Third time's the charm
I feel a little bad for Evie. Since she's the third, every time she enters a new phase, rather than jumping right in, obsessing about it, figuring out how on earth to handle it, I just think, "Oh, here we go again." I reminisce about when her sisters were at that stage. I consider blogging about it, and then remember that I wrote a post all about that two years ago when Lucy was her age and it would be pointless to re-hash it.
For instance, we're beginning to work on manners with her. Just little things...like that we don't generally throw every single bit of food on the floor for fun and then scream for mom and dad to load up our plates again. Or that pointing and then screaming at the top of your lungs is not the best possible way of requesting something. And it's really frustrating--probably both for us and for her. Just like it was when I wrote about this stage two years ago. (Check out the date on that post--almost EXACTLY two years ago. That's the beauty of having daughters almost exactly two years apart).
The good thing about all this is that while certain stages are annoying, I have confidence that we WILL make it through, because I've been through it all before. Twice. Lucy and Beth do not still throw food on the floor just for fun, or scream anytime they want something. They know how to say please. Although Lucy is still not that great about using her fork. Fingers are just so much easier, I guess.
A friend with only one kid watched me wrangle children and bikes and strollers out of my car yesterday, all in preparation for the simple act of going for a walk, and said, "I just don't know how easy I have it with only one, do I?" And I laughed and told her she was right. When you only have one, you think it's so much work. Then you have more and realize you had no idea what you were getting into.
But here's thing about having multiple children--you definitely have a lot more going on. More demands on your time, more little hands pulling on your legs, more little voices yelling, "Mama, look at me! Look at me!" But, when your kids encounter (or create) a problem, chances are you've handled something very similar before. You're not just fumbling around, guessing about what might possibly work. You already know what to do.
I feel like if I were applying for the job of Mom, three or four years ago I would have listed myself as a junior-level candidate: a lot of education, a lot of enthusiasm, short on experience. Now, I feel that I'm moving into the realm of being a solid candidate for upper-level positions. With two previous projects successfully underway, I have proven myself capable of achieving the desired results. Experienced mom--that's me. Do you think I'll get a raise?
When it comes to dealing with 1-year-olds, anyway. Don't even talk to me about anything issues involving children over the age of 4.5. My poor oldest child--I'm still totally winging it on that one.
For instance, we're beginning to work on manners with her. Just little things...like that we don't generally throw every single bit of food on the floor for fun and then scream for mom and dad to load up our plates again. Or that pointing and then screaming at the top of your lungs is not the best possible way of requesting something. And it's really frustrating--probably both for us and for her. Just like it was when I wrote about this stage two years ago. (Check out the date on that post--almost EXACTLY two years ago. That's the beauty of having daughters almost exactly two years apart).
Do you think it's possible to teach this little monster to eat like a civilized person?
The good thing about all this is that while certain stages are annoying, I have confidence that we WILL make it through, because I've been through it all before. Twice. Lucy and Beth do not still throw food on the floor just for fun, or scream anytime they want something. They know how to say please. Although Lucy is still not that great about using her fork. Fingers are just so much easier, I guess.
A friend with only one kid watched me wrangle children and bikes and strollers out of my car yesterday, all in preparation for the simple act of going for a walk, and said, "I just don't know how easy I have it with only one, do I?" And I laughed and told her she was right. When you only have one, you think it's so much work. Then you have more and realize you had no idea what you were getting into.
But here's thing about having multiple children--you definitely have a lot more going on. More demands on your time, more little hands pulling on your legs, more little voices yelling, "Mama, look at me! Look at me!" But, when your kids encounter (or create) a problem, chances are you've handled something very similar before. You're not just fumbling around, guessing about what might possibly work. You already know what to do.
I feel like if I were applying for the job of Mom, three or four years ago I would have listed myself as a junior-level candidate: a lot of education, a lot of enthusiasm, short on experience. Now, I feel that I'm moving into the realm of being a solid candidate for upper-level positions. With two previous projects successfully underway, I have proven myself capable of achieving the desired results. Experienced mom--that's me. Do you think I'll get a raise?
When it comes to dealing with 1-year-olds, anyway. Don't even talk to me about anything issues involving children over the age of 4.5. My poor oldest child--I'm still totally winging it on that one.
3 comments:
My three are all so different, that at times I feel like I am doing the same thing all over, but most of the time I think "how on earth are my three children so much the same, yet so different?"
However, like you said, we know each stage only lasts a little while, and soon we will be crying about how our children are growing so fast. Some days I feel it could go a little faster, but not most days.
I feel the same way. My third is almost three years younger (by 3 days) than middle. I do think that the third has it the best though. My first I was totally winging it and still am, the second I refined my skills and the third I have it down to a science. I do feel sorry for my first I will be continually winging it until forever.
Everything that goes around seems to come around again. Case in point: Sarah, age 9, who STILL eats with her fingers. I have considered duct-taping a fork to her hand.
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