Jenny-poo asked:
I was fine until I had my last baby now I need some pointers on how to save time money and my sanity.
Elsie
I was fine until I had my last baby now I need some pointers on how to save time money and my sanity.
Elsie
How can I be a better mom raising 4 kids?
{ 8 comments }
Well thats hard to answer considering I don’t know you and how you spend your money. I do recommend state aid, food stamps, temporary assistance (cash), and they can help you until you are making enough to support yourself and your 4 kids, oh and WIC will pay for your formula and other good things like peanut butter, cereal, etc.
You need a strong support system and help. It’s always important to take some time, no matter how little, to yourself. Finally, get all the kids on a structured system that they can follow.
Schedule’s
Try an antidepressant LOL Just kidding…..
It’s really hard but keeping your kids on schedule really helps my sanity, as moms we need those few moments of peace! Save money by price matching groceries, shopping the sales for clothing etc….and always go back for your price adjustments…..Quick dinner meals are always the best too…I like to do lots of stuff in the crock pot so I can get that mainly done in the morning, so when my kids come home from school I can focus more on them and their homework rather than dinner…..It always helps to have some friends you can vent to too…..And they probably need to have around the same number of kids as you so they can understand where you are coming from…..and you need to know you are not the only one that is stressed out too!
Good Luck!
Take time off for yourself… best advice I can give. If it means you need to call in your mom/aunt/sister/neighbor/friend/spouse- whoever to babysit while you GET AWAY and get time to yourself, it will be worth it.
Every good mom needs a time out for herself. Take a bubble bath, put of headphones… take a walk- see a movie by yourself… ship the kids off to a sitter for the day/night and watch the whole season of *** and the city (or whatever) – just find YOU time.
As for saving money…. coupons coupons coupons. By used items from eBay that are in good condition (often cheaper even after shipping!) As for time, setting out your kids clothes the night before for the next day can save some much needed “waking up time” in the morning. Also, planning your meals ahead of time help too. (I was never at this until my last baby came along)
Just remember there are onl 24 hours in the day, and no matter what you do- hope- pray or try to bribe, extra time just doesn’t happen. (I’ve tried!) So slow things down a bit, spead out your obligations and plan errands accordingly.
But most of all… remember, you need to be the best YOU to be the best Mom… so time outs for yourself are the most important thing above all!
I have 6 kids.You have to have a routine with that many kids.You eat,play,read,do homework etc………… all at a certain time.There should be a certain time for bath and bed.To save money shop at Aldis,save a lot or some kind of grocery store like them and catch those clothes on sale.To keep your insanity have a me time.Dont matter what time of the day is have a time when you are alone(15 minutes).At nights enjoy the time you are alone when the kids are in bed.
All you can do is strive to do a little better and a little more.
Mine are 12,9,4,&1. Don’t forget to just enjoy. You know you wish them to be bigger one second and then the next you hold on to their small hands and never want to let them go.
Being very organised is the main key. The more organised and scheduled you are, the more reassured, calm and content your children will be.
Why? One of the answers is that children love being able to predict what will happen at any time – they love routine. If moms have a routine, moms themselves will be able to predict and plan. This gives moms and kids confidence that they can cope with what happens.
Make lists. Plan, plan plan – and then actually carry out your plans. Allow a bit of flexibility, especially when the kids are very young, because you don’t want unexpected stuff to ruin all your lovely careful planning. So don’t cram too much into a day.
Tackle things at a speed everyone can manage. Try to avoid hectic or confused days. They will happen, of course, but if you are in charge, you will survive them.
Make rules, make sure you all follow them, be structured, be tidy, be clean, be simple. Lower your expectations and do not feel you have to be perfect. Raise your expectations and do not allow yourself to be slack. Somewhere in the middle works, especially with small children.
There is no substitute for simple, clean tidiness and organisation, and that is where you must start. No one is too young to help – but make the kitchen your territory, from where you rule the world. Be frugal – no wild spending for now. A tight budget is necessary, to be on the safe side. Cook simple things, make kids appreciate things like salads (fruit salads too) that you can make quickly.
With any luck, you can delay their knowledge of the outside world and they will not want fast food or crass toys for a while. Following the latest fad, food or fashion is a mistake you must not make – it is expensive and robs the children of attention from you.
Be in charge – be in charge of your life and your kids’ lives. run the show, be dependable.
Is this all very hard? Yes, it is – it’s mothering. Motherhood is common, it comes with being a mother and that’s it.
But good motherING is not easy. You will only see the results in about 12 years.
Good luck