A question for the moms with more than 3 kids!?

Question

I have 5 children however 3 of them are in school and play sports. I have 2 girls who play volleyball and a son in football! I am going crazy trying to shuttle everyone to and from practice/games. We live in the country so its not as if I can go home till the next has to go! Any good routine, or organizing pratices would be much appreciated because I still have a toddler and a newborn to contend with! Before you ask....yes daddy does help when he can however is job requires him to be oncall nights and weekends so its never a gaurantee that I have an extra set of hands!

Answer 1

I also live in the country (mountains) and each town is 15 minutes away on country roads. I had kids going to different schools in different towns. Your newborn and toddler should be the easy ones. And hopefully you have a minivan. Put toys in the van that can only be played with in the van ( or on your outings). That makes them a little more special. If you can have 2 sets and trade them out every couple of days when the children become bored with that set. Keep the things you will need stocked in your vehicle, diapers, food, blankets, etc. They are for here only and no need to bring them in and out each day. Perhaps your husband can do the daily stocking for you.
If daddy is home when you arrive after sports maybe he can be the one that unloads the kids and you take 45 minutes for yourself to luxury bathe, relax , shower, take a walk, what ever.......It will be rejuvenating for your spirit
I envy your situation. Mine are all grown too quickly, and a day will come when you wish you were back where you are now.......

Answer 2

I have an 11, 5, and 1 year old with a baby on the way, due in February. Dad has to help out a lot. I have learned that I can't worry about the house being messy. I keep it clean, but not neat. There is always something to be done, but I put off doing some of them so I can watch a certain show on TV just for me. I give specific chores to each of the kids. The 11 year old and 5 year old help out a lot, but they also contribute to the mess. Just learn to accept that it can't all be done all the time. You are only one, having to keep up with 3. If they are happy and fed, you're doing great!!

Answer 3

I have 3 grown children, and now I am raising my grandchildren. My kids lived in the mountains right in the middle of nowhere. Their school was 20 miles away from our cabin, and it was 3 miles to the county road for the school bus stop. My kids didn't always get the opportunity to play sports. I don't know if I would have shuttled them around even in the city. My kids got the chance to run and play and use imagination and problem solving.
It is much more important for children to have free play than it is for them to always have a scheduled activity.
If these children are too young to get themselves back and forth to practice, or if you can't find a carpool, they probably would be just fine not being involved at this moment.
If you live in the country, I am positive these kids can find something else to do. Quit shuttling so much.

Answer 4

I have four and they are one toddler, one kindergartener and two in elementary. They are also in sports and after school stuff.
I wasn't going to say you should use the hubby to help because I assume if you have it the way I do, then that's just not an option when he works. So anyway, I had to narrow the activities to only the weekend and two days a week to keep it really easier to shuttle them.
The best help for me has been other parents. My girls sometimes have to go to their teamates houses to go with them and their parents when they go. If you make a overnight deal with them staying the night at a teamates house, you can get a break too. The best thing to have is a call list for the other parents to try to elicit some help from them. People can be so nice when they realize you are just looking for help to do what their child does. I made some friends asking for help this way too and I'm shy. Of course you'll want to be everything to everyone, but just try to pick and choose the priorities because it's not possible or good to stretch yourself too thin.

Good luck!!

Answer 5

I am right there with you. Whew, am I glad football season is over. Now I only have soccer for 2 kids to worry about for a few weeks.

I would recommend carpooling as much as possible and having the kids limit their sports to one per season---not "sports season"---time of the year season. This will help you cut back on the craziness when baseball overruns football which bumps into soccer...

Good luck. Thanks for asking this question---I hope you get some creative answers because I could use them too.

Answer 6

Oh my goodness!!! It's like I'm talking to myself!! 5 kids, 3 in school, 1 toddler, 1 baby. Dad helps when he can, but he works out of town which makes it hard. LOL. OK, this is what I do, ask some of the parents they are in sports with if it would be OK to let them go with their kids after school for practices, and for games you can't make it to. Then when you go to town, you only have to make one trip. For late games, see if they can spend the night. Most parents understand and are more than willing to help.

Answer 7

Try taking turns with the other parents. It's alot easier to drive a bunch of kids a couple times a week, than to drive just yours everyday. I'm sure some of the other parents are having the same problem.

Answer 8

i think you should meet some of the other parents who have their kids in sports as well to see if carpooling and rotating could help. i am a mother of 3 and its tough on me.poor you ,how did you even find the time to ask this question much less read the answers .GOOD LUCK

Answer 9

I can not help you organize but I can tell you it does get better. I have 5 also.........I'm so glad they are older now. Good luck!!

Answer 10

if they have friends that stay close let them ride with them or maybe u can go to a nearby friends house