Ahh, today was the first weekday of spring break! The kids were so excited! I was excited to be able sleep in and not have to do the day to day routine and deal with cranky kids... well those were nice thoughts!
First, I want to know why its called Spring "Break." Who is actually on break? I know for sure, it isn't me! I still have to get up, I still have to do the breakfast thing, I still have to argue with my kids that, no pajamas aren't appropriate for the whole day. But who am I kidding! I barely have time to get dressed myself!
The kids aren't on break, they conveniently received their science fair project form just before school let out. And they have to keep up their required 600 minutes per month of reading plus other homework. Can I add, they sure aren't breaking from destroying the house either or eating us out of house and home!
So after the first way of necessities get done, you think, man lets get out of this house and be outside! It's a beautiful day! Well, so is the rest of Boca on spring break. As you make your way to the park, and find a parking spot, you cram your kids into the enclosed play area. 1/3 of the parents are half dressed with some kinda espresso drink in their hand (which you are among them), then you have 1/3 of parents on their cell phones trying to be "in the office" without actually being in the office and then you have the other 1/3 of parents- whom I like to call hover parents who have to be with their child at all times on the play area taking up the room your child is trying to pass with no regards to how you cannot fit in the small enclosed areas, but yet cant fathom thinking of leaving your child to crawl the 3 feet from one end to the other with you, while giving all the other kids evil looks because they are invading your quality time of hovering at the park.
Then all of a sudden, because there is no room to pass, your kid falls the 5 feet to the rubber mat because there was an adult in the way, you now have to go to the doctors office with your posy and a screaming child. Oh the Joy!
So, now you have made your way to the doctors office and of course they are packed because where else would you go on spring break besides the park.... that's right, the doctor! Gotta catch up on those soooo controversial vaccines everyone is talking about you having to have... Don't worry, I wont go there! lol So You are in a doctor's office waiting an hour and half to be seen and given more dirty looks because people don't agree with your choice of birth control... He will survive! woohoo!
Now home for lunch and naps! Start that school work and projects. Little bit of play time, then dinner, then bedtime routine. Yep, the day went fast! My house looks like it was torn through by a Cat 5 hurricane. But everyone is still kicking! Well, one is trying... but that's what matters!
I SURVIVED DAY ONE OF SPRING BREAK!!! WOOHOO!! - Where's the Jack?! - Better have more for the rest of the week! But like I said, who gets the break here?!
Monday, March 16, 2015
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Kid counts
So, on the way home from school this afternoon, the children were talking about how many children they wanted to have when they get older. This often happens with them, and they happen to change their numbers regularly. Today, I decided to take a different stab at it and told them how I see it. Being a mom of one, then two, then three, then four, then 6! I have been at different stages that a lot of people don't ever get the perspective of. I feel that people stop because they don't think they can handle anymore. They don't really sit down and think about. So, this is what I see...
You have the one and only kid - This kid will be the one spoiled with everything! Love, ALL your time, ALL your attention, ALL your money, ALL your EVERYTHING. They require you to be their best friend, their stress relief, their EVERYTHING! If you cannot handle one, definitely have another one!
You have two kids - most people think this the ideal amount, I know my parents did. OOPS they had a third! Two kids, takes some of the attention off you. Yet, here comes the rivalry, the competition, the he said/she said. But it alleviates some pressure off you to dedicate every waking moment to the one child. They now have a buddy, someone else they can fixate their attention onto. And you may be lucky enough to get two that like each other or are easy going... if this is the case great!
You have 3 kids - Odd man out. It doesn't matter what you do, there will always be an odd man out. - Have another, or just deal with the bickering. The odd man will either be the favorite or the black sheep... that just depends on the type of parent you are and how you address that odd man out syndrome.
You have 4 kids - This is a great number. Honestly, I think this was when I actually got my you-know-what together! By now, you have everything down to a science. When two are bickering, time to switch buddies! And then switch buddies again! You have options! You just have to micro-manage, but it works, and generally everyone comes out happy.
5 - not my area, I was really only at 5 for about 4 minutes so I will not speak on a subject I don't know anything about!
6- 6 is my number. Had I ever thought I would have 6 kids? Maybe when I was playing life in the 2nd or 3rd grade over at my friend Nicole's house with her cousin Sarah. But never really in my wildest dreams had I ever thought I would have six! But they are a blessing and I would do it all over again if I was given the option! But 6 is like 4, but with more options and more micro managing!
After all that, whatever you do decide, just love your child to the fullest you can. It isn't about what you bought them, it's about the time you shared. Memories last longer than materialistic gifts. And when you give gifts, make them memories, some thing they can enjoy for a long time.
Children are a blessing, no matter how many you have. They will give you more than you can give to them. And remember to thank The Good Lord for them everyday. Not everyone could be so blessed.
You have the one and only kid - This kid will be the one spoiled with everything! Love, ALL your time, ALL your attention, ALL your money, ALL your EVERYTHING. They require you to be their best friend, their stress relief, their EVERYTHING! If you cannot handle one, definitely have another one!
You have two kids - most people think this the ideal amount, I know my parents did. OOPS they had a third! Two kids, takes some of the attention off you. Yet, here comes the rivalry, the competition, the he said/she said. But it alleviates some pressure off you to dedicate every waking moment to the one child. They now have a buddy, someone else they can fixate their attention onto. And you may be lucky enough to get two that like each other or are easy going... if this is the case great!
You have 3 kids - Odd man out. It doesn't matter what you do, there will always be an odd man out. - Have another, or just deal with the bickering. The odd man will either be the favorite or the black sheep... that just depends on the type of parent you are and how you address that odd man out syndrome.
You have 4 kids - This is a great number. Honestly, I think this was when I actually got my you-know-what together! By now, you have everything down to a science. When two are bickering, time to switch buddies! And then switch buddies again! You have options! You just have to micro-manage, but it works, and generally everyone comes out happy.
5 - not my area, I was really only at 5 for about 4 minutes so I will not speak on a subject I don't know anything about!
6- 6 is my number. Had I ever thought I would have 6 kids? Maybe when I was playing life in the 2nd or 3rd grade over at my friend Nicole's house with her cousin Sarah. But never really in my wildest dreams had I ever thought I would have six! But they are a blessing and I would do it all over again if I was given the option! But 6 is like 4, but with more options and more micro managing!
After all that, whatever you do decide, just love your child to the fullest you can. It isn't about what you bought them, it's about the time you shared. Memories last longer than materialistic gifts. And when you give gifts, make them memories, some thing they can enjoy for a long time.
Children are a blessing, no matter how many you have. They will give you more than you can give to them. And remember to thank The Good Lord for them everyday. Not everyone could be so blessed.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Say What?!
Having six children in the 2010's seems like it is a rarity. With politics, religious views, the economy, and women wanting to establish themselves before having children, larger families are hard to come by. I guess our family is part of "The Last of the Mohicans" and fading out. So when this mama goes anywhere, yes, anywhere, you get all kinds of responses. Some are positive, a lot are negative. Some hilarious, others just get old. To me, I look at trying to find the response to these repetitive responses the most trying.
Some of the responses I get are:
Oh, you have your hands full- That I do, but so does every parent! You accustom yourself with what you have. I wouldn't expect a mom of one or two to be able to comprehend what it is like to have 4 or 5. As a mom of 6, I couldn't imagine what it is like to have 8 or more! But then you look at things too in another light, people that don't have kids but seem to have no time. Everyone has their hands full in their own way, so please just stop saying it! - it gets really annoying!
You know what causes that right? - Yes, I know what causes it! Yes, we have a tv! Multiple actually! And they work too! I guess my husband and I just LOVE each other so much!
You are stopping right? - Yes, we are stopping because I felt pressure from parents and outside sources. Although we would have welcomed more, people feel like they need to put their input in our situation and the guilt can be quite overpowering. I do have a backbone, but I think I have reached my limit having to share a joyous moment and get nothing but dismay. I think it is something that my husband and I both may regret later in life. We love our children dearly, and love that there are so many to love and see grow.
That's wonderful! Congratulations! or I like to see that! - These are the ones we like to hear! When we are having our worst of days, and someone says something like this (although they may not really be feeling it) it takes a bit of a weight off your shoulders, and that you don't have to hear the negativity when you are already feeling so down because you just woke up late, your son threw up in the car, another blew out the diaper, a shoe flew out the window, and they made your coffee wrong... it just snowballs, and does NO one any good.
5 boys and a Girl?! Oh, she is gonna fall in a lot! - has to be my favorite. Yes, from time to time, I am sure we will both be falling in, a lot! But, looks like I know who I am giving toilet cleaning duties too! This way when we do fall, we know it will be clean!
Those are just a few. I guess all I am saying is, when you run into someone who has more than you can fathom, before you open up and say something you might think is okay, Stop! Really think. What you say to complete strangers affects them too. Try being positive, even if you don't agree. It goes a long way!! You may not see how it affects some one. We have feelings too you know! ;)
Some of the responses I get are:
Oh, you have your hands full- That I do, but so does every parent! You accustom yourself with what you have. I wouldn't expect a mom of one or two to be able to comprehend what it is like to have 4 or 5. As a mom of 6, I couldn't imagine what it is like to have 8 or more! But then you look at things too in another light, people that don't have kids but seem to have no time. Everyone has their hands full in their own way, so please just stop saying it! - it gets really annoying!
You know what causes that right? - Yes, I know what causes it! Yes, we have a tv! Multiple actually! And they work too! I guess my husband and I just LOVE each other so much!
You are stopping right? - Yes, we are stopping because I felt pressure from parents and outside sources. Although we would have welcomed more, people feel like they need to put their input in our situation and the guilt can be quite overpowering. I do have a backbone, but I think I have reached my limit having to share a joyous moment and get nothing but dismay. I think it is something that my husband and I both may regret later in life. We love our children dearly, and love that there are so many to love and see grow.
That's wonderful! Congratulations! or I like to see that! - These are the ones we like to hear! When we are having our worst of days, and someone says something like this (although they may not really be feeling it) it takes a bit of a weight off your shoulders, and that you don't have to hear the negativity when you are already feeling so down because you just woke up late, your son threw up in the car, another blew out the diaper, a shoe flew out the window, and they made your coffee wrong... it just snowballs, and does NO one any good.
5 boys and a Girl?! Oh, she is gonna fall in a lot! - has to be my favorite. Yes, from time to time, I am sure we will both be falling in, a lot! But, looks like I know who I am giving toilet cleaning duties too! This way when we do fall, we know it will be clean!
Those are just a few. I guess all I am saying is, when you run into someone who has more than you can fathom, before you open up and say something you might think is okay, Stop! Really think. What you say to complete strangers affects them too. Try being positive, even if you don't agree. It goes a long way!! You may not see how it affects some one. We have feelings too you know! ;)
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