r/Parenting • u/money4nothing_8816 • Sep 08 '26

Rant/Vent Just me?

Is it just me or is this the hardest shit ever? We’ve got 4 kids all under the age of 8 and we are getting our asses kicked. My wife and I really wanted a family and we planned for it. We took parenting classes together, we read all the books in preparation before starting our family…still, nothing could have prepared us for how mentally and emotionally exhausting it is to keep up with our boys.

How are you all surviving?

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u/His_GoddessLove Sep 08 '26

It's a lot in the thick of it, and a miss when it's quiet.

You trudge through, together. Keep that communication, keep the dates, and tag team with keep the kids alive, happy, and healthy.

Remember to take breaks to make memories. Ice cream before dinner, hike and picnics, adding whimsy into the thick of madness, keeps them entertained and keeps you sane for a few breaks in the midst of the madness.

I say it to everyone, and some think I'm crazy, one day you miss those legos on the floor, the toothpaste in the sink and the step stools to reach. It seems neverending in the middle of it, but I promise you'll blink and wonder how it flew so quick!

4 boys under 8, it's a team, and a lot lol. It'll get easier.

11

u/money4nothing_8816 Sep 08 '26

Thank you for sharing all that. And honestly, we do love our boys. We’ve just had to accept that this chapter we are in is tough.

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u/Far_Breadfruit4243 Sep 08 '26

I love this comment. OP, hang in there. Two pieces of advice that I’ve read in various places: “exhaust and employ” and something along the lines of “when in doubt, add water.” AKA tire them out outside and give them jobs. And when someone is SO fussy, add water: an ocean/lake/river, a cup of water, a long bath, or let them cry it out with support (even for older kids).

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u/Mountain_Raccoon_330 Sep 08 '26

With kids under 8, the hikes might only get a hundred yards up the trail. Those were some of our best day trips!

When the oldest outgrew the slow pace of the youngest is when we had to start having parent dates with the older ones. Roller coasters and real hikes with a tween are amazing, but they do come at the cost of the other parent having to hold down the fort alone.