were good, but oh my—sooo much of a dfference.  She will go to sleep about an hour after the olders but sleep throug the night. And my husband will stay awake with her so I can have some down time or go to sleep. I do not give him enough thanks.

A friend of mine told me she’d call the late afternoon hours “happy hour”. ha.

Where did you get that picture of my daughter?

It’s a hard time for all the reasons you mentioned. Assigning jobs is helpful. When I can make myself to do it, handing out a written list can eliminate some of the unpleasant dialogue around here. I find that asking the older ones to take the little ones outside is a lifesaver.

But then so is the vino mentioned already.

Slurping my gin & tonic as I type - ahhhh…

Yes, that photo above is more often than not one of *me* during the dinner prep time.  When I’ve done my homework & actually have an inkling of what I’ll be fixing, less so.  But when I’m staggering around the kitchen, faint from hunger, snarling at the needy little people who are snarling at each other…more so. 

I must “put on my own oxygen mask” and force myself to have a protein-rich snack around 3 o’clock-ish.  When I’m hungry, I’m snarly.  Doesn’t make it right; just means I need to avoid that particular near occasion of sin for myself by eating something to get me through to dinner.

Also, just for fun, picture this:  I’m trying to do something miraculous in the kitchen, the 6 & 3 year old are bickering, and the 1 year old is doing his favorite thing: full throttle, high-decibel shrieking! - so loudly that it keeps activating the wireless doorbell.  Repeatedly!  It’s actually a good diffuser:  just when I think I’m losing it, there goes the doorbell and we all stop and look at the baby and laugh.

I think StephC hit it on the head.  Now that it is too late for me I think all of you have something protein just as that terrible time rolls around.  peanuts, peanut butter on crackers (only a few) anything protein. I remember how cranky my husband got close to mealtime and this really helped his body.

My sister and I call it the ‘arsenic hour,’ not because we think it’s funny, but because we read an article that dubbed it that years ago, and the name just stuck.

I find that getting the kids involved in supper prep helps.  The littles get an old, dull potato peeler and a potato.  It takes them forever and makes them feel useful.  I’ve been known to do this even if we aren’t having potatoes for supper.

The older kids have to help more substantially-set the table, make a salad, etc.

Sometimes, soothing music in the kitchen helps, and sometimes it just adds to the noise.