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Family planning

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Parents of 4 kids

6 replies

Mumsie2024 · 08/01/2025 22:29

We are thinking about having a 4th. I have 3 under 4 at present so it wouldn’t be for a few more years, if we did go ahead. Day to day what are your difficulties with juggling? How do you manage days of solo parenting when the other is at work etc? What is your ideal age gap between DC 3 and Dc4? What car do you have?

OP posts:
Matilda1981 · 08/01/2025 22:34

I’ve got 4! I have age gaps of 18 months, then 5 years then 18 months, so essentially 2 sets, one slightly older and one younger. They’re all girls and get on pretty well, two older ones do stuff together, 2 younger ones do stuff together or an older one will play with a younger one etc etc. 4 is defo easier than 3 for me as 3 is a crowd at the ages I have. I know yours are all young but in all honesty as your elder 3 are close I’d have another close - it’ll be pretty horrific probably for a year or so but so much easier in the long run!!!!

Strawbzz · 08/01/2025 22:39

I have 4 and I am a lone parent. Manage because there was no choice but it’s extremely hard work. Obviously different situations though I had a 6 year old 5 year old 3 year old and newborn but they are older now

Jewelencroute · 08/01/2025 22:44

No advice here (number 3 pending) - but am impressed you’re planning a fourth with 3 under 4. I would secretly love a fourth, but am being slightly put off by everyone telling me how awful things will be when this baby arrives!

HOTTOGOisastupidsong · 08/01/2025 23:03

I have 4 - all teens/adults now.

The eldest was 5.5 and middle one was 3 when the DTs were born.

We had zero family support as we lived hundreds (at one point several thousand) miles away from both sides of our family so we were completely on our own. We coped because we had to - there was simply no-one else to do the school runs, make the pack lunches, help with homework etc.

Some things we did to help were we were choosey about extra curriculars - they all had swim lessons, and then all did scouts/brownies/guides and speech & drama as standard when younger. (Not all at the same time - eldest had aged out of swim lessons by the time the younger two got there for example) Everything else was considered - we had seasons of gymnastics, ski lessons, cross country etc, but we were very picky and things were only done if they worked for the whole family. (ie. They didn’t involve me driving across the city at dinner time with 3 younger siblings in order to accommodate eldest going to a 1hr club at 6pm) We prioritised things which were walking distance or within a 5/10min car journey, and we said no to a lot of things.

I was a SAHM and DH worked his hours as best he could to be around in the evenings. He generally left very early and was at his desk in the office by 7am, which meant he left at 4/4.30pm and could be home to help with tea time/homework. If he had to log on again in the evening then he did it once the DC were in bed. As they got older that was less of an issue, and there were certain times of year when it didn’t work, but it worked for the most part. Now that they are all older he actually works away a lot, but they are very self sufficient now and I am very flexible and available. Work travel would not have worked for us when they were small.

Our weekends were pretty sacrosanct when the DC were younger - other than swim lessons on a Saturday morning, and birthday parties, we avoided other weekend activities that didn’t involve the whole family as this meant we could prioritise family time.

We also allowed ourselves a lot of grace - we recognised that our lives were just very different to families with 2 DC and grandparents around the corner so we didn’t over commit to things that didn’t really matter to us. Having said that, we have always been committed to a church wherever we’ve lived so our DC have also seen us be outward looking instead of solely focused on them. They have been invited into that though rather than it being something we did aside from them. This has always been a focus of our weekends and has invited other people into our lives which has been good for the DC, esp in the absence of wider family. (Not necessarily to support us or provide babysitting/childcare, more just as other people in their lives)

We bought a Volvo XC90 when i was expecting the DTs and still have one now.

We are all still very close as a family which is lovely to see, but I know is never guaranteed.

Mumsie2024 · 08/01/2025 23:52

I think it all depends on your personality. People with no kids and those with <3 kids probably think it’s chaos but it’s controlled chaos! Dinner time is like a chimps tea party! Kids will be loud and noisy and once you accept that your house will not be a show house then all is good! You will have good days and then bad days but the wonderful memories are what makes it al worth whole. I think if you remain quite organised and on top of things then it doesn’t get too overwhelming as it easily can with young kids. Tidy the house back to square one when they are in bed and dedicate certain areas of the house to toys and playing so the whole house doesn’t become a tip then that helps too! I follow routine and systems like doing online shopping, cleaning parts of the house on certain days of the week etc. when I don’t things go to….. of course have some me time too and time with your partner, at time
aside for all of these things. It’s a fine balance but I think this is what helps me.
Saying that I am on maternity leave so no idea what will happen when I am back to work as I am only 4 months in. But I am enjoying motherhood that’s the most important thing. I’m aware I am in a bubble at the moment.

OP posts:
Finallyfreenearly · 09/01/2025 00:22

I have four between 9 and 16. ExH lives overseas and is rubbish with money so not really much help on any front. The main thing I struggle with is guilt - if I’m taking one to do a hobby, the other ones have to tag along or are left to their own devices. I sometimes wish I could divide and conquer with another competent adult so all of the children had whatever attention and support they needed whenever they needed it but actually, we are all much happier now and I make sure to carve time out for each of them. But like others have said, you’ll manage because you have to!

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