yep I am the mom of many
This evening I had the realization that truly being a parent of many children changes your children too. I always think about those 1st-time parents out there who are stunned by the selflessness required to be a parent. The first is most definitely the toughest. Beyond that 2 stirs things up, requires a little bit more but just duplicates the work you are already doing. Making a meal for 3 or 4 is not really different the leftovers are just less.
Then the 3rd child puts things back out of whack as you never have 3 of anything. You don't have 3 hands, 3 eyes, and three ears in which to care for or keep track of the children. The old saying 3's a crowd has stuck for a reason.
Now I am at the 4th. She is nearly potty trained at 18 mos and can do a great deal more than any of her siblings did at this age. Some of this is due to her own character and intelligence but the real majority is because of her environment. She keenly observes and follows every example set before her.
Since I spend summers and breaks with my niece and nephew I have a feel for 5 and 6. No watching someone else's kids is not the same as having your own but man does it make you appreciate what you have. 4 kids seem like a breeze (most of the time) thanks to them.
But tonight as my 3 big kids finished up what we call chore night I said everyone needs to take a shower. I am not sure at what age showers began but it has been for at least the last 2 years. In that time we have worked on getting the now 9-year-old and almost 7-year-old to do this process with little to no help. Even in the last 3 or 4 months I still have gone in to check that the shampoo was completely rinsed out. BUT Tonight I was taken by surprise when my newly 5-year-old disappeared into the bathroom and low and behold was washing his hair. Yep, that is the 3rd kid! Powers of observation folks... don't underestimate the trait!!!
Then the 3rd child puts things back out of whack as you never have 3 of anything. You don't have 3 hands, 3 eyes, and three ears in which to care for or keep track of the children. The old saying 3's a crowd has stuck for a reason.
Now I am at the 4th. She is nearly potty trained at 18 mos and can do a great deal more than any of her siblings did at this age. Some of this is due to her own character and intelligence but the real majority is because of her environment. She keenly observes and follows every example set before her.
Since I spend summers and breaks with my niece and nephew I have a feel for 5 and 6. No watching someone else's kids is not the same as having your own but man does it make you appreciate what you have. 4 kids seem like a breeze (most of the time) thanks to them.
But tonight as my 3 big kids finished up what we call chore night I said everyone needs to take a shower. I am not sure at what age showers began but it has been for at least the last 2 years. In that time we have worked on getting the now 9-year-old and almost 7-year-old to do this process with little to no help. Even in the last 3 or 4 months I still have gone in to check that the shampoo was completely rinsed out. BUT Tonight I was taken by surprise when my newly 5-year-old disappeared into the bathroom and low and behold was washing his hair. Yep, that is the 3rd kid! Powers of observation folks... don't underestimate the trait!!!
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