Do not take family pictures the day after the six month shots. Four shots each equals very fussy and needy babies. I don't recommend pictures while one is drooling incessantly due to teething either. Outfit ruined. It is also IMPOSSIBLE to get three kids to look at the camera at the exact same time. Forget about getting them all to smile. Not. Going. To. Happen. It is also important to know and accept that four year olds no longer have a natural smile when you ask them to smile nicely for the camera. You will get a cheesy over exaggerated smile every time. Or they will have their head facing the right direction, but their eyes will be looking at something else entirely. I have no idea what was more important than family photos that kept drawing my four year old's attention away from the task at hand. Am I asking too much!?
Stripping babies down to nothing but a diaper is a requirement when introducing food of any kind. Well, maybe every time you offer food, whether it is new or not. It is also wise to invest in a tarp to cover any furniture or items of value because food will be a flyin'! The babies love to "finger paint" with their baby food, smear it on every surface within reach, bathe in it, and blow rasberries for good measure to make sure they've covered a five foot radius from their high chairs. For good measure, they will rub in in their hair, eyes, and ears. Just accept that baths will now take place every day and up to three times per day. Four if a they decide to bless you with a blow out diaper. Usually right before you want to leave the house...
Speaking of blowouts, one of our darling twins loves to relieve herself while riding in the car. She has had to have "12 wipe minimum" baths a few times in the past month and be changed completely in the back of the car. We used to call our bouncer the poop chair, something about the angle and the relaxed state it put them in encouraged BMs EVERY SINGLE TIME they were strapped in. They aren't fond of the bouncer anymore and our mobile monkey likes to twist himself out of the straps and crawl out anyway so it currently gets used as a part of a blockade to keep said monkey contained in the living room. LOL!
Yes, we have mobile monkeys and they are on the loose from sun up to sun down! Our lives just became so much more challenging! Little man is crawling very proficiently and pulls up to stand every chance he gets. He has only recently figured out how to go back down to his knees (its a process and he still isn't confident in the getting down part). He crawls over anything and anyone in his way to get to what/who he wants. I'm talking his sister, a pillow, anything. Nothing is off limits. If it is in the way, he will conquer it to get to where he wants to be. He is TOO brave and I've already determined that he will be the child that makes me go gray way before I should...he will also land us in the E.R. a few times. I may even have a few near heart attacks due to his bravery and daring feats. Sister on the other hand continues to be very laid back and tolerates just about everything and everyone around her. She isn't crawling by traditional means but she low crawls like a champ and is very stealth in her movements. Blink, and you just might miss it. She is content to lay and play and is more tolerant of her pesky brother than I would be if I were in her position. She lets him crawl right over her, doesn't fuss when he snatches her paci right out of her mouth (even when he already has one of his own-he pulls his out and pops hers in), and isn't bothered by her twin's high pitch cries in the middle of the night.
Another thing that we have learned and have been in awe of over the past month or so is the "twin-sense" that we've been witnessing isn't only between or twins, but includes or four year old. We jokingly say we have triplets but one is just four years older than his siblings because we did fertility and they are all from the same "batch." All three of our kids seem to be in tune with one another. This will be great down the road when they can all communicate. Right now, it is stressful at times for the adults because when one is upset/hurt, the others seem to "feel" for the one in distress. Which means, they might all be crying at the same time or whimpering/whining when only one of them is actually hurt. Weird right? If you have any thoughts/insight on this, please feel free to share! I'd love to learn more and hear from others that have experienced and/or witnessed something similar. (Thanks in advance.)
There are so many more things I've learned recently but I'll close with this one because it weighs heavy on my heart this evening: I will never tell anyone (whether with multiples or singletons and regardless of the age of their child(ren)) that things will get easier because it is a downright lie. What I've learned is, that yes, things can/will get easier, but the truth is things get much harder too! As kids get older, the things that we stress over and worry about for our kids change and become bigger. It is a whole new set of problems and trials to overcome. It goes from, "Is my child developing at a normal rate?" to "Will my child make friends?" to "Will my child be bullied? Or are they the bully?" to "Will my child be successful in school and what college will they go to?" and "Will my child become addicted to drugs/alcohol?" or "Will my child be easily influenced (whether positive or negative)?" -the list goes on...
Every age and stage will be a challenge. I've learned that the best thing I can do is pray for, support, and encourage my mom friends regardless of where they are and what they are going through with their child(ren). I can be a friend that listens, gives advice when needed, doesn't judge, and is ALWAYS honest.
It is not fair to tell someone that you know how they feel or what they might be going through when it comes to raising kids if you haven't been in their shoes and walked the same walk. Parenting is hard. It has its ups and downs and pretending everything is perfect and hunky dory behind closed doors is not fair to yourself or others. Just like every kid is different (What works for one, may not work for another), parenting styles, religious beliefs, discipline management, etc. make it hard to know "exactly" what one is going through but it is so important that we make connections with people. I don't just mean through social media either. I mean legitimate face to face support too. We live in a day and age where it is okay to ask for help and seek others in your same life stage with similar walks and experiences. Talk to parents that have older children that are in a new season of life. Just like we are encouraged to seek advice from our church elders, seek the same from fellow parents.
I've grown so weary of our society for many reasons, but lately too many babies are being neglected, abused, and killed by their parents. Why are parents so afraid to reach out and admit when things are tough and get help when they feel like they are drowning? If you or someone you know is struggling or has post partum depression (men can get it too!) ask for help.
Join groups that you feel safe sharing the realities of life with and I don't just mean when it comes to parenting, but life in general. Going through a divorce? Find a support group. Addicted to drugs/alcohol? Find a support group. Feeling depressed? Find a support group. In an abusive relationship? Get help. Find a support group.
ALSO IMPORTANT:
Don't forget to celebrate the good things! Encourage one another. Pray for one another. Celebrate one another. Be kind to one another and build each other UP!
Love and hugs to all of my readers!
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