The other day I was sitting with a new group of people...actually some of the people at the table we had sat with the previous week, and the other couple was new. We went through the name thing, the 'what do you do" thing, and were onto the "how many kids" thing. The new couple didn't have any, yet, and seemed a little sad about that. The couple from last week knew how many children we had, so laughed when the new couple asked us. The couple from last week had one son. We have 6 sons. And 4 daughters, so that is always a fun time. We try to avoid saying we have 10 kids unless we are planning on really knowing the people.
Anyway, when the new couple expressed surprise at the number of kids we had, they said the usual, "wow, you must be busy". Yes, we are. I am used to these responses, so have them pretty down pat. Then the woman from last week said that she had a friend with "4 or 5" (some friend, she didn't know?!) and that SHE had said that once you have 4 or 5, it isn't that much more work to have... more.
Really?! Of course, I couldn't think of a response right then, but I thought about it a lot that day. Yes, my children help me out with the younger ones. Yes, my children help with running around, chores, cooking, and even teaching. But raise themselves? The way she said it implied that these are just herd animals, not individuals with their own thoughts, preferences, ideas, likes, dislikes and personalities. Besides being different ages (except the twins, of course), they are different genders, and are going through different things at different times. It isn't like I am raising 10 identical people. I can't imagine someone telling a mom of, say septuplets that they are all the same, yet that is what she said to me. My adult son is *slightly* different from my preschooler daughter.
Wow. I just can't account for some people.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Snow Day
For two days , we have been preparing for a snow day! I love snow days - when I can prepare for them. As a kid, I just loved them, but as an adult I want gas in the car (have you seen the price of gas lately?) and food in the frig and cupboards and I want to be ready. So, I started on Monday, since we all knew the big snowstorm was coming.
We got new wiper blades for the van and the car, stocked up on groceries and were all set. I even picked up some birthday presents I needed for later in the week in case we couldn't get out right away. I was all set, just ready to sit and play with the kids and even get some schooling done. No homeschool co-op, no outside activities, just some school, warm food and fun in the pretty snow. I even shovel, so that wasn't even going to spoil my snow day.
The only concern was my mom and dad. She is very sick and hadn't been feel well anyway, and dad was up there going to have to deal with the snow, so I called this morning to see if I should camp out there to help them out. When I called, my dad said it wasn't a good time, the ambulance was there for my mom, who had fallen when she had gotten up that morning. That was the end of the fun part of the snow day preparation. All of the sudden I had the dilemma of where to go, what to do. I had several "orphans" that needed to be at drama that afternoon, and I really didn't want to leave the children and home for days. This is getting so hard, having my heart divided between my parents and my family. I want to be a great daughter, but they live an hour and a half away, so it isn't easy to just "drop in" when they children have so many activities here.
So, I did what any good sister would do, and asked my big brother. What a guy. He took my text, called me right away and helped me out. Between him and my sisters, we kept in touch with what was going on and tried to get things helped for my dad. In the end, I stayed home. Dad is safely at home, and hopefully we have someone to plow him out in the morning. Mom is safely in the hospital, and I got to spend the day with the kids. I guess I am ready for my snow day tomorrow after all. We will be praying for Dad and Mom all day.
We got new wiper blades for the van and the car, stocked up on groceries and were all set. I even picked up some birthday presents I needed for later in the week in case we couldn't get out right away. I was all set, just ready to sit and play with the kids and even get some schooling done. No homeschool co-op, no outside activities, just some school, warm food and fun in the pretty snow. I even shovel, so that wasn't even going to spoil my snow day.
The only concern was my mom and dad. She is very sick and hadn't been feel well anyway, and dad was up there going to have to deal with the snow, so I called this morning to see if I should camp out there to help them out. When I called, my dad said it wasn't a good time, the ambulance was there for my mom, who had fallen when she had gotten up that morning. That was the end of the fun part of the snow day preparation. All of the sudden I had the dilemma of where to go, what to do. I had several "orphans" that needed to be at drama that afternoon, and I really didn't want to leave the children and home for days. This is getting so hard, having my heart divided between my parents and my family. I want to be a great daughter, but they live an hour and a half away, so it isn't easy to just "drop in" when they children have so many activities here.
So, I did what any good sister would do, and asked my big brother. What a guy. He took my text, called me right away and helped me out. Between him and my sisters, we kept in touch with what was going on and tried to get things helped for my dad. In the end, I stayed home. Dad is safely at home, and hopefully we have someone to plow him out in the morning. Mom is safely in the hospital, and I got to spend the day with the kids. I guess I am ready for my snow day tomorrow after all. We will be praying for Dad and Mom all day.
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