Christmas with five young children was fantastic - now they are older it's still terrific, if chaotic. The children always have someone to play with and they can entertain themselves. The house is never quiet and you always have someone to talk to - I'm never lonely. I love being around them and feel so proud.
viv_king66 (Mum of six)

The children are great company, especially our six-year-old, he always makes us laugh. As siblings, they're all very close and the best of friends - most of the time. Call us crazy but we just love having children - we're already looking forward to lots of grandchildren.
roccos_mummy_04 (Mum of four)

I don't throw away food if it's good for another day. Leftover pizza is great for lunch with a bit of salad. I like the kids to eat sensibly so I don't buy many sweets (they have them on Sundays as a special treat) or anything that only has empty calories. Also, we try to use the car as little as possible as petrol is expensive for a seven-seater.
sarahjb1976 (Mum of four)

I do a weekly shop, though I usually have to pick up extras during the week too. I buy things like Weetabix, tea bags, fruit, ketchup in bulk and buy the supermarket's own brands - they taste as good as anything else. When the triplets came, feeding three extra mouths was quite a leap.

Clothes get handed down. My older girls find fantastic bargains in bags and shoes in charity shops. I buy baby Abby's clothes from charity shops. They're in perfect condition and only a fraction of the cost of ordinary shops. Car boot sales are also good. Once your child has grown out of clothes and toys, I'd recommend having a car boot sale of your own.
viv_king66 (Mum of six)

I shop on a daily basis as we live almost next door to a supermarket. I find if I do a bulk shop, I buy things I shouldn't, spend a fortune and come home with no food. I like fruit and vegetables very fresh, so find it is easier to buy these everyday. If I need something at midnight I'll go to a 24-hour Tesco - during my pregnancy I was a frequent visitor to Tesco at 3am! We buy toilet rolls, kitchen towels, nappies and children's pack-lunch drinks in bulk at Costco, the wholesale center. If I see a bargain anywhere I'll buy it. But I try to remember that a bargain is only a bargain if you actually need it.
roccos_mummy_04 (Mum of four)

Emma, Will and Holly, who are 16, have to keep their rooms tidy at all times to get their full allowance of £100 a month each. They also have to clean their own bathrooms and load and unload the dishwasher. Each child cooks once a week too. It's been a lot easier since the oldest two, Lucy and Jess, started at university. They don't get an allowance anymore as we're paying their accommodation fees. Abby is only 11 weeks so she's got a few years yet.
viv_king66 (Mum of six)

We used to have a rota for washing up, drying up and putting away but that disappeared when we got a dishwasher. Basically the kids are responsible for keeping their rooms tidy. After tea they are all given a job to do in the kitchen - loading the dishwasher, wiping down the breakfast bar and surfaces, or sweeping the floor - which are alternated every day. We have a rule that if they don't do their jobs they don't go out and that seems to work.
cl-whitelegs2003 (Mum of six)

My husband, Giovanni, and I share the household chores. Giovanni's jobs are emptying the bins and hanging out the wash. I do everything else. I tend to do most of the housework at night when the children are in bed and put the washing machine on. I dust, hoover, do the beds in the mornings and fill the dishwasher in the morning. Despite all my hard work, however, the house looks like a pit again half an hour after the kids are home.

Giovanni and I also have our own 'jobs' in the morning. I iron uniforms, he does breakfasts and packed lunches. We are very fortunate that the baby, Rocco, almost seven months, is very good in the morning. He'll walk about in his walker and not make a sound. He gets fed after the children have gone to school.
roccos_mummy_04 (Mum of four)

My husband and I eat out together at least once a month and we find that this really helps. After 9pm it's our time - work stops and we spend time together. Also, we never let the children sleep with us when they were younger.
viv_king66 (Mum of six)

Though Giovanni and I have been together for almost 20 years and married for almost 14 years, we still spend time with one another most evenings. I do some housework in the evening, then he'll make a cup of tea and we'll sit down and talk about the kids, the day, and anything that needs to be sorted.
roccos_mummy_04 (Mum of four)

'Me time' is talking to my friends on the boards at iVillage. I always make time for that - even though there's always something to do around the house.
cl-whitelegs2003 (Mum of six)

At 9am when all the children have gone to school, I get the baby organised then slump on the couch for a while and have a wonderful cup of tea.
roccos_mummy_04 (Mum of four)

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