For me it's not difficult with the motive management as much as it is just trying to get personally involved with my Sims which is why now I usually start with a single Sim and stick to duos, just hoping they don't have triplets if they're not both unable to have a biologically related child.
I feel like if I'm not watching a specific Sim long enough I rarely get to connect with them and truly get to know who they truly are.
..That or I check on them and they're going around to randomly berate and insult family members, since evil often runs in my Sim families.
