Anyone got four kids?

[gettinganewlife]

Hi... I will be leaving my partner after xmas, and I wondered if any one else is a lone parent of four or more? How do ye cope.. I'm hoping it will be easier than with 4 kids and a 36 yr old infant!!!!

I have 4 kids, and I find it so much easier on my own it is hard sometimes though, my youngest is only 4 weeks old but I am lucky that i have a very supportive family.

Hi, yes Ive got 4 as well. Its easier in some ways, but I find maintaining discipline with 4 by myself pretty tiring. If your children go regularly to your ex, or if you ahve family support, that's a big plus.

I have 4 too. Don't find it too bad overall. Youngest 2 don't go to their Dads because he has to be supervised. They haven't seen him since August. That can be hard because the only break i get is when they are at school.
Currently have my younger brother living here which has helped a huge amount discipline wise.

No other family around to help which is hard too.

Sympathy, Tortoise. 1 of mine doesn't visit. Mind you, even when they all 4 did visit, ex would never have them all at once - he was too scared that I might go out and enjoy myself, or find a new man if I got any free time.

I dont think that stbxp will have them as will probably be moving back to my home town, and as alcohol/ drug use is the main factor in my leaving it will not be appropriate atm for him yo have unsupervised access.
However I think that my sister and mother will be happy between them to give me the odd morning or night off, which is more than I get currently.
Nighbynight discipline is something that worries be as all 4 are 8 and under and the eldest has behavioural problems. Having said that hopefuuly I will be better placed to establish a routine/discipline with out himself stressing me out and contradicting everything I try and do.

What a nightmare. I split from ex because of violence, and my children were very disturbed for some time. I was always trying to hide their bad behaviour from the authorities! I spent many long evenings reassuring them over and over again about various points, long after they should have been in bed, for example.
We've now established routines, and traditions, which we were never able to have before, and behaviour has improved a lot, 3 1/2 years on. Like you, I was never able to apply any discipline before, as was contradicted and belittled all the time.
It does get better, but will take time.
Good luck - you sound very capable, to have so much on your plate.

Is that "stupid b*d ex partner" by the way?

i had 4 when i left...got 5 now but live separately to my boyfriend,which works well.

i find it fine being on my own with the kids,no more problems since we ditched their loser father!!

Its Soon To Be Ex Partner -but I like yours better!
I love Tiffany .. that sounds like a good situation.. I would love more children and basically the reason that I have tried so hard to make this r/ship work is it has taken me time to accept that we will not be having any more kids together...though I am fairly young so who knows what may happen in the future if I met someone else.. Right now my priority is to sort out and nurture the 4 little divils/angels I already have!