When I first arrived here my husband went off to China for 8 days, i didn't have a car yet and I knew nothing and nobody. I had a 3yo,2 year old and I was 8 months pregnant.
Every trip outside was a huge ordeal admittedly I didnt have to travel for an hour to take my eldest to school, just one bus ride to playgroup. But as swisspea said I would have done it no matter how far it was just for the ego and something to do!

yes it is very stressful and daunting but you can do it. Try it. Do the first day - it will probably be horrible and difficult but when they are in bed I promise you will feel like you have achieved something.
If it was so bad then dont do it the next day, sike yourself up and try the day after.
whenever my husband goes away (often) I just do whatever I can deal with, I make a trip to buy milk last an hour,
I get a new DVD for them (Toy Story is wonderful)
I take them to an Indoor play
Look on EF and find a group of mums to meet, thats what I did, if there is none in your area start a thread and find some local to you - anything just to get yourself some adult time!

Im sure you can think of lots to do, but I know at the moment it all seems helpless and hideous with no adult down time in the evening to look forward too and that is what I find the hardest everytime.

Ok having 3 small ones and a husband who works in another country during the week I can say it is possible and you might even learn a bit about how much you really can cope with without realising!

The main thing is to plan ahead and allow yourself time... being organised may not come naturally but it really helps with kids.

Firstly take one thing at a time. Plan meals as much as you can and do an online shop (or two bit shops if you have a store close by). Make a vat of tomato and vegetable sauce and you are set for pizza toppings, lasange or bolognaise, shepheards pie etc... Making pizza at home is also an easy win for entertaining the 2.5yr old :-).

The school run is always going to be tricky but would getting up half an hour earlier so you can all have a leisurely breakfast help - does that make the bus ride a little more bearable? I spy and the like are great for killing time and if you have the 5mth in a sling you have no need to fuss with a pram... The bus may be a pain but they are warm and cheap ;-)

Would having lunch pre-prepared help with the school pick up? If you are all set to go as soon as you come through the door there will be much less stress.

Is letting the kids watch a favourite dvd the end of the world really? If it keeps you sane and lets you have a few minutes to sort stuff out then go for it.

Finally if you are normally one of these super mums that does all sorts of activities with each child every day cut yourself some slack. Odds on they will be more than happy to help you sort the washing or pair socks. They will not hold it against you for a week!!!

Oh and don't forget to buy yourself a big packet of cookies or a magazine to enjoy once they are all in bed

You will all be fine... if the kids see you relax they will also relax

Christ, what is there to relax...it's not like the stork brought them overnight...I'm sure she had dealt with them previously.

What's the problem? Just make some major grocery shopping before your husband leaves and then stay at home with the kids for 8 days. Last time I checked school wasn't mandatory for a 2.5 yr old.

Make a small walking excursion every day with a small pick-nick. The 8 days will be over before you even realize.

Nothing to drown in a glass of water over.

Suggested a friend to add this forum to useful resources in Switzerland the other week; but they refused. They did so on the basis that it has too many individuals posting unhelpful comments on it.

When I read this very active thread I really can see their point. It is a sad reflection on the guy who set it up who believe died not so long ago; He is turning in his grave as I write this.

Good luck to the thread starter.

I think you have to suck it up, make a daily plan and just get on with it. It's NOT impossible to do this on your own and when you do it on your own you will feel much better afterwards and feel much better for it.

It takes 10 minutes by car or 45 by bus. It's only taking 35 minutes more than normal. Will those 35 minutes of extra sleep really make that much difference?

...brain farts like this ought to be in the complaints corner.

Bloody hell! He's not dead! Get him out!

Really, I wish we could leave him in peace instead of dragging him into these threads.

Sadly he is and the anniversay was recently, and I'm sure he would have seen the intended humour

So, to recap:

Nope, sorry, never mind HTFU; it's a clear case of GOYFA.

Human race clearly doomed. Sooner the better, AFAICS.

I thought I knew my acronyms!

...I've already done my Sudoku for the day...care to explain GOYFA and AFAICS?

LOL - there's good evidence that children are being overbathed resulting in atopic dermatitis.

Twice a week should fine anyways

AIFACS As Far As I Can See - GOYFA GET OFF YOUR FAT ASS (Google's a wonder, isn't it, LiB?)

Maybe, but I hardly think that Lynn would.

I believe it's Get Off Your Arse and As Far As I Can see

Lucy, while you seem like a lovely and sweet girl, you appear to have been wrapped up in a big ball of cotton wool your whole life, and live in a land where people only say and do good things in as fluffy a way as possible, before sitting down and having a nice tea party together... kind of like when you are 13 years old and the world is still viewed with blind wonder and innocence. It may be time to join the real world before you reach 30 so that you can cope with the fact that the world is not always a cuddly place and that you may have to fend for yourself once in a while.

I see two things here to comment on.

1) If you build this all up into a problem then it will be exactly that. Relax, it'll be OK....people older/younger, cleverer/stupider, richer/poorer than you have coped in this situation.

2) You've been on EF since December 2006. Do you know anyone in Pully, Lausanne, etc whom you can call a friend? Why not make an event and get other Mums with young kids over to your place during this week?

The time on your own is going to be exactly what you make it. You are in control and you can do what is needed.

And then, when Husby gets back, have yourself a nice day off in a spa whilst he does the hard work

Very true Longbyt thanks for reminding me, I didn't think about that, my appologies and thoughts to Lynn.