Calling all mums of large families...

[rosylizzie]

Im thinking four plus, do you ever feel your life just lurches from minor crisis to minor crisis? I have five 11 down to 8 months and as well as juggling work, builders have had 5 trips to hospital, three to Gp, two to vet for dog having pups all in past 10 days, nothing serious broken arm, tonsilitis etc..
Wondering if anyone care to join me (if you have time) as I feel all the 2 child families I know just have no notion of the chaos and unpredictabilty and FUN of a big family!

Chops the answer is don't have anything

We have no ornaments, the bottom 2 shelves in the lounger are for kids books and small toys and the high shelves are for dvd's and junk.

I did try getting a table lamp but that lasted a week

Washing baskets are never empty and the ironing is a mountain but Dd1 (nearly 13) wants to learn to Iron!!!!!

Its easier when 1 or 2 are a bit older, Dd1 is a great help

you know, May 2006 was a classic for us with regards to A&E.......and I got soooooooo embarressed by the end.

started on the first with DD1 breaking her elbow. a few days later DD3 fell off a 6ft wall, and scraped all her legs and was so gritty we couldn;t clean it so had to go to A&E for a check for infection issues, and then the following day DS1 dropped a brick off the same 6ft wall on top of DS2's head. that prompted a call from the HV and SS, as he had been in about 4times already with head bumps since xmas[bad mummy alert!].

then, DS1 slashed his finger on some of DH's building tools, so needed stitches, DD1 was down fracture clinic as her cast was too tight and then too loose, DD2 went in as she was suffering really bad nose bleeds that wouldn't stop so needed to be admitted to be cauterised, and then on the 22nd, DD2 and I were in a car accident.

oh, and to top the end of the month off, and because he clearly felt left out, DH went away for work and came home with salmonella(sp?).

honestly.....the looks from the A&E staff by the end with DH was comical if I hadn;t been so ground down and hugely embarrassed......I swear they were beginning to think I was poisoning DH thro simple frustration.....

I have 5 boys, but two are grown up (in their twenties!). Youngest is 9.
Also have 3 dogs-one of them seems to think it is a crime for me to sleep beyond 6 in the morning, so my day usually starts then!
Very busy household and huge amounts of washing! Also catering size pots and pans!

so how much does it cost to feed your clans i recon including nappies wipes and formula 130 per week in our house

we have the catering sized pots, helps a lot.

£130

MIne is about £80. Only one left in nappioes now though, and we don't eat meat every day. I cook from scratch too and indian food is cheap.

i cook main meal from scratch daily but it seems to be fruit that costs and its something i wont not have in,bake nearly every day too just cant fill em up!

I have four,ranging from 18 yrs to 2.
I find it hard keeping up with all the different age things tbh. At one point was juggling DD1s driving lessons and test with DD3s immunisations!
Also eldest 3 all at different schools/colleges,so never know who breaks up when or which parents eve it is etc.
Make it my business to keep on top of washing every day. Whatever I do gets washed,dried and put away all on same day. Except for DD1s stuff which ferments on her floor for months.

Our shopping is about £110 a week inc dog food and nappies ect....
I cook from scratch most days and normally fresh meat everyday. Our slow cooker is a godsend

Shit just remembered I have do do chicken casserole

We are similar mag about £110 a week with nappies. That includes a veg and fruit box and school packed lunch scheme.

would love to get it down to around 80 but since everyone is gettin bigger and hungrier cant see it happenin ....imeant kids are gettin bigger and hungrier but have just noticed my post baby flab hangin over jeans and think i was right first time!

God I feel much better now knowing its not just me!
Relatively calm day today, cleaner been, i have been to work - hooray! relatively stress free parents evening and all puppies doing well,baby went to bed okay
Yesterday dropped 2 year old in playgroup in sweaty gym gear, with hair dye on head and flour down front from making tea. Did plan to shower and coiff myself to standard of the local yummy mummys and my plan of turning up late failed as they were all standing outside gossiping
Tomorrow when someone says again " I dont know how you cope" I will be clean, tidy and smile back feeling smug instead of having hair like a demented toilet brush and dirty clothes.
Has anyone read Sally Magnussons "Family Life" book - she also has five

hi, we have 4 children at home and two that live with dh ex. My only son is 3 and my stepkids range from 8 - 17 years
not had a bad day today, been just me and my boy most of the day. 16 year old (male)thinks he can do what he wants nowadays so that normally ends up in arguments.

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tiredmumovfour, the trick is to use BEANS! You can bulk out anything with lentils and beans out of cans. So I can stretch one pack of meat and bulk it out with chickpeas or burlotti beans or whatever. And beans keep you fuller for longer.

I also have two freezers so buy whatever is on offer and stick it in the freezer.

sorry was tired lastt night so just earmarked this to return later

this is where we hang out!

although still waiting for proper say so from the towers that be

I'm snooping - I only have 2 (2 & 6 months), but like to think that this is just the start... it sounds insane!

Have popped my head round the corner of the new club

yeah chopstheducks i kinda do that with veg to sneak extra into the kids without em knowing, but im gonna look into this lentil business are they loads of hassle with soaking and stuff im scared of poisoning everyone!