Today at the park, we juggled our own kids, and took turns juggling each others. With a newborn, a 6 month old, two 1 year olds, and 2 clingy 2 year olds, it actually did look like juggling at some points. Shuffling one baby to one arm to grab another, putting one down to scoop up another. Thank goodness for those well behaved 3 year olds, who were just angels doing their own thing and playing nicely!
I feel like the more kids you have, the more you have to sort of LET GO of the control a little. When Jesse was at the park, and it was just him, I was behind his every step and helping him and warning him of all the dangers. He is a pretty cautious kid, and I think part of it is his nature, but it's been furthered by my nurture in those super early years. I'm working on it. Janna has had much less attention and warning as she has grown, and she is much more fearless and tackles things much quicker. Now, with 3, I just can't always be watching every single move each one makes! And, being a person who struggles with wanting control, I think this has actually been good for me. I fear it is my personality (that if I only had 1 or 2 kids) I would spend my whole life trying to plan their steps and organizing them to the point of exhaustion. he he he...
Today at the park, there was a very sweet mom there with one older 3 year old boy. She was following each of his steps and interacting in all his interactions with other kids. At one point, one of our 2 year olds wandered only a few meters outside of the park gate towards some bushes. I had an eye on him while I was holding a baby/looking for sand toys/ and rallying my troops to leave. This 3 year old (with his mom close beside) ran out to grab his hand and make sure that he was staying near the park. The mom laughed and said very loudly to another mom as if speaking for her son, "Well, your mommy sure isn't watching you, so I'll make sure I do!" I'm sure the comment wasn't mean spirited, but it made me bristle a bit. We're all doing our best here! We're trying. It is crazy. We do have our "hands-full" as every person mentions. But it's worth it, and it is Good!
I'm so happy I have great friends like Sarah and Rebekah who understand the feeling of losing sight of your kids for a moment at the park because sometimes that is inevitable. I'm happy that my kids have this great network of awesome little pals to grow up with. And I'm happy the sun was shining today. We had a great park-date the 12 of us, and here are some pictures:
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