How do you manage after school demands with large families?

[animalsunited]

I have three, so not that large a family!

But I'm anxious about fitting in after school clubs/homework etc with a baby.

Eldest does two after school activities a week. Middle one just started school so letting her settle first but have put her name down for Rainbows.

But when she does more e.g. swimming I could be out four nights a week. I just can't face it.

How do you manage it?

[IAmBalonz]

Following :)

[imip]

I just hit mine head on!

When dd 4 was a newborn, I took dd 1&2 to gymnastics. Two hours, two consecutive classes. I was with dd3 just under 2yo and dd4. It was a nightmare. My only saving grace was that for one of the classes some mums of dds friends were there, they made the time pass quickly. So, I'd recommend doing it with friends, so that you can catch up at the same time.

My experience with gymnastics was awful because there were lots of kids whose parents were not really looking after them, and they constantly bother me. Constantly touching dd, ESP while I was bf. I'm not good at grill g them to go away, ESP as the worst protagonist had an awful grandmother who'd just yell at her the while time. I stopped that class and we now do a Saturday morning one. Once again, I meet up with a girlfriend for a coffee with our dds - makes it bare able, I sometimes have all my dds who are not in the class with me, or dh may take the baby (now 2.8) to the park.

We do swimming on a Sunday - usually swap taking them with dh. And I take the youngest during the week.

Music on Monday, five minutes walk away, I either chat to mums and dds play eith other dds or go home and put tea on!

Sensing a theme here ... I need adult company to make it bareable! Mine are all girls, and I try to steer them into the same thing. However, they are about to choose their own instruments, so it could all go to pot.

Take baby in sling, lots of snacks/milk. I used to also take books and pencils. Play Simon says, enact stories (going on a bear hunt was a favourite). It's tough, but I wouldn't deny them the experience of extra-curricular activities, so I just did it!

[TheBogQueen]

You need to get a social network and share pick ups and drop offs.

Don't be out four nights a week. Children need time to relax away from activities.

[majormoo]

I have 4 but youngest is only 3 so not doing clubs yet! When my dd was around 7 the clubs got ridiculous and I felt like every evening we were going to and from something. I got really fed up with it. Fast forward a few years and older 3 do two clubs each. Most at weekends-dh takes two boys to football and dd goes to drama. Now she is 11 she walks there herself with a friend. Saturday mornings are a bit chaotic but preferable to loads of evening clubs. One child swims monday, one does Spanish at school,another guitar-but we have a few days with no clubs for anyone which is great. Was too tiring for all of us when we had something every bloody evening

[NorwaySpruce]

We try to find classes what run in one place at a time, or at least consecutive classes (for age dependent things) in one place.

Try to book stuff for weekends, when there are at least to adults to ferry people about.

I was mistaken for a childminder instead of the children's mother at a new class the other day.