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.

Fab idea for a thread. I've got three.

We've got two reception rooms so one is our "nice" living room that has no toys or anything. The other is the kids' playroom.

I make a weeks' worth of sandwiches for DS's pack up and freeze them, so in the morning I can just grab one out of the freezer.

I save all through the year for their birthdays and Christmas.

Can't think of any others right now!

I love this thread! I was pg with DC3 when I first read it. DC4 is now a year old so I need to give it a re-read.

Please can we start this thread again! I have 4DC, 9, 7, 3 & 20mths. 3DDs & 1 DS. I work 26hrs/wk, so am home in time for school pick-up. Life is busy & though we manage I feel I just scramble through most days. I don't feel like I have time to plan/organise/carry out things as life just takes over. I hate this as I am an organised person at heart. I have no me-time AT ALL. DH is verbally supportive, does help & his job is fairly flexible. Mine is very inflexible generally. I love all my children dearly, but hate that I don't get 1 enough-1 time with them. My eldest especially craves more time with me....help!

Thesorysofar. I too have 3!dds and 1 ds but am at home. I don't know how you do It!!

At the weekends can dh have the younger dcs while you take older dds out individually ir rotate? We sometimes do this, they love it.

If dcs have pack ups, from 7/8 they can make them themselves.

I am trying to encourage dd3 (6) to help a bit more and do things like get herself drinks. Dd1 and 2 akways do this.

Loving this thread - I can't believe I've not come across it before!

I've got 4 dc; DS(8), DS(6), DTS(4) DTD(4)
Dh works full time, I work 27 hrs a week in school office so term time only.

I love the idea of a Secret Santa amongst the kids at Christmas, I might do that this year.

Life feels fairly chaotic here, but lifesavers include:

Arrange lift shares for Cubs, Beavers, football etc - cuts down on to-ing and fro-ing.

Swimming kits are packed away in their bags they minute they are dry, ready for next week.

Special place for 'hobby' clothes, ie Cub uniform etc, to be kept all together.

School letters, Cub letters etc, fill out the moment they are received and put in school bag / uniform pocket so they can't be forgotten next time you go. I was terrible with Beaver paperwork, always forgetting forms etc until someone told me to complete it and put it in DS's trouser pocket straight away!

Do as much as you can the night before but stop by 9.30pm - we all need a bit of down time.

House is pretty messy though, tips on sorting that are welcome!

I'm due number 3 soon and my youngest is only 16 months my eldest 5.

And omg I am panicking soooo much about how I'm going to cope, like I'm really stressing thinking 'what have I done and dc 3 not even here yet!

Reading this thread has given me hope, I hope we can keep it going as I so need more tips and reassurance that we will all survive

Bumping for those interested!

@fidelma What do your kids have for their light supper?

Love this thread. 😍

Omg fool. Just realised this thread is 7+ years old.

Love this thread! Please can we revive again??

I need more ideas....

4DCs ages 7,5,4,1 - so small really compared to some but DH out the house 7am-11pm most week days.

Love the Xmas secret Santa. Until now they each bought each other something which resulted in me trying to think of things each child needed, new wellies etc and then explaining plan to each child. What was I thinking! A hangover from only having 2DCs.

Weekly / Daily stuff we do:
*Virtually all shopping online
*Write down everything to do/take school related in online diary so it’s in one place rather than multiple letters home / emails / online chats etc. and as PP said do as soon as received.
*Hated the idea of weekend batch cooking but have succumbed & of course feel an idiot for not doing it earlier as so much easier. Lots of frozen veg, frozen everything. Wish we had a bigger freezer.
*Each DC has a big cardboard box for craft stuff. All stuff that arrives in the house / made at home I can throw into the boxes without feeling bad its straight in the bin or cluttering the place up and when full they have to sort through and throw out what they no longer want. I still throw away v random bits immediately and keep v special bits myself.
*Trying to get DCs to do more, they will lay table, get their own drinks, clear plates to dishwasher (badly!) put laundry in basket (minus DC4 obviously). They are much more self sufficient with baths. Like the idea of helping older DCs with any school / bag prep the night before but not in the mornings.

What do you do to give then time and space when at home and are irritating each other?
We live in 3bed flat so easier to maintain than a big house if I’m on top of clearing things out but not a lot of privacy or quiet space.

Omg fool. Just realised this thread is 7+ years old. No no, this thread will go for a few more years yet I think!

Bump!

I think I might buy some drawstring PE kit type bags to keep swimming, gym, football, cubs etc stuff in. Maybe colour coordinated for each child or each activity, not sure yet. I'm expecting number 4 but life is fairly chaotic with three ATM! I work part time and am looking forward to maternity leave!

Bump😁

Love this thread. Still trying to conceive #3 but some great ideas that i have implemented already.