What We Do To Raise 6 Happy & Balanced Children

The truth is, we go to bed every night wishing we’d had more time for our kids.

But we had those feelings also when we had one, two and three children.

The key is to put systems in place to help us prioritise quality time with them and look after ourselves to be fit to do so;

It all starts with the realization that time is running out. Fast.

Having 6 kids means we are grossly outnumbered.

So our biggest battles are: laundry, food prep, taxi duties and school support.

It drives us crazy.

Yet we’ll miss it all when they leave home.

If we want to give our kids the best life possible, we need to take care of our bodies.

Both my wife and I have embraced early morning workouts for years.

We don’t have a nanny, so our bodies must be ready to carry the kids, clean the floors and play with them.

Equally, we must prioritize our health through a clean diet, little to no alcohol and a solid sleep routine.

And we involve our kids with meal preps to teach them about how to keep their bodies healthy when they leave home and spend quality time with them.

But with so many kids around, they all long for more attention.

So we’ve come up with a rule that whenever we get the chance to take any of them out on a little 1:1 date, we do it (bookstore after school, a walk after ballet or a sneaky cinema trip with the eldest).

With our kids’ ages ranging 0-12yrs, they all have different schedules and activities.

But we make sure we always have family dinner together.

It gives us a chance to check in with them and for all of us to share what’s going on in our little worlds.

Every day, we make time to have a proper bed routine for each of them.

Sometimes it’s reading their favourite story for the 7,498th time, or play a card game or just time to chat through what’s on their mind.

We all go to bed easier having had a good ending to each day.

Last but not least, my wife and I have two non-negotiable times set aside in our diaries:

1. Our date walk

As a couple we need time for us and see how we can better support one another.

Also this is time to reflect where our family is heading strategically. Big picture stuff.

2. Our weekly meeting

We could honestly use a PA just to keep our kids schedules organized.

Add to it our changing diaries and you have a perfect storm.

Once a  week we sit down and plan the next week ahead. This is a fairly new addition but now a non-negotiable.

That's it, those are our systems and habits to raise 6 happy kids.

We don’t always get it right, but our house is filled with warmth and laughter.