Tell me all about having a family of 4 kids!

[Hokey Pokey]

Especially with a close age gap (14/15 months) between two.

We are expecting our 4th, our 3rd will be 14/15months old when he/she is born. Our other daughters are 5 and 9 so this gap is very new and tbh a little scary to think about.

I'm mainly interested in:

Routines, do you think it is important to have some kind of daily routine, mainly with things like nap times, bed times, housework etc.

I've had mixed responses irl, some say a routine is impossible, a waste of time as it never works out or a silly thing to implement, that the kids should be able to adapt to whatever the parents are doing/need them to do etc.

How do you fit in the time for extra curricular activities and sport etc, with the more children you have?

Meal ideas/budgets, do you have one? Do you have fav family meals that are easy, nutritious and not costly?

I think that is it for now!

[forbetoel]

I LOVE having 4 kids. I have all boys and they are just the best little boys int he whole world. (brag over)

Seriously I am still clucky and want another one, but I love having 4 so much that I don't know if I want to change that.

I find 4 kids really easy, I am pretty laid back and just enjoy the kids.

No I don't have routine, it is just not me, I prefer a more laid back approach, I am just not into running a boot camp or whatever.
Extra curricular activities can get busy, but I just try to double up ont he same nights to leave a couple of nights free, and if I can I just drop them off and pick them up after.

As for meals, we have lots of different things and I do have a few cheap meals, but with the way grocery prices are going, I don't really think there is any such thing as a cheap meal these days.

You will love the 4th...honest.

[punkbaby]

TBH i didnt and still really dont notice having number 4 she slotted in nicely :) i more so found it hard when number 2 come, The only thing i do notice is the car, dh cant come anywhere, not that he did anyhow

My kids are laid back as well too tend to go with the flow they all help and pitch in and they are great mates most of the time. DD9 is the only one who does things after school but as its inhouse at the school there is no running around which is great (she does dancing one night and cricket the next)

They have a basic routine, bedtime and school morning routines we have to stick with otherwise we would never get there on time LOL other than that they know their limits and they do do as they are told basically i let them form their own routine, the only thing i am strict on is bedtime. I like to keep that for my own sanity more so :)

I agree though with 4boys2love food is quiet expensive these days which makes it hard, thankfully my kids will eat anything though they arent fussy :)

[Kez06]

Hello,

:iagree: I was thinking exactly the same thing when i found out i was pregnant with number 5, there is only 13months between 4 and 5.

My eldest 3 kids call me a neat freek, a rountine for a large family is a must ( i also come from a larger family, 7kids) i would never find time for me otherwise if a rountine wasnt in place.

Yes i do run my household to a budget everything is on the budget to the car insurance, rego, food, mobiles and cable etc.

All the eldest 3 kids have jobs to do around the house to take the pressure of a bit but i wouldnt have it any other way i love my big family....good luck with baby number 4 hope this helps.
Kez

[spoon]

I love having 4 too!!!

My kids are 12, 2 and almost 9 month old twins, and it is fantastic.

I do have a routine but I am a rather chilled out person.

I have to delegate more house work to hubby and eldest son but it all works. We are happy this way.

Congrats. Big families are just awesome

[kymmy]

I am looking forward to having four (or five!).
Thanks for asking the question OD and for the replies.

[Roopee]

Well- one thing i know for sure is it's about to get busy at your place:laughing:.

I am a lover of routines- i think the kids are happier (mine anyway) when they are aware of whats happening of that makes any sense-i think they promote security but we're all different.

ETA- while routines are great some days nothing goes to plan so the key is to be flexible!

When my 4th was born i had a 6 yr old, a 4 yr old, a not quite 2 yr old and the baby. The first few months are easy- the baby sleeps alot (you hope LOL) so it easily taken here there and everywhere.
Its not until the baby gets mobile that the real work begins. BUT all that being said it is great fun too!
I'll give you a general rundown of our daily routine.

Daily-
6am- i get up and shower.
6.15- my only 'real' break for the day- coffee.
6.30-peg any washing out from the night before or clean up and mess left about. Clean the toilets.
7am- kids get up. Breakfast/dress/tidy up breakfast/clean teeth/wash nappies (i use cloth)/make beds.
8am- homework/ the others get to watch TV here.
8.30- i get dinner prepared while kids watch TV or play.
9am- take the older 2 to school.
9.30- run any errands etc i have to do/play dates/whatever.
11.30- girls have lunch.
12- they go to bed.
12-30 free mummy time/cleaning up/more dinner prep/make snacks for afterschool/get washing off.
2.30-wake girls and go to school to get the boys.
3.30-sports training
5.30-start cooking dinner
6pm- DH leaves for work
6.30- eat dinner
7pm- bath kids
7.30- all kids to bed.
8-9- clean up from the day and the im free!

We have some kind of activity every afternoon after school- which is a pain in the bum.
This has opbviously changed since the baby is older now and not so high maintenance.
But i used to have to almost wake her from every sleep to get here and there which was really sad but it was just the life we have.
Budgets- well, we try and i fail:laughing:- i just go with the flow but alot of stuff is bought in bulk and i shop at Aldi alot- i also use cloth nappies and once i get my addiction of them under control im sure it will be cheaper:o
As for meals-all our meat is from the butcher/fruit and vege from the market so it works out cheaper that way.
A staple meal here is curried sausages, spag bol, and mince chow Mein (its froma packet seasoning thing at the supermarket) YUM).
If you have any other q's dont hesitate to ask!

There is a whole lot of logistics that need to be considered when you have 4 children- im sure you will be fine:hugs:

[Hokey Pokey]

Thanks so much for all the positive feedback!
I must admit, I get so many people tell me I am mad, crazy, what have I done, and it kind of scares me... :(

[Roopee]

They're just jealous! Tell them to naff off:laughing:

Big families are the best!:yelclap:

[mumbron]

WOW Roopee you are so organised i hope i can be this organised when number four comes in the next couple of weeks:laughing:

OopsieDaisy- i get comments about having bub number 4 i get the funniest looks why is it so bad to have more than two kids???

[forbetoel]

They're just jealous! Tell them to naff off:laughing:

Big families are the best!:yelclap:

Could not agree more.

JEALOUS!!!!!!!!!!!

[kymmy]

Thanks so much for all the positive feedback!
I must admit, I get so many people tell me I am mad, crazy, what have I done, and it kind of scares me... :(
Large families are not rare around here so I haven't had many comments. A lot of ppl are happy for us. But on the Sunday a family friend was quite rude saying Don't you know how to stop, you will have a clan soon etc etc. Her tone was so arrogrant. She said you will have your hands full. I just said I already do. Its not like she had that much experience - she has 2 kids with about 15 year gap.
Hubby and I usually ignore people's comments. We want a large family.

[Hokey Pokey]

The number of times we have been asked if we have a tv... so not funny anymore....

[forbetoel]

The number of times we have been asked if we have a tv... so not funny anymore....

Yeah I get asked about the T.V, but I just say..."yeah we have one, and what we watch is the problem!" :p

[Roopee]

ooo there's a site with great comebacks for those stupid questions and comments.
My personal fave is this

old lady at shop- are they ALL yours?

Me- sure are- im lucky arent i.

Lady- with a 'sniff' do they all have the same father?

me- shocked and said...weeeeeeelllllllll we think so- I'm just waiting on the baby's test results and then we'll know for sure.

lady- walked away..i wonder why:devil6:

Im off to google that site- i'll post the link.

ETA_ here it is- have fun
http://www.plomp.com/largefam/comebacks.htm

[LuvMy4Babes]

LOL Roopee love it. I sometimes get "are they all yours" too and I say "No I rounded up some of the neighbours kids to take shopping just to torture myself" bwaaaaaaahaaha!

Seriously I absolutely adore having 4, I really really do. They are so fun, busy, noisy and totally wonderful :D

I do have a fairly tight routine, only because our household runs better that way. The kids do have a tonne of after-school activities but every time I feel like it's crazy I remind myself that these days are going by so quickly and soon will be over, so I just try to enjoy it all. I go with the flow and love with all my heart.

You will do great with 4 :)

[Hokey Pokey]

Yeah I get asked about the T.V, but I just say..."yeah we have one, and what we watch is the problem!" :p

LOL!

ooo there's a site with great comebacks for those stupid questions and comments.
My personal fave is this

old lady at shop- are they ALL yours?

Me- sure are- im lucky arent i.

Lady- with a 'sniff' do they all have the same father?

me- shocked and said...weeeeeeelllllllll we think so- I'm just waiting on the baby's test results and then we'll know for sure.

lady- walked away..i wonder why:devil6:

Im off to google that site- i'll post the link.

ETA_ here it is- have fun
http://www.plomp.com/largefam/comebacks.htm

HA! I'm forever getting "are they all yours" too..