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You know you've had too many children when...

327 replies

LynetteScavo · 26/08/2011 18:15

You nearly have a heart attack paying for their new school uniform, then struggle to carry it all home.

OP posts:
zzzzz · 31/08/2011 00:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HeadfirstForHalos · 31/08/2011 01:29

I have 4 aged beyween 8 and 3 (2 boys, 2 girls) and the worst thing is the socks. I despise sorting the socks even though I try and buy certain colours for each child, and will often buy new packs from primark just to avoid sorting out the sock washing basket (yes the socks have their own entire basket to live in after washing.

I have too many dc Grin

mathanxiety · 31/08/2011 03:45

You can only figure out which baby is in the baby photos by reference to clues in the background.

When you realise that the last two babies have exactly 7 baby photos between them, whereas the first three have many boxes apiece.

When then youngest two answer to an amalgam of their two names.

When you realise the youngest four did all their afternoon napping in their carseats while someone older was being schlepped to whatever class you thought was so important at the time.

When you give up on separate colours and styles of socks and knickers and invoke the rule 'first up best dressed' (from the permanent laundry basket in the kitchen of course).

When they spend time together negotiating the daily shower schedule for the coming week. And there is never a nice, dry towel in the bathroom. (Oh the joy of a houseful of teenage girls plus DS who never stops complaining rightfully that his razors are all blunt and full of hair.)

Some of their fondest childhood memories involve being deposited outside in the cold American midwest winter while they tried to remember what it was that was so important they had to try to scream the house down about it.

When all the downstairs floorspace is instantly covered with bags, shoes, hats and jackets when they get home from school.

When they get through the better part of a whole sliced loaf making lunch for themselves every day.

When three or four more in your house makes no difference, and when you think it's awfully quiet when one is away but you still have way more than the average number of children underfoot.

When you get really, really good at packing for holidays because the alternative is to rent a truck, but you still manage to look like a family heading off on the Oregon Trail when you attempt to go to the zoo, and when you get there you spend your whole day counting one-two-three-four-[panic]five. But you only go to the zoo (or anywhere else) on free days when attractions are jammed so the constant headcount is very necessary. And when the thought of taking them all to the beach brings you out in hives.

You know far too many songs learned from watching children's TV and films over the years and you can recite Beatrix Potter books from memory if someone starts you off.

When you realise that your youngest child's friends are all only children and you wonder what she is trying to tell you.

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 31/08/2011 07:51

mathanxiety - that made me laugh so much. It sounds so much like our house!

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 31/08/2011 07:54

zzzzz - yeah the comments from other people are tiresome. I read a quote on here a while ago and it still makes me chuckle. It goes something like this:

'You've got your hands full - you must like children'

'No, I just like drunken, irresponsible sex'. I can't remember who said it but I think it left the other person speechless.

misdee · 31/08/2011 08:08

hahahaa.

last night i catered for everyone being in. and huge amounts too, so when dd1+3 asked to have tea at neighbours houses, i said no. cos there would be huge fights over leftovers.

when de-nitting everyone takes all night and is like a canvayor belt.

when one of the children gets worms, and the pharmacist automatically gives you the liquid suspension as its cheaper than the tablet due to the size of your family.

aStarInStrangeways · 31/08/2011 08:26

Pacific i have a friend from middlesbrough who is the eldest of three very rambunctious boys. he once fondly recounted the story of the three of them being dumped outside in the snow, in their pyjamas, by their dad after playing '6am obstacle course' once too often.

TheOriginalFAB · 31/08/2011 08:48

In answer to the person who said it is nice to read positive stuff instead of people moaning how hard it was/is, I love all my children but I do find it hard for many reasons, not least because I have MH. It doesn't make us bad, it makes me Sad.

Debs75 · 31/08/2011 08:50

Mine love being outside I think that punishment would delight them.

How is washing socks so damn hard. I need a system where the socks make it in and out of the washing machine and are then ready to be paired up with out losing any. Am I asking for a miracle?

ThreeSugars · 31/08/2011 09:18

When you have an awesome pair of National Geographic breasts -- you know, the ones where you can put your baby up on your back in a sling and breastfeed them while they're there :)
(written while breastfeeding the newest addition who joined our family 2 weeks ago)

Lizkin · 31/08/2011 11:17

Hi - is this a possible solution to the sock thing?

CardyMow · 31/08/2011 11:29

Going round mad mates on Friday - we're going to order the entire chinese menu, as there will be Me and my mate, all 10 of her dc, all 4 of mine, and her DGS...17 people! Grin

bonkers20 · 31/08/2011 11:47

Lizkin Looks like a bit like a newly opened condom - although one which would provide little protection I hasten to add! Shudder at the thought of anyone who would need 500 of these!

TheOriginalFAB · 31/08/2011 11:52

What about a lingerie wash bag for the socks? I washed all dd's new school socks in one the other day and it worked well.

Debs75 · 31/08/2011 14:23

Lizkin Thankyou they sound great, will be ordering a few dozen of them.

TheoriginalFAB I have tried a laundrybag but someone always forgets to put their socks in

ragged · 31/08/2011 14:30

I safety pin pairs of socks together. Pins kept on the belt loops of my unfashionable jeans Wink. Not foolproof, but mostly I don't lose pairs or find one clogging up the drainage in the washing machine. :). I have more trouble keeping straight whose pants are whose...

Gawd, I am a social pariah today, no one wants to come around to play strangely enough & we dare not go out: DC2 has had a very nasty vomitting bug & we are in lockdown until I find out if it's passed to anybody else. Ultra-hand-washing paranoia!

PacificDogwood · 31/08/2011 18:54

Oh, FAB, I do find it very hard most days lately sometimes, and that is without any particular health, mental or otherwise, issues. And 4 NT children... Whenever somebody says to me 'I don't know how you do it' 'I admire you so' I don't know what to answer as I feel I am just doing what needs to be done. What choice have I got: I wanted a larger family, I was lucky enough to get the size of family I'd dreamt of, now I look after them as best I can.
And reading about people in the same/similar or even bigger boat Wink helps no end.

Peachy · 31/08/2011 19:55

We just pint somewhere in teh middle distance andd shout 'Oi boys!' when they play up (four boys)

When you call to check on an ear appointment and take ten minutes working out the date fo birth, give up and have to ask DH to find the birth certificate Blush

Peachy · 31/08/2011 19:58

'You can only figure out which baby is in the baby photos by reference to clues in the background.

'

hahahahaha

So true! DH spent ages telling the boys a pic was of ds1, er no DH it's got the wrong sofa in it.

Twoa re at Mum's for a few days though and it's horribly quiet! None fo mine are really NT so heaven only knows how many i'd have liked if they ahd been- Nan stopped at 16 (I know dh would have run long before LOL)

Peachy · 31/08/2011 20:01

We also have the sock box phenomenon.

Next year all four will be at different schools- 2 different primaries, 2 different comps- all with different uniform colours. I am dreading it!

Talkforbritain · 31/08/2011 20:24

The q for the bathroom goes in order of age with youngest 1st. There's only so long I can hold it in with this poor weak pelvic floor!!!

fidelma · 31/08/2011 20:28

When ds goes to school with odd shoes on.I didn't even notice until he came home LOL!

Talkforbritain · 31/08/2011 20:30

I always put socks one inside the other as they come off the child. I then wash them this way too so they always come out of the machine together. They both get just as clean as washing separately.

queenmaeve · 31/08/2011 20:40

I don't think I've ever laughed as much at any thread!
Mathanxiety that is hilarious and peachy that is so true about the pictures!

I think the glaring porblem is the sock one. Whoever solves it for large families will be a millionaire I tell you Grin

AandRMum · 31/08/2011 20:44

loudlass lol at the stone in the handbag - I am never without one!