It is not easy having a big family. Some parents with only one kid already have a difficult time parenting. Imagine if you need to raise several of them, and they are just years apart. Remember these tips to help you in managing your family, and avoid feeling burnt out.
Create a chart for everything
Sometimes, when you have a big family, it is easy for you to forget some errands. You might have a child who needs something from you, but you forgot what it is. You don’t want your kids to feel frustrated with you because you keep forgetting things. You also want to teach your kids how to be responsible. Therefore, having a chart helps them identify their cleaning assignments, laundry schedule, and seating arrangement at the dining table. You don’t need to keep remembering everything if you can somewhat automate the process.
Label everything
You need to label clothes, school supplies and other items to avoid mixing things up. You can use different markers to serve as labels. If your kids are old enough, you can let them decide on the tags. It teaches them responsibility and respect for other people’s possessions.
Spend time with everyone
While growing up, your kids will develop their personality. You might realise that some of them are doing well academically while others are great at sports. You will also find others who are too reserved. You won’t know what their interests are unless you spend time with them. Even if you are working as a parent while running a big family, you still need to find time for each of your children. You don’t want someone in your family to feel left out because you only focused on the kids you like. When it is your time with one child, the rest need to respect it.
Spend time alone
Perhaps, this is the most challenging part of having a big family. For some working parents, the only place where they can be quiet and relaxed is in their home. However, for people like you with a big family, even your home might not be a relaxing place. Despite that, you still need to find a way to be alone. You need it for your mental health; otherwise, you will go insane managing several kids.
Rent a large house for the weekend
It is quite expensive going on a trip when you have a big family. However, it does not mean that you should not travel anymore. There are still ways for you to save money when you plan to head out and relax. You can find big houses to rent. These houses might be expensive, but they are big enough to accommodate everyone. You will also be saving more money than if you rent a hotel where you need to book several rooms as there are only two to three people allowed in each room. Some large houses have a swimming pool and entertainment rooms, and your family will love that.
You don’t need to worry that you have a big family with the help of these tips. Many other parents have survived the ordeal, and so can you.
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