What advice do you have for a mother of four?

Question

No stupid answers like stop having kids.

Im looking for answers from mothers of more than 3.

Answer 1

Love them, treasure them, teach them, discipline them, and keep yourself really, really organized. :)

Answer 2

Alcohol...

Sorry I couldn't resist.

I don't know if I count but I'm a stay-at-home dad with five kids so I'm kind of a mom (I got an upright carpet cleaner for Mother's Day). What are you asking about specificly? How old are your kids?

Answer 3

I'm not a mom, but i have 6 siblings, one older, and I'm always babysitting and taking them places like the pool. Well, four kids is a handful, god bless, well I don't really know what advice you're asking for, but if its to gain control over you're children, than make them know who's boss but not buy screaming or shouting, but if you want to give them chores or somethingreward them everytime they do something good, and when they don't than give them a timeout or ground them or something. And maybe that way they will begin to realize.

Answer 4

I have four kids ages range from 15 to 1. I know it can seem like a lot to handle and can be overwhelming or difficult at some stages, but there are a couple of things that will keep you sane:

-Organisation.

Try and organise anything that seems cluttered, confusing or frustrating at the moment. From kids bedrooms to daily schedules.

-Self endulgment

Get yourself out now and then. You need your own time, and make it fun and relaxing. Don't feel bad about giving a couple of hours a day just to yourself. Could be an hour in the day and an hour at night. You'll come out better from it and so will the kids.

-Try and stay on their level. Life is exciting and an adventure. Don't groan when theyve lined up all the chairs in the kitchen and pulled out all the teddies to go for a "bus ride". Smile and join in. Discover what it's like to be a kid again. They love it and you will begin to enjoy it. Quality time with the kids.

-Try and give them healthy diets. They will go crazy on high fat/sugar foods so no sugary snacks before bed or naptime and other times you dont want em bouncing off the walls. Their brains will function better on healthy foods.

-Not too much TV or screen time. Get them outside. Play a game. Join in with em. Have some fun. Run around and kick a soccer ball. Play hide and seek. Kids games. Get em active.

-Have family day once a week. The whole family getting out together. The way I look at is that if parents with toddler sextuplets can do it, then so can I with my four reasonably age different kids.

-Discipline. Okay so have a look at Supernanny (Jo Frost's) techniques. They work great. Don't know if discipline is a prob in your house, but try these Supernanny techniques. Naughty spot, reward chart, warnings, firm low tone voice, act authoritive and fair and stick the rules no lashing out and slacking back.

-Try and stay a good terms with your kids. Make sure you're not always yelling. If something is up, sit em down and chat em through it. Let em know that you're there for them and you understand. There's nothing better than being able to have a mum to turnto when things get shacky and that you know ill understand you and help you.

-Get the kids to do chores. Don't feel like its all on you. They have to know responsibilty and that being part of a family means helping one another. Keep a list of the chores they need to do and how much they get paid.

-If you feel like things are just getting too much, try and get away if possible. Work out a plan that means you can get away for a week or so. Let em sleep at grandparents or friends or other family. Keep contact though, they'll miss you!

Psychologists are good to go to. Just let it all out to the nice lady with notepad. She understands where you are coming from and makes you feel better about yourself.

Make sure you takes lots of photos and videos because they will be grown up and moved out before you know it! They don't stay babies forever, enjoy them while they are little!

Good Luck!!

Answer 5

Shared chores make my workload lighter.  If I'm not in over my head I'm a happier person.

Lock for the bedroom door.

Sticking to bedtimes for the young ones allow for an hour or more of "me" and "us" time.

Elmination of chaos whenever possible, be it a clean house, planned mealtimes, removal of excess drama, etc.

Most of all, pick your battles with the kids.  I often ask myself "Is this a big deal or a little deal?"  Now I have them doing it too.  It means less wars about who-did-what-to-whom.

Answer 6

I have four kids myself, been working for the past 23 years. I have no real advice to other moms out there with the same predicament, except that I have learned to live one day at a time.

Answer 7

RUN!!!!

Sorry couldn't resist either...

I say just enjoy them all the time.  I asked a couple once if they had trouble with their five kids and they said the trouble began once they grew up because they have a mind of their own and their personality comes out more.  While their small you have control...but when they get older that's when trouble begins.  

Get used to your kids...by spending alot of time with them.  The only problems with alot of kids is safety concerns...like getting lost in grocery stores and crossing a parking lot.  Practice safety and teach them to clean up after themselves.  Make cleaning a fun game when their small then a chore once their a little older.

You can have all the kids you want...just enjoy them.

Answer 8

i have 4 kids myself. 4 yrs old, 2 yr old twins and a 4 month old.

my main advice is to stay calm. it gets VERY overwhelming sometimes. adn dont forget to take time away for yourself. and find a medicine that works well for headaches. it gets noisy.

Answer 9

I used to babysit a family of 4 girls (each 2 y apart).  The oldest is now the most difficult teacher where she is waiting to become principal.  (That's my pride & joy.....  )  The other 3 have better paying jobs and have moved out of state.  What I did for thei mom was babysit for free or whatever she wanted to pay me.  When the parents went through a separation then divorce, I always had the oldest one w/ me.  {I guessed family had the other 3.}  We were INSEPERABLE!

Answer 10

Well...I have 2 kids of my own, and 2 stepchildren. I say, just enjoy it, and make sure you have a drink every once in awhile to keep your sanity! I know that's not much advice, but really, all I mean is to make sure that you set aside some time, even if it is only a few hours a month, and do what you want to do. Guilt-free. Your kids deserve that. :) (yes, I said your kids deserve that. You do too, but if you feel like your needs are being met, then you are that much more capable of meeting the needs of your babies.)