With a family...

[ladylrae]

Hey y'all!<div><br></div><div>We have a family of six and our plan is to move into a 35' motorhome. There's my parents, myself, my two teenage siblings, my baby sister... and a little dog.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>My question to y'all is this: is there any on here who have lived in a place that most would say is "too small" for their family? Our motorhome is supposed to sleep 8... however we might be doing away with the table which shaves it back down to 6.</div><div><br></div><div>If so, what were y'all's logistics for daily living? What kinds of chores did your children preform to keep things running smoothly? How did you do meals, hospitality, work, entertainment? How did you keep the place from being cluttered and make it a home?</div><div><br></div><div>Look forward to your insights, wisdom and advice.</div>

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

Welcome to the tribe. Your link doesn't work.<br><FONT color=#00ffff size=3><b>Dragonfly</b></FONT><br>

 

[ladylrae]

Ha ha! Thanks, dragonfly! I was a bit hasty and missed part of it!&nbsp;

 

[Guest]

One bathroom, for six people?<div><br></div><div>You're about to become either a lot closer, or very bitter.</div><div><br></div><div>The best thing to do is to have the list of chores rotate. That way nobody gets stuck on potty duty all the time.</div><div><br></div><div>Everything has it's place, make sure everyone knows that. Don't let things sit. I know from a small trailer, looks make a big difference.</div><div><br></div><div>As far as everything else, It's just a matter of what works for you. My mom would send me out on my bike for an hour or so around meal time so she could cook it. If the weather didn't permit, I went to my bunk and played video games.</div>

 

[ladylrae]

One bathroom, for six people?<div><br></div><div>You're about to become either a lot closer, or very bitter.</div><div><br></div><div>The best thing to do is to have the list of chores rotate. That way nobody gets stuck on potty duty all the time.</div><div><br></div><div>Everything has it's place, make sure everyone knows that. Don't let things sit. I know from a small trailer, looks make a big difference.</div><div><br></div><div>As far as everything else, It's just a matter of what works for you. My mom would send me out on my bike for an hour or so around meal time so she could cook it. If the weather didn't permit, I went to my bunk and played video games.</div>

<div><br></div><div>By God's grace, it will be the former. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> We've all shared one bathroom in the past... It's not that bad. My sister and I have learned how to do our makeup in a tiny handheld mirror and we do each other's hair. It will be a downsize, to be sure, but we know it will be worth it and we're excited to see what the future holds (once we're out of debt, we'll be able to gradually upsize - which is a hope since my mother may be blessed with more children!)</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks for all the advice! Getting the younger ones out from underfoot is an excellent tip for meal prep.&nbsp;</div>

 

[Guest]

Don't forget, a house bathroom has 40-50 gallons of hot water, an RV only has about 6, if you are lucky.<div><br></div><div>If you are in an RV park, maximize the usage of brick and mortar bathrooms, yes it may be a walk, but it keeps the dreaded backup from happening all the time. I had it happen once in our travel trailer. I was taking a fast shower, and halfway through the grey water tank spilled over into the showerpan. I was the only one there, and I was covered in soap. Hilarity ensued.</div>

 

[ladylrae]

Ah, yes. Thank you for that info! I know we need to practice taking fast showers and turning the water off in between. Daddy is also hoping to make some sort of an outdoor shower with a pop out privacy wall, I think.&nbsp;

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

Shelby, are you doing the blog and the writing? I am very impressed.<br><FONT color=#ff00ff><b>Dragonfly</b></FONT><br>

 

[ladylrae]

Shelby, are you doing the blog and the writing? I am very impressed.<br><font color="#ff00ff"><b>Dragonfly</b></font><br>

<div><br></div><div>Oh, yes ma'am. Thank you! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> I must give due credit for the knowledge behind the blog to my father. Heh, I'm still not 100% sure what an exhaust manifold is. But I'm learning!&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Also, my web/graphic design skills are the fruits of many long hours of study that my father prescribed during my homeschooling years. He's an excellent teacher. My writing/art skills are the fruits of my mother's efforts.</div><div><br></div><div>So, really, I can't stake a claim on any of it. I just have incredibly faithful and loving parents. &lt;3</div>

 

[Guest]

That's so&nbsp;cool&nbsp;your whole family is together! &nbsp;Have fun!

 

[ladylrae]

That's so&nbsp;cool&nbsp;your whole family is together! &nbsp;Have fun!

<div><br></div><div>We have been <i>so</i>&nbsp;blessed. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> Thank you for your kind wishes.</div>

 

[Guest]

Just had a thought.<div><br></div><div>Six people, that's what, 4 loads of laundry every five days or so right?</div><div><br></div><div>Where are you going to take care of that? Is there a unit built in to the camper?</div>

 

[akrvbob]

Privacy is going to be in very short supply, so my first thought would be to find places outside the RV where you can be alone. Something like an EZY-UP awning with walls or a family size tent could become a bedroom or reading room where you could get away and be alone and still be out of the elements and bugs. Another possibility is having a van or pickup with shell as your daily driver, and set them up for sleeping or as an office to get away by yourself. Bob<br>

 

[pearlofmylife]

hey! my only help is this: &nbsp; <a href="http://www.familiesontheroad.com/" target="_blank">http://www.familiesontheroad.com/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>i've found it very inspiring. i was getting increasingly nervous that i would be the only single mom of two little kids doing this, but i've found a few. and the support is awesome!&nbsp;</div>

 

[Guest]

hey hon, homeschool mom here, all 5 to college except last chick in nest. unschooling in nature will teach alot. you never know what adjustments you will gladly make until you get out there, for sure. you might find you think differently about certain things, which will help the adjustments.<br><br>once, when i took my kids in the van down to miami to see my sis, kids and i stopped to eat breakfast at a big boy, it was a grand opening special, breakfast buffet was .99 cents! (couldn't pass that up).<br>so anyway, this mother and her daughter of about 13, were going around entertaining everyone in the restaurant with balloon animals. they were dressed as clowns. the young girl was making the balloon animals. they got to our table, and after a few minutes, i engaged them in conversation by asking the girl where she learned to do this, she said "i got a book from the library and taught myself"..i said "you must be homeschoolers"..she said "yes", and began to explain to us about her mother and father and 8 young uns living in their motorhome, and that they traveled and lived solely in that.&nbsp; this was last 90's and their reasoning was they felt things were going to get dicey in the U.S., and they wanted to stay mobile and under the radar. it was fascinating what they told us. doing the grand openings was a way to make some money for the kids. <br>i didn't ask too many personal questions, wasn't appropriate, but the father came in with some of the other children, and they all looked well fed and happy and loving towards one another. <br>when we left, i looked over in the parking lot and saw their motorhome. it was a nice one but not the big dollar kind, still, roomy and nice and clean.<br><br>so it can be done. i often wonder what became of them. that was 1997 i think. <br><br>

 

[Sunny1]

Shelby, I tried to reply to your blog, but for some reason my computer won't let me comment on embedded Blogspot comment fields.<br><br>Just wanted to let you know that the story about your grandmother is one of the most courageous I've ever read.&nbsp; A REAL inspiration!<br><br>