How do large families with young DCs cope with playdates/parties/all the rest of it? I have 3 DCs - 18 months, 3 and 5. Expecting DC4 in June. 3 and 5 year old in Kindergarton and Year One. I find myself turning playdates down all the time, particularly for eldest because I can't pick up at 5/5.30pm - DC3 is gorgeous little bundle but she's high maintenance and needs a LOT of sleep - have tried every routine and she now sleeps through until 7am (bliss), but only if she's in bed before 6pm. Which means we all have to be home for tea, bath etc by 5pm. DH works late most night, away lots of weekends too, which means that even weekend parties can be an impossibility sometimes (turning up with three children not a good start; having to leave early if the party finishes at 5.30pm makes child at party miserable and is awkward for host). School is drive away, so all playdates/parties etc are often around 20-30 mins drive from here.
I'm not having a moan, just curious as to how other big families manage. I come from big family but there weren't playdates in those days (or perhaps there were and my parents said no too??!)
Trouble is, I can only see things getting worse with DC4, particularly if he/she is anything like DC3 - she won't sleep in pram, won't sleep in car even if we drive for hours... she 's fine so long as her routine is adhered to and she's at home for her nap. And my life requires me to have sleep, so if that means doing things her way, I'll do it (after a year of serious sleep deprivation I'll do anything!). Maybe number 4 will be easy but even so, three naps a day for the first few months is going to really restrict us further.
I guess I'm hoping that big families don't need playdates so much... or will my elder children be scarred for life?!
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play dates and parties with 4 DCs?? How do you manage?
23 replies
babymooner · 16/01/2013 10:09
OP posts:
Smudging ·
18/01/2013 07:20
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