Photo by: Woodleywonderworks

Punctuality with a Large Family: It Can Be Done!

Photo by: Woodleywonderworks

I have four kids, which is considered a “large” family these days. In addition to being a chauffeur, housekeeper, chef, and nurse, I have a small part-time music position at church that requires me to be there on Wednesdays and Sundays.

One of my biggest pet peeves is being late. I hate it when people are late for rehearsals and concerts, and I am mortified when I am late myself. I know, I know. Life happens. However, in most cases, you can be punctual even if you have many kids. Want to hear how I do it? Of course you do!

Several factors come into play when I make plans to leave the house:

  1. What time to I need to be there?
  2. How long does it take to drive there (considering traffic)?
  3. How long does it take to get the kids in and out of the van?
  4. How long will it take to find a parking space?
  5. How long will it take to walk into the building?

When you are thinking about what time you need to be somewhere, be sure to also factor in time that you need to spend filling out paperwork, for example, if you are going to a doctor’s appointment. Most offices will ask you to arrive 15 minutes earlier than your scheduled appointment time in order to do this. I always try to add a cushion of five minutes because you never know whether one of your children needs to use the restroom when you get there, get water, or knock over the box of books in the waiting room.

Let me back up a minute, though, and talk about actually getting out of the house. I hate a last-minute scramble for the door. It is frustrating for everyone involved, and I cannot stand having to yell, “GET IN THE VAN NOW,” if someone is lolly-gagging because they can’t find the Pokemon action figure they were planning to bring.

So, about an hour before we need to be leaving the house, I start getting everyone ready. For my older kids (ages 9 and 6), they can manage to put on shoes by themselves and get whatever books or toys they want to bring. It is trying to get my three-year-old ready that can turn into a circus sideshow, so that is why I start an hour beforehand.

Because with three-year-olds, many things can go wrong:

  1. They lose a shoe.
  2. They lose a sock.
  3. They pee their pants.
  4. They decide they don’t want the pants you picked out for them so they start removing them and throwing them across the room even though you told them not to take them off or else.

I like to choose my battles wisely, so if your child is going through a “blue pants” phase like mine is, have an adequate supply just in case. This will save any headaches when trying to get them dressed and out the door.

Now, if I am a little busy with the baby, my oldest is good at helping to get socks and shoes on the three-year-old. Kids love to help! If the older ones are ready to go, have them help locate lost shoes, socks, or find the last pair of clean blue pants in Mount Laundry. It will save you some trouble and make it easier for you to finish packing the diaper bag. By this time, an hour has probably gone by very quickly, so it is time to get in the van!

Teach kids how to buckle themselves in when they are in the booster seat phase (always double-checking to be sure). Older kids can help their younger siblings tighten seat belts and double-check clasps. I hope that you have not pulled your hair out by now and everyone is snug in his or her seats, ready to go.

For a day full of errands, getting out the front door is half the battle. But hey! At least you got out the door. Now what about getting out of the van? My children often fight about who gets out first and the backseat turns into Wrestlemania as they scramble over each other in an effort to get out first. Sound familiar? Have your kids decide who will get into the van first and then when you arrive at your destination, the other child will get out first.

My children do not always remember this rule, and it’s ok to change it up a bit when they want to switch. Little conflicts like these can make or break punctuality. So have a battle plan!

When walking through the parking lot, be sure that you employ all of your Mama Duck instincts. Have your children hold hands so no one goes running off into traffic. Three-year-olds are often adverse to hand holding in parking lots, so be prepared to grab them up and haul them in under your arm.

It helps if one of your older kids takes the diaper bag or your purse—I know I do not like to be burdened like a pack mule. Parking lot safety is not one of the battles I fight, so more often than not, trying to reason with a preschooler over holding hands is just going to make you late. They will usually get over it once you are in the building, so no worries there.

Hopefully, you are now at your required destination, on time, and maybe even early! Being punctual will make everyone happier in the long run—especially mama! Cause when mama ain’t happy…well, you know.

Elizabeth is a super-busy mother of four boys. When she is not chasing after her children, she is getting paid to sing at weddings, knitting, or scrapbooking.

Like This Article

Like Mamapedia

Learn From Moms Like You

Get answers, tips, deals, and amazing advice from other Moms.

2 Comments

I couldn't have said it any better. You really got into my head with this one. My husband, bless his heart cannot understand why I take 2 hours to prepare for one trip to the dr. when I have to keep them busy..

Having four kids myself, including twins, I understand the preparation and planning you're talking about. People often ask when you have more than two kids, "how do you do it?" They don't understand that it's easy when you're well prepared.

Leave a Comment

Required
Required (will not be published)
Required (to prove you're human)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on topic and not abusive

Related Questions

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us
Want to become a contributor?
Want to become a contributor?

If you'd like to contribute to the Wisdom of Moms on Mamapedia, please sign up here to learn more: Sign Up

Recent Voices Posts

See all