They say youth is wasted on the young, and they’re right. What I would give these days to be encouraged to nap for as long as possible, or have every meal cooked for me with my exact specifications honored. To have my hair shampooed daily and clean laundry folded in my drawers. To be driven everywhere and only clean up the mess I made. Those kids have no idea how good they have it.
Like youth, it’s impossible to appreciate just how easy a single child is until you have more than one. Last night, Lily and Ben slept at my mom’s house for the night, leaving Jeff and I with only Evan for the night and following morning. Over the past three and a half years, I’d totally forgotten what it was like to have a one on one ratio, or even (gasp) a two on one. It was peaceful and eerily quiet. And a welcome break.
I made me question what on earth I thought was so hard about life when I only had Lily?
Her early days are a blur of exhaustion. Why exactly was I so tired? There was a time period when she was an infant that I needed to pick Jeff up at the subway. I remember being so inconvenienced having to bundle her up and buckle her in to make the 15 minute drive. Taking a single child on an outing now is a pleasure cruise.
It’s impossible to share this information with people until they, too, understand from experience. It sounds condescending and insulting to tell new parents how easy they may one day think their overwhelming days are, and if they never have more than one, they will never understand. As I never would have before. You just can’t. One kid is hard. Until there are more.
It makes me wonder if my friends with four and five kids look at me and long for the easy days. If they roll their eyes at the sense of overwhelming chaos I feel. If my days are a simple walk in the park compared to what they deal with. Probably.
But, I’ll just take their word for it. This is nuts enough for me.
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So true. So true. I remember thinking one was so hard. And then when two came along I was thrown into a whole new world of hard. Or so I thought. But, after about 3, it’s all about the same. Just more food consummed. More butts to wipe and make sure are showered. More noise. More of the same as three. Multiplied. :)
angie´s last blog ..Whrrl…..
Twitter: 7clowncircus
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Well. I actually KNOW that my life probably was easier with 2 kids. But maybe it also depends on individual temper. Last day and night we just had our littlest, 2y old. And this morning we just found out that is wasn’t THAT MUCH easier. We hoped for a period of relaxing but didn’t find one. I think some kids are simply more demanding than others. I can remember being alone with our second daughter. And it was ALWAYS a cakewalk. Not with the youngest, anyway.
Susanne´s last blog ..Sleep-aholic
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we call having one ‘a picnic’ hehe – i know what you mean, but like ross says – ‘it’s aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal relative!!!’ trust u enjoyed your quiet night!
scrappysue´s last blog ..wordful wednesday – yesterday i became the mother of a daughter entering her 3rd decade
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I’m NEVER letting my husband read this post! It’s my biggest wish to have three kids and I’m having to fight for TWO! He’d be happy with just the one, but, you know, the whole sibling thing is really important to us both, so he knows what he’s got to do :) I tell him all the time that one more won’t be that big of a deal! haha
Jessica – This Is Worthwhile´s last blog ..2:50 pm
Twitter: tisworthwhile
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I thought having one was hard too. Now, with three, having one is like a vacation. Maybe it something to do with experience. Like when I think back to high school and want to kick myself for thinking my thighs were big. I had no idea how big they could really get.
Jennifer´s last blog ..Weekly Meal Plan 3
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Scary Mommy Reply:
August 26th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
That is so, so true. I’d kill for the stomach I hated in high school.
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So, so true. I work with a few women who only have one child. It’s hard to bite my tongue when they talk about being busy. Which yes, it is, but it’s just a DIFFERENT BUSY when you have 3. Right?
Even worse? The 37 year-old I work with who is single/no kids. And she comes to work every morning yapping about how she’s “soooooo tired.” Gah.
Trenches of Mommyhood´s last blog ..My Good News!
Twitter: sarahviz
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Believe you me! Every. single. Day. I am so thankful for just one : ). In the summer when I have Naji or Bria I am like HOLY COW! People really take care of more than one kid all the time. How do they do it : ) You are amazing.
Life with Kaishon´s last blog ..Crisis Averted!
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If I could stand up and applaud you without keeling over and dying right now… I would. I look at my friends w/ 4 kids and KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that THIS is NUTS enough for me, and I only have 2!!
Julie´s last blog ..The One with the Annoying Moaning Girl in the ER
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