Saturday, 22 July 2017

4 kids and a divorce


I don't have time for all my kids. This has resulted in me prioritizing the younger ones. My kids are 8f, 10m, 12f and 13f. I feel as if the I barely even see the oldest girl anymore.My ex husband and I had a bad divorce 1.5 years ago. I have a good job but 4 kids is expensive and my house only has 3 bedrooms. 8f and 12f are best friends and sharing a room. 10m and 13f get along and share a room. My 12f and 13f start fighting if they need to spend too much time together, which is why they aren't sharing a room (12f refuses to share with 13f and 13f doesn't want to share with someone who doesn't want to share with her).We live in an area in Chicago with some crime so I have curfew all my kids need to be home by the time the sun goes down. My 13f can text me and stay out a little longer if she wants to finish a movie or similar.All my kids clean their own rooms and do their own laundry. No one has any extra chores but I ask them small favors now and then. 13f is incredibly helpful but the rest need to be persuaded if they are going to help out at all.The past year the youngest three have hated me for getting a divorce, only the eldest has supported me. My ex husband and I have the three youngest kids 2 weeks each, then switch. The eldest doesn't want to be on a schedule and goes to whichever house she wants whenever she wants.When my eldest wants a quiet space she goes to her dad's house. She then misses her siblings and complains it is lonely at dad's house but too crowded at mine.I drive my two youngest to all their activities all week while the two oldest use public transit. I watch my youngest sports games but I haven't had time to go to my eldest games in months. She tried planning a shopping day with me last week and I wasn't able to until 2.5 weeks forward so she decided to go alone instead.I have realized how powerless I am. If my eldest wanted to go out any hour of the night I wouldn't be able to stop her because I have three other kids to watch.I just feel that I'm not enough. via /r/Parenting http://ift.tt/2gTnQPM

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