Thursday, February 4, 2010
Let it Snow....
This year has been exceptionally snowy. I just LOVE it!!! I guess because I don't work outside of the home and when it snows I get some extra quality time with the kids. It just seems so quiet and calm when it snows. Like it forces the entire world (well area) to to slow down. Tomorrow we are expecting our second huge snow storm this year. The first was the blizzard in December, that brought about 20-24 inches of snow to our area. We've had a few other snows.....including about 6-8 inches just the other day. This storm is suppose to be another whopper. I've heard from 18-36 inches....depending on your area! Anyone that lives in an area that experiences snow, knows that when it snows, the grocery stores turn into mob scenes! We were suppose to go grocery shopping tonight, but David decided to take the boys to my mother in-law's. So tomorrow morning, we will be fighting the mob and quite possibly the early snow to get our necessities. I wouldn't even bother, but we really need groceries.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Motherhood X Four
When I was a young girl, I loved playing Barbies with my little sister. We never had a fancy Barbie house and not much Barbie furniture. Many of our Barbies were hand me downs from our older sisters and their hair was already butchered. We would divide them up, each taking her turn to select which would join her Barbie brood. When it came to setting up a home for our little plastic families, we used our imagination. A bookshelf became a home, a shoe box was a bed, a wash rag became a blanket. My Barbie would always fall in love, marry and shortly after have a family.....a large family.
I remember my older sister brought home an egg from high school one day. She glued hair on top and drew a face on this egg. Then wrapped it in rags and placed it in her basket. I know she named it, but I can't remember. Turns out this was for an assignment for her Child Development Class. I knew that when I got to high school, I just HAD to sign up for that class. My time came. I loved learning about children..... How they grow mentally and physically, but I just couldn't wait until the time came that I too would be able to carry around my baby egg! We were learning about genetics and each got to select an envelope that held the contents of our "baby's" DNA..... Once we but together the genes, we would be able to learn our baby's gender, hair/eye color, if they had dimples, curly hair, etc. I slowly put the puzzle of my baby's DNA together when I learned that I was the only one in my class to have twins!!! That's right! Twin baby eggs! They were two little boys, both with blonde hair. One with brown eyes, one with blue. I named them Christian Avery and Andrew Corey. As soon as I got home that afternoon, I butchered some poor Barbie's hair and carefully glued it on to my little bundles of joy. Carefully I drew little faces and constructed diapers out of tissues. I found the perfect basket and line it with foam and rags. The following years, I went on to complete another CD class...part two, and a Family Dynamics class. By Senior year, I complete all the classes in this series, but my teacher told me that she had two positions for a Child Development Leadership program. Basically, I would be like a teacher's assistant to her. PERFECT!!! Well during this program, I was lucky enough to be involved in the trial run of Baby Think It Over dolls for our school. This little baby doll was programmed to cry whenever and for however long it wanted to. Around my wrist was the key to "care" for my baby. Which, I lovingly named, Emily Caitlin. Emily would later be connected to a computer, which would tell my teacher how well I did as a parent. My days with Emily were short.
From a very young age, I was drawn to the family life. I often thought about being pregnant, giving birth, raising children, kissing boo boos. I thought, maybe two children? Maybe I can adopt? I don't know what it was, but I was pulled towards being a mother. When I had my first child, I fell completely in love! A little girl I named (get this), Emily Kaitlyn. That's right, the Baby Think It Over's name!! I only decided on the alternative spelling while filling out the form in the hospital. I went on to have three more children, all little boys. My boys are rather close in age. We are a family of six. By today's standards, we are a large family. To me, this feels normal. I wouldn't have it any other way. Honestly, I would love to have more children, but I must be practical. My husband and I have considered becoming foster parent and possibly adoption. I believe that everyone is sent to this Earth for a reason. My reason was to be a mother. To not just my children, but anyone that needs the love and comfort that only a mother can provide.
So here is my reason for such a lengthy background (can you believe I am STILL typing). There seems to be a negativity that is attached to having many children. Perhaps this is a regional thing, but I've heard similar stories from moms of many from all over. There is a stigma that people associate with having a large family. I've heard it all.... Some people think of poor, uneducated trash that keeps breeding...maybe living in a run down shack and sucking off social services. Some people immediately think of religious cults...where the women are practically slaves to men. Or right away they assume you are some sort of crunchy hippy, that home schools.....which I have no objections to. The fact is, they assume. Assumption is a horrible thing to get caught up in. To judge someone before you know them or their full story. It's amazing at how many people feel they have the right to comment on something as personal as your family. I've heard it not just from strangers, but my family. In my family, it almost seems like a bad thing when someone reveals they are pregnant. Right away the gossip begins. With every pregnancy I announced (besides the last one), it wasn't greeted with open arms and congrats.... No, instead it was disbelief and pity. "What were you thinking? You can't handle that many kids!" "I'm sorry, but I am not happy for you." I will never forget these reactions. My husband and I were thrilled to welcome another blessing into our lives, yet we were so worried to share this news with my family because of the dreaded reactions. My husband's family is quite the opposite...thank goodness. Then there are the strangers that approach you while shopping in Target. I've heard it all... "You do know how that happens?" Hmmm....so many times have I wish to ask them, "No, but can you please explain to me step by step so I know how.....I'd like for this to happen again!" "Wow...you really have your hands full!!" Towards the end of my last pregnancy, I was waddling along through a store. I had the two boys with me and my daughter was just a few steps away. An older lady approached me and complimented how adorable my little boys were. I thanked her. She asked me if I knew the gender of my baby. "It is another little boy." She frowned and asked me if I was trying for a little girl. My reply, "No way, I am thrilled to have another boy. This is my daughter."
Large families are not for everyone. Some people are content with the average two or perhaps an only child. As parents we make decisions for our children.....bottle/breast, vaccinate/or not, circumcise/intact, home school/public school, etc. This is just another decision for us to make. We are not freaks. We aren't selfish. We ARE loving, compassionate people. We want what is best for our children....just like everyone else. Before you judge, remember you don't know that persons story. Take a moment to consider how you would feel if someone was judging you for something as personal as your family.
I remember my older sister brought home an egg from high school one day. She glued hair on top and drew a face on this egg. Then wrapped it in rags and placed it in her basket. I know she named it, but I can't remember. Turns out this was for an assignment for her Child Development Class. I knew that when I got to high school, I just HAD to sign up for that class. My time came. I loved learning about children..... How they grow mentally and physically, but I just couldn't wait until the time came that I too would be able to carry around my baby egg! We were learning about genetics and each got to select an envelope that held the contents of our "baby's" DNA..... Once we but together the genes, we would be able to learn our baby's gender, hair/eye color, if they had dimples, curly hair, etc. I slowly put the puzzle of my baby's DNA together when I learned that I was the only one in my class to have twins!!! That's right! Twin baby eggs! They were two little boys, both with blonde hair. One with brown eyes, one with blue. I named them Christian Avery and Andrew Corey. As soon as I got home that afternoon, I butchered some poor Barbie's hair and carefully glued it on to my little bundles of joy. Carefully I drew little faces and constructed diapers out of tissues. I found the perfect basket and line it with foam and rags. The following years, I went on to complete another CD class...part two, and a Family Dynamics class. By Senior year, I complete all the classes in this series, but my teacher told me that she had two positions for a Child Development Leadership program. Basically, I would be like a teacher's assistant to her. PERFECT!!! Well during this program, I was lucky enough to be involved in the trial run of Baby Think It Over dolls for our school. This little baby doll was programmed to cry whenever and for however long it wanted to. Around my wrist was the key to "care" for my baby. Which, I lovingly named, Emily Caitlin. Emily would later be connected to a computer, which would tell my teacher how well I did as a parent. My days with Emily were short.
From a very young age, I was drawn to the family life. I often thought about being pregnant, giving birth, raising children, kissing boo boos. I thought, maybe two children? Maybe I can adopt? I don't know what it was, but I was pulled towards being a mother. When I had my first child, I fell completely in love! A little girl I named (get this), Emily Kaitlyn. That's right, the Baby Think It Over's name!! I only decided on the alternative spelling while filling out the form in the hospital. I went on to have three more children, all little boys. My boys are rather close in age. We are a family of six. By today's standards, we are a large family. To me, this feels normal. I wouldn't have it any other way. Honestly, I would love to have more children, but I must be practical. My husband and I have considered becoming foster parent and possibly adoption. I believe that everyone is sent to this Earth for a reason. My reason was to be a mother. To not just my children, but anyone that needs the love and comfort that only a mother can provide.
So here is my reason for such a lengthy background (can you believe I am STILL typing). There seems to be a negativity that is attached to having many children. Perhaps this is a regional thing, but I've heard similar stories from moms of many from all over. There is a stigma that people associate with having a large family. I've heard it all.... Some people think of poor, uneducated trash that keeps breeding...maybe living in a run down shack and sucking off social services. Some people immediately think of religious cults...where the women are practically slaves to men. Or right away they assume you are some sort of crunchy hippy, that home schools.....which I have no objections to. The fact is, they assume. Assumption is a horrible thing to get caught up in. To judge someone before you know them or their full story. It's amazing at how many people feel they have the right to comment on something as personal as your family. I've heard it not just from strangers, but my family. In my family, it almost seems like a bad thing when someone reveals they are pregnant. Right away the gossip begins. With every pregnancy I announced (besides the last one), it wasn't greeted with open arms and congrats.... No, instead it was disbelief and pity. "What were you thinking? You can't handle that many kids!" "I'm sorry, but I am not happy for you." I will never forget these reactions. My husband and I were thrilled to welcome another blessing into our lives, yet we were so worried to share this news with my family because of the dreaded reactions. My husband's family is quite the opposite...thank goodness. Then there are the strangers that approach you while shopping in Target. I've heard it all... "You do know how that happens?" Hmmm....so many times have I wish to ask them, "No, but can you please explain to me step by step so I know how.....I'd like for this to happen again!" "Wow...you really have your hands full!!" Towards the end of my last pregnancy, I was waddling along through a store. I had the two boys with me and my daughter was just a few steps away. An older lady approached me and complimented how adorable my little boys were. I thanked her. She asked me if I knew the gender of my baby. "It is another little boy." She frowned and asked me if I was trying for a little girl. My reply, "No way, I am thrilled to have another boy. This is my daughter."
Large families are not for everyone. Some people are content with the average two or perhaps an only child. As parents we make decisions for our children.....bottle/breast, vaccinate/or not, circumcise/intact, home school/public school, etc. This is just another decision for us to make. We are not freaks. We aren't selfish. We ARE loving, compassionate people. We want what is best for our children....just like everyone else. Before you judge, remember you don't know that persons story. Take a moment to consider how you would feel if someone was judging you for something as personal as your family.
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