These days…

I haven’t used a stroller in months.  In fact, I tell the kids that they need to leave their coats in the car and be cold on the way into the mall (or wherever) as I have no where to put the coats once we get inside.  It only takes one trip with four kids handing you their coat to hold before they either leave it in the car or carry it themselves!

I sleep through the entire night…most nights.  There are always months, like January, that sickness hits the house and we don’t sleep well for weeks.  But those weeks are here and there.  One an average night, I SLEEP!

I don’t require daily naps to function like a normal human.  It has been a long time since I had to take a daily nap.  Don’t get me wrong, there are always random days and occasions that require a nap, but it isn’t a daily NEED in the way it used to be.

All four kids play in the backyard while I take occasional peeks out the window.  I don’t have to remain out there as their isn’t a toddler wandering off into the unknown.

Two of my children know what s.e.x. is.   Not the gender type, but the birds and the bees type.  And I am the one who had “the talk” which has led to the very many “talks” here and there.

My arms are weak when I pick up someone else’s one year old.  My arms are out of practice.  It has been a long time since I had to carry a little person around regularly.

People hire my oldest daughter to help them with their kids.  I have a child old enough to get paid to be a mommy’s helper.  She is no longer just my helper.  I have to share her.

I have watched PG-13 movies with my own kids.  And we enjoyed them.  Wow.  A real movie!  It’s been the Harry Potter series so far, but I am sure there are some Avengers movies in our future.

I receive emails and text messages from one of my own children.  She has access on my iPad and very controlled computer access as well.  She loves to email with friends and family, though her messages are quite short due to a lack of typing skills.  But no children can find folks on face.book just yet!

At 8:30 PM, you can still find the girls awake and wandering the house many nights.  Sometimes we aren’t even home from evening activities, such as 4H.  Many times they are downstairs playing board games or Wii with me!   The boys are still in bed by 7 PM most nights, but the girls are growing out of that early bedtime!

There are children who can stay home without me.  Or go to the pool without a parent.  Or the library.  It was quite strange the first time, but I am starting to get used to it.  In fact, I was talking to K (age 10) about how hard it will be for C (age 3) when he is the only one who can’t stay home alone.  She pointed out that she’d be over 13 before he is 8 so she could just stay home with him!  Oh yeah….

We make afternoon plans.  You can find us outside and running errands between the hours of 1 PM and 3 PM.  No one has to nap, though there are days a certain three year old is made to take a little snooze!

And it is good.