How will I survive the summer??

Posted: Tue, Jul 24 2012, 3:43 am Post subject: How will I survive the summer??

How am I going to manage this summer with 5 kids at home?? What if you're not good at being the fun Mom, doing lots of exciting activities with the kids? How do you cope with so many kids?

I feel like such a terrible mother that I cant get everything done, and be the perfect Mom, giving all my kids attention all the time. What can I do just to be a good enough mother? I feel like I'm failing. Please help Smile

Just try to get through each day, don't focus on how many weeks it is or else you'll start to panic.

I also am not that kind of mom that enjoys trying to figure out how to entertain a bunch of kids all day. I need some space and quiet time and when I don't get it, I get kvetchy, start to yell at the kids more, and get frustrated more quickly. Since I know I won't have some space during the times all of the kids are home, I try to find things to get some kids out of the house. Can you alternate kids with playdates so they are happy? Sometimes send them out, sometimes allow others over?

Can you have them help you with one meal a day? Either make a fun breakfast together or make cookies in the afternoon? Can they watch a movie/video at some point during the day? Are there gymboree kinds of places in the mall nearby that you pay for the day and not by the hour? What are the ages of your kids?

thanks for replying Smile

my kids are 10, 8, 6, 3 and 2months. I feel so overwhelmed at the thought of trying to get everything done. Am I the only one who isnt all smiles and fun all the time? it seems like everyone else is so relaxed and good at this parenting/entertsining the kids thing....

Gold Member Joined: Feb 05 2008 Posts: 2428 Location: UK

Are daycamps in the budget? Maybe do that for a week or two and you'll have more patience to your children the rest of the time, if you know you will have some time to yourself.
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Unfortunately, my daydreams about being skinny are always being interrrupted by the sound of my own chewing.

I found that my kids are happier and play better when they have friends over, so I encourage it. It may seem like more kids is more work, but happier kids are just all around easier.

Also, for us a schedule makes a tremendous difference. If the kids know what to expect each day, what the routine is, they cooperate better and we are all happier. Getting dressed, davening, what time meals and snacks are, activity and clean up times... If everyone is hefker in pajamas all day long no one is actually happy.
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Liba, mommy to Zlata Tova 5/6/98, Tziporah Faiga 1/12/01, Esther Rivka 7/13/04 and Avraham Chaim 7/2/2006

Platinum Member Joined: Mar 12 2009 Posts: 13203

BTDT. Being OOT with a car helps. I would go through the library program options (we had access to lots of local libraries back in the heyday of summer programming and funding), local parenting magazines that listed other programs, fairs, etc. and create a schedule of activities. There's also bowling (don't know if it's too late to sign up for kidsbowlfree.com but call local alleys, a lot of have all sorts of promotions). Our local libraries have some free vouchers to different activities and sites, many of them not relevant or interesting but some have worked. We also got zoo and/or museum memberships back then.

I'm not the arts and crafty type and I let a lot of things drop. Re the a and c - maybe you have one near you: places that collect items for recycling and all sorts of random stuff, you go and fill up bags and then the kids create their masterpieces the rest of the day and beyond. That was always fun.

We did a lot of playgrounds too but rarely faced this unrelenting heat.

Oh, and by late July my reading material consisted of some of my favorite cartoon anthologies and other funny stuff- anything to keep me laughing and smiling.
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The righteous praise and honor people for every good quality that is found in them while the wicked seek out faults in others to pull them down, even if they repented those deeds. (Rabbeinu Yonah, from Partners in Kindness)

im not a very hands on mom, I admit.

I dont play with my kids and have activities for them. this summer they are in camp, but last year were at home with me. and it went by, and I cant remember a single thing I did with them. yes I know, shame on me. we resort to movies or ipad if they get crazy, but that is usually friday. otherwise, they play very nicely together, and only need to be peeled off eachother on average once a day. its very chilled out, and thats what counts.

and as far as your last question of the first paragraph... that is why I dont have many kids - bc I cant cope with the two ive got.

good luck.
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Death Is The Only Guarantee In Life.

I am also doing mommy camp. my husband told me not to complain to ppl bec it is just like any other job that people have to go to. Is that true?

Platinum Member Joined: Mar 12 2009 Posts: 13203

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