The Four Children (Julia's temporary charges)

rowdy restless demanding noisy

A group of four children in Julia's care who repeatedly generate chaotic scenes that overwhelm her: two of Julia's own children (James and Ivy), Amanda's child, and a fourth child. They appear both inside Julia's home—running riot through the kitchen and sitting room—and outside a row of shops near a laundrette, yelling, demanding crisps, and amplifying Julia's childcare crisis. Julia is forced into desperate measures (including phoning Liz for guidance), and their rowdy, restless energy drives several narrative beats around parenting stress and community intervention.

4 appearances

childcare disruptions

Also known as: 4 kids, The Four Children, kids, children, Children (group of four), the yelling kids

The Four …'s Journey

A timeline through the narrative

4 moments

S1E1 · MOTHERLAND

Two Pennies, Public Unraveling

Collective restlessness and entitlement typical of small children in public spaces; indifferent to adult social codes.

The collective Four Children create a chaotic soundscape—yelling, demanding crisps, reacting to the stalled ride—that amplifies Julia's stress and makes public vulnerability inevitable.

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S1E1 · MOTHERLAND

Two Pennies and a Cup of Tea

Restless and entitled; their noise amplifies adult stress and draws public attention.

The Four Children collectively create the noisy backdrop: yelling, demanding crisps, and increasing Julia's visible strain until Liz's pennies quiet the group by restarting the ride.

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S1E1 · MOTHERLAND

Breakdown by the Coin Ride — Liz's Quiet Offer

Collective restlessness and impatience; not consciously malicious but exhausting for the caregiver.

The collective four children form a noisy, restless backdrop — yelling, demanding crisps and the ride — and constitute the pressure that drives Julia toward collapse and necessitates Liz's intervention.

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S1E1 · MOTHERLAND

Frantic Window Plea

High-energy, noisy, and oblivious to adult logistics — their behaviour magnifies the household pressure.

The Four Children run riot in the background, creating the audible and visible chaos that drives Julia's panic and decision to seek outside help; they are the proximate cause of …

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