Here's the rundown of what they each needed from me in the last 24 hours:
Husband: to have lunch together, the address for a friend to whom he needs to send a thank you note, the location of our stationary to write said thank you note, help finding his wallet, input about the iphone 6 versus the iphone 6 plus, validation that what he does professionally really does help the world, breakfast and dinner.
7 year old: for me to listen to her read for 15 minutes, sign off on reading work, help her pack a lunch, taste test of seaweed snacks and brainstorming other snacks that she might enjoy more than the chocolate zucchini muffins that have been in her lunch the last two weeks, time to talk about her friends, who has a crush on whom...
5 year old: for me to listen to him explain how bees carry pollen from flower to flower, the blessings for apples and honey that he learned in kindergarten, to sunscreen him, help putting on his "tricky" shoes, me to choose his clothes, read to him, discuss how tunnels are built...
2 year old: countless replays of Frozen, putting on Netflix for the Barbie Dreamhouse shows, taking the green things out of her hamburger at dinner, extra books at bedtime, changing her diaper, doing her hair in ponytails, sunscreen, socks and shoes, snuggling in the afternoon so she can recount her soccer
5 month old: nursing 6-8 times a day, baby food 4 times a day, 10 diaper changes, playing with him, music class, dangling fun toys over his head, practice sitting up, clapping as he rolls over, take two different supplements to keep my milk supply up...
Me (can't forget me): exercise, get nails done before holidays, shower, apply moisturizer and eye serum, reply to all emails, take a minute to read blogs/magazines and rest.
Plus none of this takes into account the basics: breakfast, lunch, dinner, 2-3 snacks, making sure we have toilet paper, diapers, wipes, sunscreen, actually bathing the kids...
In short, 4 kids feels like a bazillion, and it's constantly assessing priorities and reshuffling so that everyone's needs are met, and a few of the wants get met too.
Any great advice for the juggling act of parenthood?
Jessica
I have a hard enough time managing one kid, so you're Super Mom in my eyes! I've recently decided to give up cooking. I don't enjoy it and it's just time taken away from our family time in the short evenings we have together. We have an hour and 15 minutes to spend with Sydney before it's time for bath and bed for her, and before, I was spending 30 minutes+ of that making dinner. NO MORE I SAY. We do still eat, but it's of the microwave, quick stove-top, no prep needed variety. And I am much happier for it. BONUS: fewer dishes. :)
ReplyDeleteI think the best thing I ever did was to not pack the kids' lunches. They started elementary school making and packing their own lunches and some breakfasts (with guidelines, of course). Now at ages 10 & 11, they often cook dinner because they like creating and cooking. Very self-sufficient and I'm a proud mom.
ReplyDeleteI'm so behind on my blog reading! I don't know how you do it! I have no kids and have a hard time balancing as it is!
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