What tips can you share with us?

[MUM2BLESS]

I have four children which I would say is a meduim size family. I am one of seven myself.

What tips can you share with us about what you do to make things easier for your family and yourself.

My example:

My boys have sandwiches two days and dinners three days, it cuts down on the finances a bit. Every day they bring drinks from home rather than buying from the canteen.

On Saturday we engage all our four children in manageable chores which helps us as well as give them some responsibility.

My husband is a chef and is very domesticated. (I STILL HAVE TO COOK LADIES) but he does do his part. This is so helpful as my three sons see daddy cooking and helping in the home.

Have you got anything on this line to share whether tips to lighten the load or what your spouse does to help out.

......even more insane trying to work out homework in French!!!!!! Luckily kids are fluent (prefer speaking in french to english) but trying to understand all the grammer, congugation blah blah blah is fun??!!

Can I join?
I have 4 dc's 9,7,5 and 3, and we are ttc number 5 at the moment.
Chaos rules here (in the nicest possible way of course!), and really neeed to get organised. ds (3 years) is a bit of a nightmare at bed time so bed time can be really stressful for everyone. They all go to bed at the same time (7.45 - 8pm) which i think might need to change.

I cheat and let mine have school lunches, as packed lunches were becoming a bit tiresome, and we are lucky to have great lunches and the dc's schools.
I am strict on manners (although they do slip up), and spending time outdoors each day, regardless of weather.
I try and let friends come to play as much as possible (twice a week usually) and let each one have a hobby.
On birthdays they get to do something alone with me and dh, aswell as a party / outing/ whatever they want.
This year, dd (9) wanted to see Paul McCartney,so we did that with her (no siblings) and ds wants cinema and a film, then a football party with his friends.

I have to go out now, but will be back later!

Hi Tummytickler

Thats really good doing something with them on their own for their birthdays. I think ours (especially ds (10) would really benefit from some time with us on his own. Feel hes always competing when hes with others. Anyone else have that problem?

Do they each have a friend round at the same time? I find if only one has a friend round it is such a hassle with other one. (only really applies to to older ones (12 and 10) That hasnt started with littlies yet!

Hope everyones evenings go calmy!!

I have just started taking dd1 (10) out on Tuesday evenings to the swimming pool. We have a float,hot tub(outside) steam and sauna followed with a cup of something and a cake/sandwich. She is
A. loving time with me alone
B. loving going out after 7pm
I have to say I enjoy it myself.It is time for her to get me.I feel that I have been busy/pregnant or feeding a baby for(whispers quietly) "the last 10 years"

Thank for replying everyone. We are not on our own!

Anyone else get any great ideas you would like to share with us.

I only have 3 - but it seems large to me being an only child myself. DCs are 5, 2 and 7 months.

I get eldest dc to do her reading and spelling homework in the car on the school run as it takes around 20mins to get to school. Not sure how that will work when the youngest 2 get older. She gets a bedtime story on her own at bedtime but i get her to read her homework book outload in the car.

A question - how on earth do you cope with all the washing?? i feel like i'm constantly washing, folding and putting away clothes - thast without the bedchanges (our bed gets neglected a lot) and towels....

I don't cope with washing
I am always washing, if I do not wash for a day or two then all hell breaks loose!
My dream is a laundry room, but for now I have a laundry corner in every room!

I am one of seven, five brothers and one sister. I take my hat off to my parents for what they did for us.

My dad has now passed away but mum is retired and still looking good. I love her so much and I tell her I love her.

The pace of life is faster and more demanding now. I will not give my kids what I cannot afford.

I am learning to delegate more now. Its helps them be independant and also its helps me and my hubby too.

Do you delegate or do you do it all yourself? We training our three boys to be domesticated, as well as my daughter. I really helps that hubby is very domesticated ie irons, cooks, shops ............etc

Bumping this thread and joining in as some fab ideas

I have 3dc dd1 4yr, dd2 2.5yr, ds 8mth (and secrectly wanting another but trying to ignore it as i know i struggle at time with three)

The stocking ideas were sooooo FAB, i struggle with stocking ends up full of things that clutter the house and a waste of money..but the socks hair bits and toothbrushes idea was top!

Washing - OMG - out of control and there is only three.

I feel terrible about dd1 and homework..we get in from school run at just before 4ish..ds has dinner at 430 then dds have dinner, then the mad bath and bedtime starts..all in bed for 7now...which is SO nice BUT..How is it possible to fit homework in too i end up doing it a weekends, plus dd1&2 are close (21mth between them) and really get on so dd2 is so excited for sis to be home they want to play..dd1 is only 4 and homework seems a bit much on top of a school day!?

I kinna smiled when I saw my thread come up again.

Any more tips?

Thanks for what you have suggested so far.

What about tips for christmas time?

I have 5 too - aged from 2-11. (hello Gum!).

On christmas tips, I also do the secret santa thing - each child buys for one other and they really love it. We are doing an activity advent calendar for the first time this year and they really enjoy that too - I hated having 5 chocolate ones which we have had for years.

O

I have six and being organized helps immensely.

My husband is very, very hands on compared to most and i count myself incredibly fortunate that we are lucky enough to be in a position where he can be home whenever i need him.

We tidy as we go, as we see it. After breakfast everyone has to get dressed, brush teeth and tidy up. I cant abide dossing around in pjs, the day never gets started properly and people get irritable.

We have time out of the house every day. Even if it is just a ten minute walk, or a drive in very bad weather.

I send mt four year old to nursery full time

I never leave the house in the morning without putting the washer, dryer and dishwasher on, and always clean the sink and wipe the kitchen and table with soapy water.

geepers So with you on the pjs thing..although wish i could always put it into practice..sometimes its so tempting to have a 'go with the flow' morning..but you are so right nothing or no one gets going and i everyone get irritable!

Hi again,

Beattiebow - tell me more about your activity advent calender.............

PJ thing very relevant today - hubby working so had day at home with all 4. Oldest 2 stayed in pjs all day, and yes, all very irratable, couldnt get them to do anything blah blah blah. Am going to try the breakfast, and everyone ready thing.

We are in France, but driving back to the UK for christmas. Did all pressies through Amazon, direct to Mums in the UK. Panicking now in case this bad weather continues and we are stuck in France for Christmas, with no pressies! 2 oldest (12 and 10) would understand, but 3 1/2 year old won't. Any ideas for a back up plan???

Have just got our evening routine sorted out(after many different variations) re homework, baths etc. 2 oldest finish school at 5. We all sit together at the table and they have a little snack, and 2 littlies (3 1/2 and 8 months) have their tea. 2 littlies bathed and bed while 2 biggies do homework in their rooms. Then me, hubby and biggies have dinner. Its a nice quiet time when we can chat without littlies. We then go over homework, then they go off to bed. it means we eat later (7 ish), but the evenings seem much calmer.

Do you prepare tea before kids come home? I struggle for quick tea ideas. Eat mainly veggie during the week.

Have a good sunday,

Liz

Geepers

You really seem organise. Are you working or at home?

Thanks for your tips.

Hi please can I join???

I have 4 who are 8,7,4 and 1, 3 boys and a girl! I knoiw I will have loads of tips but can't think of any off the top of my head right now.

My main tip is to lower your standards with regards to cleaning and putting washing away. Having fun is the most important and what you will remember.

Choose your friends carefuly and nurture those friendships, you never know when you might need them.

Also make people aware that you don't mind hand me downs, I love it when a big pile of clothes/toys land on the doorstep!

Bread and butter in the middle of the table at every meal.

One to one time every day with each child even just a story and a cuddle.

I get the little ones in bed as close to 6pm as possible and then we can watch TV/eat/play monopoly etc.

Money is a good bribe for the older ones, they wash and vac the car and shovel snow for the odd £1.

View everything as team work.

Nice to know I'm not alone I love my big family.

Brilliant thread, hope it's not too late to join?
We've only recently become a large family, DD1(12) DD2(3)DS1(2) DS2(1).Most of the time I love it, but some days the mess and chaos can really get me down. I'm loving the idea of the 20minute tidy up when they babies are older and I'm back in work!
I've had to learn to cut a few corners so I quite agree with alfiesmadmother and I've lowered my standards when in comes to housework!

I have to keep on top of the clothes as they are all growing so fast.Every couple of months I sort out which clothes are outgrown and can be passed down and which need to be passed on to friends etc.Otherwise we would be disappearing under a clothes mountain in our 3 bed room house!I also love new clothes bundles when they get donated to us.Now i just need a system for these toys!! I find it so difficult to get rid of much as the youngest hasn't had a go on some of them yet!
We have larger wicker baskets on shelves and they have one basket out at a time. I'm trying to train them to put away too before the next basket comes out!

I know how precious this time at home with my young children is but sometimes it's so hard to just relax and have fun and not worry about the mess! I must get my priorities straight.

I still can't quite believe how much bread and milk we get through! That will only increase i'm sure.

I've had to learn to cook too which is still quite a steep learning curve at times but we all eat together every night when DH gets home and long may that continue. Everyone contributes something to the conversation,laying table and clearing up.
Hope this doesnt read too negatively. I love having 4 DC, they have stretched my love, my imagination and my organisational skills

Well done Geepers,very impressed.You mentioned that you have time out of the house every day. Even if it is just a ten minute walk.Is it with kids or without?If it is ,then is it before they go to school?Also any tips on how to keep my 5 and 27 month boys busy at the weekend. Thanks.

I've only got three but here are my tips!

Each child is assigned a colour, in our house it's red, blue and yellow. Their clothes are on that colour of hanger, they have their own towels in their colour and i have had their names embroidered in their colour on book bags, blankets etc.

it has really helped but saying that my house is still chaos

bump

bumpety bump

I have not been on for a while. Its amazing to see this thread is still going. Great stuff everyone!!

Am in training to be a slightly larger family pg with DC3, reading with interest and very thankful for the tips.

I thought if I started some of these things now it might help in a few months time, my first ever school run is due to start a few weeks after my due date!

hello ladies - we also have 4 - 7, 3, 3, & 2

3 boys & a girl (eldest twin)

The children have colours here aswell, they have coloured toothbrushes which are the same as the ribbon on their white bath towels which as the moment is the same as their bedrooms which is just a coincidence!!!!

I have a basket which I put the childrens clothes in for the following day and then when they are dressed the nightclothes go in it for that night.

Packed lunches and bookbags etc are ready the night before. They are all capable of doing simple jobs with supervision.

Everything has a place so it is easier to tidy up

Reanimating this old thread because it is so good.

I have flushable toilet wipes which I keep on the toilet shelf. Although I try to give my toilet a full and proper clean every morning, I find with my dh and 4 Ds my poor dd and me end up complaining the toilet isn't clean. I can give it a quick wipe whenever I feel the need and then flush it. Before a friend put me onto these my toilet was looking like a public loo by the end of the day.

Older dcs have always helped younger dcs do homework, at the dining room table while I cook tea. That way I am still on hand to help out if needed and it encourages them to be independent with it.

I have a box for each room that I use when tidying the living area. It is then down to the dcs from each room to put away the things in their box.