And then I had two
Yesterday, Kaitlynn was sleeping so Jesse offered to stay home with her while I took Kathrynne out for our usual weekly shopping trip.
We had a special time together and I couldn't help but think how easy it was to only take one child with me to the store.
Then it hit me how much my perspective has changed since having two. A few years ago, taking one child to the store would have seemed like a major juggling act. Now it feels like a piece of cake (well, almost!).
It makes me wonder whether someday I'll think taking four little children to the store is a walk in the park.
We had a special time together and I couldn't help but think how easy it was to only take one child with me to the store.
Then it hit me how much my perspective has changed since having two. A few years ago, taking one child to the store would have seemed like a major juggling act. Now it feels like a piece of cake (well, almost!).
It makes me wonder whether someday I'll think taking four little children to the store is a walk in the park.
posted by Crystal Paine at 3:39 PM
31 Comments:
It is funny how that works.
jodie h.
mom of 6
I don't know if that is encouraging or not... I'll have 2 come March. :)
I was the same way with 1, 2 and 3. Now taking 4 has become a piece of cake :).
Blessings~Cindy
That's so true. I have five and my husband took the two oldest hunting for several days last week. Life was so easy with only three. Hard to imagine that I would ever say that! I'm sure you will be saying that one day too.
Janet
:-) God has a way of working like that.
Oh...received an email from Vision Forum saying the Passionate Housewives Desperate for God book is available! Have you similar word, Crystal?
Yes, it works with bigger numbers too. Our house feels quiet and empty with just 5 or 6 children home, and trips to the store with only 4 or 5 are fast and efficient. We do that for fun!
I was just saying this to my husband! It is too funny. Looking back, it seems like I should've been able to kick my feet up & relax w/only one child, instead I was running around like a chicken without a head.
It shows how much we all grow as parents, I guess.
I only have two, but I TOTALLY know what you mean! Even now that they're 13 and 10, just taking one of them out seems soooooooooooo 'easy'! :) Enjoy that one-on-one time....they grow up so quickly!
Dear Crystal, This is one of those things that every mommy and daddy of several says and it is certainly true! We have five and are expecting our sixth in the spring. As a word of encouragement to any moms out there struggling with the 2 or 3 that they have, I say this...it is hard! Whatever stage that you are at is challenging and the fact that you may look back and remember the ease of a lesser amount of little ones doesn't negate the fact that when you are going through it...its tough! I don't care how many children I have, the season of life that I am in RIGHT now isn't easy(Homeschooling three elemantary age, two under three, and another on the way) But thinking back, when my first three were 3, 18 mo., and newborn, it was tough then too. The good news is we adapt over time to each situation and God provides what we need for whatever season we're in. I think its important for me (and maybe other moms of many) to remember this or else fall into the pity party of "if only my life were easier like it used to be or easier than so-in-so's life with 2 kiddos." Does this make sense? All that being said, I completely relate to your shopping experience and agree that a trip to run errands with 1 or 2 or even 3 seems SO much easier than unloading my 5 to go grocery shopping. Thank you Lord for an awesome understanding husband who usually stays home with the kids so I can go to the store ALONE!! Hope this helps someone! In Him, Whitney from Ca.
I have them 6, 4, 2, 4 months and going shopping with all 4 is becoming normal, how ever crazy that is. A big part is everyone knowing their place, role, job. Going out with just one is fun but I think part of it is you are just dealing with one age group. You will adjust to what ever is demanded of you. I have friends who can't imagine homeschooling because they would have to take 2 kids grocery shopping. I keep telling them they will learn but....
When one of mine is gone, it feels much easier! Taking 2 to the grocery store is so simple now, there is only 2 children to make sure are in line and since I have 2 hands and 2 eyes, it is much easier! My youngest is 3 and the oldest nine and we are getting better though with all 4!
I can totally relate to this comment. I have found that taking two to the store doesn't seem so bad now... I'm sure it will be an "adjustment" when the third arrives! Maybe it will slow me down a bit... definitely not a bad thing!
I love this blog...it encourages me daily!
Leanne
I don't think taking my four is a walk in the park, but it's manageable. :)
I agree that it is hard at whatever stage you are. And, thank the Lord He gives us His grace and mercy to endure and adapt to each new change!!!
I look back at my days of just one or two...but it was still hard at every single one of those stages, for different reasons. But, He is still good--every day!!
Christi
Mom of 4
I don't know that taking 4 LITTLE children to the store would ever seem easy, But unfortunately they just don't stay little very long. It used to seem like such a huge task to take my 3 to the store when they were 3 and under, but now I have 5 from 10- 10months and it doesn't(usually) seem like that big of a deal at all. Five 5 and under still sounds hard though.
It definitely does work that way!Having a four year old, two year old, and a 3 month old,it seems so much easier when I take just one of my sweeties along.Blessings!
Taking four to the store will not be a walk in the park, but it CAN be done! ;-)
Love,
Becca
Ha ha ha lol lol lol!!!!! I have 3 little ones and they all go shopping with me. The oldest is a big help and my middle keeps the baby happy, but sometimes if I need to make a small trip I take only one. It's nice to get that alone time with one, but the big trips are better with the "help":-)
I agree completely! Funny how a person's perspective changes. Now I chuckle at my friend's who only have one and don't ever go shopping with the baby because it's too hard for them. My friend with 4 chuckles at me and the ease of my life with only 2 so far...
One thing that does make this stage hard, even if we only have two, is that it is difficult to shop when your oldest child is still in the wiggly, curious, needing-constant-discipline stage and your youngest likes to be held or nursed frequently. Two kids 2 and under can feel worse than several kids of different ages. I babysat a 4 and 5 year old a couple of days and trips to the store with them were great because they kept my little ones in line and entertained while I shopped. I got a lot done during the days they were here because they helped so much. It made me realize that once you get at least one or two of your kids trained well to be helpers, it is doable. On the other hand, I've taken 4 kids 2 and under shopping (when babysitting a friend's twins) and it was crazy! By the time you and I have our third kids, our little girls will be over 3 or 4 years old and much more helpful than they already are! Then with the fourth kids, they will be even older and then our second kids will be helpful too, etc.
I have no idea how my friend with 4 kids 2.5 and under ever shops or goes anywhere! May God give you strength if you are in this situation!
I loved what Whitney in CA had to say. Each stage we are going through is tough, but then we get stronger and ready to face the next challenge.
We have 6 children, 9 yrs. old down to 17 month old twins with number 7 blessing on the way! I almost always take them everywhere with me when I need to go out as my dear husband works over 60 hours a week so I can stay home with the children and homeschool. On errand days we are usually out for 3-4 hours or so, and some trips are better than others. There is usually instruction to be had on each trip out, though. The older children do learn to help out with the younger and take up more responsibility over time. The rare times I am out with only some of my "crew" or NONE (which is super rare!), it seems very odd! The Lord gives you what you can handle, and you learn how to deal with each new thing as it comes along.
Ahhh, how right you are! You will be saying that in a few years. I must say that I found my most difficult transition was from one child to two. It's a breeze from three and on!
Again, another hot topic! We have 4 boys that are 13,9,5,and 7 months. Although having our children know their roles and what's expected of them can help tremendously during outings AND in every day life, we've found out that nothing replaces (or even comes close!) to instilling them with Christs's love. That way, it's pure, genuine and second-nature for them to step up when they see I need a hand or if they see one of their brothers having a hard time with something.
Of course, we've planted many seeds in them as far as how to treat their brothers and respect us as parents....so when we see them naturally coming to the aid of their brothers or helping mom and dad out without us having to ask, that really touches the heart and proves God is faithful.
You will think taking four to the store is a breeze when you've had to take five or more. When my mom or dh has just one of my children, taking the other four somewhere is soooo easy! I often run several other errands I would never dream of with all five, depending on which one is not with me. I have a 3yr. old boy who is going through some serious 'store training' right now, so hopefully things will get easier for me in the future.
That's exactly how I've felt these past weeks!!
Definitely! I now have four and if even one gets left at home it feels like a vacation! And just recently I started going late at night with just the baby and I forget he's even there!
Jennifer
p.s.--our babies are the same age and I've enjoyed watching them both grow. Isn't it so happy and sad at the same time?
Two is hard for you?
One in the oven is hard for me! How pathetic is that?
OrchidLover: Don't worry, being pregnant with my first was really hard. I kept wondering how on earth people ever did it more than once. Then I had Kathrynne and I didn't wonder any more. She melted my heart!
I honestly think being pregnant is a lot harder (at least for me!) than having a little baby. So, hang in there, it *will* be worth it!
I agree with you - having a second one makes shopping with "just" one seem like a breeze. :-) I too get a little weirded out when I don't have them with me though - especially the baby. I'm used to having the stroller...I feel really weird having "nothing" to do with my hands. *chuckle* My husband thinks he's helping when we go somewhere and he pushes the stroller for me but frankly, I feel very bare and unshielded without it now!
I'm sure it'll get easier and easier! With the Duggars, because they have so many, it's really easy, because there is all that extra help! :)
A mother of two said to me not too long ago, "Two kids is so much work, how do you do it with three?"
I said, "Do you want to know how to make life with two seem like a breeze?"
She was excited and said, "Yes!"
I told her, "Have a third one. Then two seems so easy." ;)
I have 6 blessings. When I had 2 kids it was hard shopping with them. As we had more we learnt how to shop more wisely(never go when they are hungry or tired). Now my eldest is 11 and the youngest 17mo and it is much easier. Taking 2 or 3 with on a shopping trip is much easier now than when we only had 2. As your family grows in size so does your experience as a parent, which is good otherwise it would be overwhelming all the time.
Natalie
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