We are on the countdown to 5 kids. I thought I'd write something about my 4 kids for now. Life is busy. Busier than I ever imagined. It just picks up in momentum and rolls down the hill like a never ending ball. I love it, but I look around and wonder for instance, where did September go? My days are full of just living. Homework, meals, cleaning, bathes, stories, referee of fights, soccer, karate, more cleaning, and church. This is what I can recall right now. But that's just the stuff that all families go do.
Let's talk about the meaningful stuff. Let's talk about how in a family this size, my big ones are responsible for a bit more. They like it and it gives them a confidence in this world. They are also very aware of how they influence the little ones for good or bad. They are more careful. I just heard Lauralei say to Ethan a few minutes ago something that warmed my heart. The big ones were watching a show that was appropriate for their age. But in walked Gracelyn who is newly 3. Lauralei said, she isn't allowed to watch this. Ethan promptly changed the channel to the one thing she is allowed to watch. I'm so proud of their sensitivity to their younger siblings and their selflessness as well.
My littler ones are only 11 months apart. They are so sweet to each other it amazes me. While the big ones are off at school, these two enjoy their time together. If I give one a snack, they automatically take it to the other one first and then come back and get one for themselves. If one wakes up without the other one, they are asking for them. These two definitely have never been in a position to have any kind of privacy or toys to themselves. I am loving how sweet their demeanor seems to be and how loving they are to others.
I originally thought that 4 would just be more work and more love. I didn't realize how much they would teach each other and me in the process. However God, being so smart, knew this already and I am thankful. With each child we grow and change. All of it for the better. I am much more patient, softer, and into the heart of things and not appearances since having 4 kids. I can only expect, that by adding another child to our mix, we will all be changed and blessed that much more.
Do not ever let fear of how do I handle another child, how do I afford another kid, etc stand in your way. I of course think this every time I'm pregnant, as is human. But God continues to show us how if we listen to him and what he wants, he always provides what we need and we get blessed in the process.
What do my kids think about all these siblings? I asked Ethan and he says, "Can we adopt 3 more kids so we'll have 8? I want to have a 4 square team so we can play against each other 4 on 4." I asked him do they all need to be boys? He said no, just one. Lauralei says that she wants to have as many kids as me whenever she grows up. Some would say they don't know any better so of course they'd say that. But that's not true. They have plenty of family and friends that are only children. They always tell me that they are sad for them because they don't have anyone to play with. I think for an 8 and 5 year old, this says a lot.
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