I'm back from another outing with my five children. Today, we went to the library and the grocery store. At this point, I'm used to the stares.
"Are they ALL yours?"
"You must have your hands full!"
Without fail, people comment, and I've learned to smile and move on. But this time, I had the chance to chat with a mom and her eighteen-month-old daughter, who was wearing a spider headband as we waited to check out. The little girl was sitting primly in the shopping cart seat, but with eight spindly orange-and-black spider legs spread out above her straight-cut bangs and big, dark eyes. Adorable!
After talking a bit about the silly spider headband, the girl's mom admitted, "I was watching you in the store... how do you do it with five?"
I laughed. Motioning with my hand, I answered, "You work up to it, like a step-ladder."
Which really is the truth. A few years ago, I would have never taken my children (even one or two) with me to Costco. I used to go to only one store per outing, and stayed home every Monday because the children were grumpy and unpredictable after a long Sunday at church. And I would have never attempted an outing in the afternoon, because I needed the whole time to prepare for dinner. It is only now, after nine years of learning recipes, fine-tuning my methods, and building up my courage, that I will take all my children, by myself, on an outing. There are still trips that I wouldn't try without help (the beach, the farmer's market, any city, even the main branch of the Livermore library) unless I was desperate.
After talking a bit about the silly spider headband, the girl's mom admitted, "I was watching you in the store... how do you do it with five?"
I laughed. Motioning with my hand, I answered, "You work up to it, like a step-ladder."
Which really is the truth. A few years ago, I would have never taken my children (even one or two) with me to Costco. I used to go to only one store per outing, and stayed home every Monday because the children were grumpy and unpredictable after a long Sunday at church. And I would have never attempted an outing in the afternoon, because I needed the whole time to prepare for dinner. It is only now, after nine years of learning recipes, fine-tuning my methods, and building up my courage, that I will take all my children, by myself, on an outing. There are still trips that I wouldn't try without help (the beach, the farmer's market, any city, even the main branch of the Livermore library) unless I was desperate.
If you are a new mom, this is for you:
Relax and take it slowly. Don't feel like you have to attempt everything with your new baby. The new person in your life is an adjustment. But have courage, and the rest will come.
If you're not a new mom, but feel like you still haven't gotten a handle on juggling children, homemaking, and all that life entails, this is for you too:
Don't beat yourself up. Keep trying until you find your groove. I heard once that it takes a teacher three years in a classroom to settle into a style and method that works for him or her. So whether you're homeschooling or not, stay-at-home or working, nurturing a toddler or teenager (or both), have courage!
If you're not a new mom, but feel like you still haven't gotten a handle on juggling children, homemaking, and all that life entails, this is for you too:
Don't beat yourself up. Keep trying until you find your groove. I heard once that it takes a teacher three years in a classroom to settle into a style and method that works for him or her. So whether you're homeschooling or not, stay-at-home or working, nurturing a toddler or teenager (or both), have courage!
Interesting post!
ReplyDeleteI only have 2 children, the youngest of which is 9 weeks old. Honestly I've found being at home with the 2 of them easier than I did when I only had one...
But I still struggle to get myself, and the 2 of them up and dressed in the morning if we have an early start. Bundling them into the car one by one is my main style.
Is all a learning curve!