This is probably a question more for the home schoolers out there. I have always taken all my kids with me wherever we went, be it dentist, dr, grocery. But with four it's cumbersome now, especially for the doctor's, to have us all in the room together for one kid's appt. I have never left my children with a babysitter and I have no family close by to leave the children with. Am I going to have to break down and hire a teenager? Schedule them for dh to take them? What do you do?

I take them. I was taking 7 everywhere then my oldest 2 were old enough to sit if needed.

i take all of mine too, now that my SD is 16 and my DD is almost 14 ive started letting them watch the younger ones but before that i just took them all with me, my doctor has always been understanding thankfully, i too dont have a babysitter or family nearby.

I take all of them with me most days. DH works from home some days so I can occasionally leave one or two. Mind you sometimes he has a deadline so that isn't an option. The Dr.s get used to it. If my oldest or 2nd oldest is available they might babysit. But they are both working for the summer!!

They have gone with me for so many years that they all don't mind much. I usually plan something special or buy a special treat or like the other day we had 3 appts. 1 with the eye specialist for foster ds and all the kids other than the olders who were working came and the other foster son who promised DH he would be quiet & read (he needs to catch up for the library reading club or misses out on mini-golf with the other kids!). They kids played at the play area, then came into the room and were quiet and patient. Then we all went to the grocery store & bought bagels, cream cheese & baby carrots & apples to go on a picnic at the park. Then 20 minutes to play at the park & then to the dentist with oldest ds 10 keeping a watch. The dentist is open concept so I can see the kids from the area we are in. Then since everyone was super good, we got small ice cream cones.

My kids like to read so that helps too!


Dinner time

Kerri mom to:

Amanda(17), Emma(15), Maddison(13), foster dd(12),
Jonah(10), foster ds(10), Saige & Claire(7, identical twin girls), foster dd(6),
foster ds(5), my little boy Teagan(3) PLUS: 2 horses, 1 pony, 3 dogs, 2
cats, 1bunny rabbit, 4 guinea pigs, 3 rats( one is naked!), 1 teddy bear
hamster & 3 dwarf hamsters & fostering a fuzzy orange tabby
kitten

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I take mine with me. I do try to combine appts if possible. Maybe you could try a nightime appt when Dh is there???

I take all 6 all the time. We bring a portable dvd player and coloring books. Everyone gets a partner and a place to sit along a wall or under a table :lol:

If I have to take them all with me, I usually make them bring some schoolwork to work on or a book to read.

How old is your oldest? My 2 oldest are 12 and 10 and I can leave them out in the waiting room if necessary.

I do make my own Dr.s appointments or physical therapy for days when dh is home. I'm not allowed to bring them to PT, so that works out fine. Can your dh take time off on weekdays? Mine has 3 weekdays off (I'm a weekend widow) so it makes it easy.