60-day returns • free shipping on USA orders $129+
Need help with school planning for 5 children
- This topic has 18 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 2 months ago by
.
- Posts
Tristan, I’m impressed!! I only have one DD, but your post really makes me think that at almost 9 she should be doing much more to help out! She’s pretty independant when it comes to her own room and needs, but I think she could start doing more to contribute overall. She does about the amount your 4 y/o does…She does have her own medical needs and no younger siblings to care for, but still…Something to think about!
Tristan, I am impressed as well! And maybe a little envious as well( I know we are not supposed to be envious 🙂 Hopefully I can take some of your ideas and run with them. I have 8 children ranging from 20 down to 3. The oldest two are out of the house now but still seem to keep me very busy. I have one special needs but she functions well for her age. She just cannot do some of the harder things like carrying heavy or bulky stuff.(ie laundry baskets). Mine can all clean bathrooms, sweep mop, laundry, do dishes. I just don’t have a good everyday plan. I have printed out your post to share with my husband and try to get something more routine in place. Thanks for the post it was very inspiring!
Binky
You know, you just have to start where you are! I’ve always included/required the kids to join me in chores, so my oldest has had 11 years of working alongside mommy and lots of little siblings to practice on too.
We spend a few weeks each summer learning new chores and brushing up on the ‘mom way’ (ahem, right way) to do those we already know. Then the children keep those chores all year. So my oldest has been doing floors (sweep and vacuum) randomly for years, but this June it became her responsibility totally. That first two months I thought it would drive me crazy how much she missed. Now we’re into the beginning of the 4th month and she’s doing so much better. She knows her job is essential now that baby brother is army crawling – keeps him from finding little things to choke on.
The two who have a bathroom each learned that if they do it right the first time Mom doesn’t call them back during their playtime to do the whole bathroom again.
<grin> I have always tried to encourage their best effort, and honestly that is the one thing that helps. If they leave part of a job undone they come back and redo the whole thing. Wipe the already clean counters and the toilet and then do the mirror they forgot. Practice makes progress, right?
Every family will find what works for them. I have had so many littles in a row that there was no way for me to keep up without the kids pitching in. Baby Mason is my 7th child, but he was my 10th pregnancy in 12 years, I lost 3 along the way. Morning sickness or even bedrest have been par for the course for years. Tweak it and make it work for you!
Tristan, thank you so much for your post. It helped me to see that I am not asking to much of my children. They complain a lot and my older 3 tell their friends that they have to do chore/care of siblings all the time. That they get no fun time but what I see is they are always goofing off and doing their own thing. Sometimes I feel bad about pulling them away from their play, so I just do everything myself. They really think their life is so unfair. My 13 yr old daughter said to me one day- why do I have to clean my bedroom when every teenager in America has a messy room, they don’t have to clean!- I’m not sure HOW she knows every other teenager in the world but that is her overall attitude about helping me. She has also said things like- why do I have to do all this work when you are the one who chose to have all these kids, I didn’t ask to be in a big family…these words/attitudes really get me down and when I look around at all the dirty walls,floors, bathrooms and mountain of laundry…wow can I get burnt out very easy!
My husband is of the same mind ,as you, about work first and eat 2nd but I thought that was to hard on the kids. I will re-think and pray about that one. Thank you again for your post, I shared it with my husband and he says he likes how your system works 🙂 I am going to go right now any look through bedrooms and see what can be de-cluttered!
- The topic ‘Need help with school planning for 5 children’ is closed to new replies.