These last few days we have been fortunate to have my beautiful nieces Mia (3 1/2) and Zoe (1 1/2) stay with us while my sister Beth and her husband got some time away to celebrate their anniversary. I learned some things from our time as a family of 7.
1. I loved it. I love having a car full of kids everywhere we go. I love the dynamics of a larger family. There were many hands to pitch in a get things cleaned up, lots of entertainment for the little ones, lots of laughs, and a few more messes too. I really enjoyed having more kids around.
2. My sister is a very good mother. Mia and Zoe are sweethearts and very good kids. It is obvious that they are well cared for, not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. They are polite, obedient and just fun to be with.
3. 5 kids, especially 3 of them 4 years old and under, take a lot more organization and planning then I tend to have on a daily basis. We did great, but the time that they were here was pretty well planned. There was not a lot of room for spontinaity. That is fine, but it is certainly not my strongest area and something I need to work on if we are to add to our family.
4. I love my own kids SO much! It was such a joy to watch them with their younger cousins. I could not have managed without them. They were helpful, caring and tender. They picked up the slack when I needed them to, and did everything asked of them with a joyful heart. I was especially impressed with Noelle, as I had worried how she would feel about first, not being the baby, and having to do more to take care of herself, and second, sharing everything she owns, with out holding anything back, with her cousins. She was terrific! She loves them, and so what was her's was theirs. It was a privilege to watch. We are definitely doing a few things well as parents.
5. I need to be more consistent. I guess that probably goes with #3, but it is in a different arena. I need to be consistent in making sure that the kids clean up after dinner, in making them put their dirty laundry away, instead of on the floor, and in making sure that their chores get finished well. Consistency would make this household run much smoother, with fewer issues.
I loved having Mia and Zoe, but I am also enjoying my time with just my kids now that they are gone. While we waited for the bus this morning, I couldn't help smiling at them. I love them and am so proud of them! I look forward to spending the day with my Noelley, just the two of us. And can't wait to see the older two as they get off the bus. (I might just pick them up from school, so I can see them sooner!)
God has blessed me far beyond what I deserve!
