Anyone else work full time and have 3 or more children???

I am so exhausted with my 3. I work full time and feel very guilty that I dont have any of them in anything extra (except for DS1 therapy) I dont know how people with multiple children put all of them in sports etc! Dont get me wrong, I used to until DS2 got old enough to not want to sit in a stroller. As a matter of fact I COACHED a soccer team a year ago and had my DD in a backpack and DS2 on the blanket where a sideline friend would watch him. It was TOO much! My husband has a crazy full time schedule which is never ever the same. My parents live in Albany and Florida. I just dont know how to make it work! I feel like my kids are missing out!

How do you do it all?

BTW My kids are 10, 5 and 2. Please let me know your kids age when you respond.

Re: Anyone else work full time and have 3 or more children???

Nobody! I feel so alooooone

Re: Anyone else work full time and have 3 or more children???

You are not alone. I work full time and have 3. My kids are 2, 4 and 6. I am very lucky I have the opportunity to work from home 3 days a week otherwise it would be impossible I think. I can throw the clothes in the wash, etc. I commute to NYC from NJ on my office days and on those days we all leave the house my 7:00 and I don't get home until 7 the earliest. The little ones are in daycare and my 6 yo is in 1st grade.

As far as activities, my girls both play soccer which is on the same fields, with there games at the same time or close. So my husband and I can both switch off watching their games. I am not sure how we are going to do it next year when they are in different age groups let alone in 2 years when all 3 will be playing. My 6 yo also goes to CCD one night a week. We realize that this is just the start of it. I can't imagine having all 3 in activites but we will have to figure it out I guess and limit them.

We have no family close by to help us with the kids . Fortuantely my DH is very involved and so great with the kids, we are in this 50/50 other wise don't know how we would be able to both work FT.

It is exhausting though! My MIL got me this really big MOM calendar. My regular one just wasn't cutting it anymore beacuse I couldn't fit everyone's activitie, events and assignments in those little boxes. The big calander has been a life saver. I love it and my DH now is in the habit of referring to also. Helps me keep on top of everything without going crazy.

I feel your pain, it is so not easy. I am exhausted half the time but I realize that ny working my kids will have the opportunity to do the extra stuff they like even if finding the time proves challenging.




ETA: We were always of the mentality that we could do it all by ourselves since this is what we have done since the kids were born but have recently realized and accepted the fact that carpooling is a good thing! Does take some of the pressure off.

Message edited 9/25/2011 5:45:52 PM.

Re: Anyone else work full time and have 3 or more children???

You are not alone I am a teacher and have an almost 5 year old a 2 1/2 year old and a 16 month old. I am beyond exhausted and beyond stressed too so I feel your pain. Unfortunately I dont have a good support system not horrible but not great. My in laws are in Florida and while my parents live 5 mintues away they both work full time so cant really help. Most of my DH and myself have frineds that live out of state or in Queens so there goes that too. Oh and we both have extremly small families so no cousins aunts uncls ro anything. The only saving grace is that my DH is beyond amazing. He works nights so he takes the 2 older kids to to daycare a few days a week and takes care of the baby all day. When I come home from work he goes to work. We hardly see each other but we do what we have to do. To add to the stress my kids and I have celiac disease so I ahve to make everything from scratch bread, pancakes, pizza, cake, cookies, etc. you name it I make it. Anyway do nto feel alone because you are not, i know easier said then done. Anyway if you ever need to vent I am here, lol

Re: Anyone else work full time and have 3 or more children???

I have 3 kids: 3 1/2 years old and 2 1/2 year old twins. I also work full time. Family lives on Long Island (I live in NJ), and Arizona.

We manage. We have a very strong marriage. I think that is the key. My kids are definitely not missing out.


It is hard but as long as you give them the love and positive morals to grow up with, they will be fine.

Re: Anyone else work full time and have 3 or more children???

I work FT and my DH works FT and PT and we have 3 kids. My kids are on the younger side than yours though. They're 7.5, 5 and 10 months old. Up until August only my older son played sports, my younger son just tagged along. I just didn't have the time and figured he was on the younger side it wouldn't matter to him. We are currently in my younger sons first season of Soccer and my older son's plays baseball. We have one practice and one game each every week. It's VERY hectic. As well as my older son takes Catechism as well but at least that's on Sunday's now instead of a work night. It's VERY difficult to get them to where they need to go during the week. A lot of times they may be late getting to practice due to work issues. DH is unavailable to help 2 nights during the week and on Saturday mornings due to his PT job. It isn't as bad as I thought it would be. We lucked out and none of their games are at the same time. But Saturdays are running around from game to game, etc. The poor baby gets lugged around just like my younger son did. She doesn't seem to mind though since she's younger. I have NO IDEA what we're going to do when the baby is older??? I also wanted them to take karate and I'm kind of glad I don't have the money for that since that would just add to the hectic running around during the week. I personally put my kids in sports just to do something since my older one especially is lazy and would just sit around the house and nag me to play video games. He doesn't always want to go to baseball, but once he's there he enjoys it. Same with my younger one. Mommy on the other hand is EXHAUSTED!!! There just isn't enough hours in a day... especially work days.

Re: Anyone else work full time and have 3 or more children???

I'm divorced, work full time and have 3 (almost 3, 5 and almost 7). They are also in various sports (their fall sports are football, (they play soccer all year round) and my daughter cheers; come spring, it'll be soccer and lacrosse/baseball) and my almost 7 YO is in religion as well.. they also do winter/spring break sports clinics as well.

it's CRAZY! I will not lie to you. I do feel lucky that my ex helps out and shuttles them around for me when I can't make it but I am constantly on the go. My weekends are not about relaxing.. they are about running one to one game and the other elsewhere, coordinating who has to go where and what time and it's insane! lol the kids also alternate weekends with their dad so in the midst of the craziness, I have to keep him in the loop of where they have to go and I also still see them because I don't ever want to miss their games and such..

once you add into the mix, birthdays, events, parties, holidays, school events, etc. I just take it one day at a time or I will just drop dead lol

Message edited 9/26/2011 11:03:28 AM.

Re: Anyone else work full time and have 3 or more children???

Im kind of glad Im not alone but I dont feel any better IDK how to do it. My DH and I may be getting separated AND he doesnt have a schedule at all. His work is different week to week. I just