| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Whimsy_girl |
Posted - Aug 19 2005 : 12:10:08 AM
I have 2 girls, who are 22 months and 9 months.. My oldest is Kaylee and the baby is Halsey Jo.
Halsey just started learning to walk this week, She is up to taking about 5 steps at a time before she crashes. She has 5 teeth and the front two are so spaced out that she has a Madonna thing going right now.
Kaylee has been pointing at me and saying "dummy" all day long but I don't mind because she's referring to my old Gumby t-shirt that I wear when I'm cleaning.. She chatters all the time and calls her grandma "Mla ma" and grandpa is "Plop pa". We're potty training and when she is doing something she doesn't want to.. like when she is supposed to be eating dinner but she'd rather go play.. she will look right at me and say "poop" so of course I whisk her into the bathroom and then she grabs her tub toys and tries to play... never actually goes... She's very wiley like that.
Tell me about your kids!!
you can be oh so smart, or you can be oh so positive. I wasted a lot of time being smart I prefer being positive. |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| jallibunn |
Posted - Sep 26 2005 : 9:49:08 PM
Love the comments in this section!
As an only child, I've always been fascinated and cowed by people's willingness to say, shortly after meeting me and finding out I was an only, "Gosh, you must be spoiled rotten." Why it's basically OK to call me a horrible person when they don't know me, I dont know.
Bill McKibben's book, "Maybe One," is a really good answer to this one. It's a social stereotype based on some really bad early sociology done in the 1880s/1890s. It wasn't disproved until the 1920s, but by then it had stuck.
As jpbluesky commented below, the number of children you have often isn't up to you. (For my mother, same situation.) And it's really no one else's business.
quote:
Originally posted by jpbluesky
Well, I have an only child...now 26. Try that for fencing off rude remarks. Even wonderful people who are parents themselves will make terrible remarks about "only" children being spoiled and selfish and unable to socialize. Not true! my daughter is loving and caring and is a good mother herself now, and expecting her second child. She has always been thoughtful and naturally full of integrity.
Four weeks after I had her, I had a hysterectomy, so our choice was made for us. It has made us no less a family unit than if we had several children.
jpbluesky
heartland girl
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| Mamasboys |
Posted - Sep 14 2005 : 10:56:14 AM
Right now it's hard to discern whether I really want more or if I'm just sad that this is my last baby. Each stage he enters I think "This is the last time I'll have a baby that ..."
But I guess you're right, if we were really finished, I think we would have peace about it and stop going back and forth. Until we feel sure about our family being complete, we should definitely keep our options open.
Thanks for all the wisdom ladies! |
| Park Avenue |
Posted - Sep 12 2005 : 3:31:25 PM
I think you have a defininate feeling when you know you are done having kids.
I had that feeling when I was 24 and my youngest son was 2. I knew that I didn't want have another baby.
Until you have that absolute feeling that you are done, keep all your options open!
I am now 38, and I am glad with the choices that i made. I have friends my age, who are still having babies, and still don't have that feeling of being done.
I also have friends who didn't have the "i'm done' feeling, yet they thought they should be, and have always regretted not having another baby.
Just my 2 cents on the topic.....if your not sure your done, then don't close of the option of having another.
Michele |
| Mamasboys |
Posted - Sep 12 2005 : 10:56:56 AM
Thanks for the encouragement. It is silly to think we have to be sure of whether to have more or not at this point. I'm 34 and always thought I should be done by the time I'm 35 so I guess that's why I think if we want more we should do it now.
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| FloralSaucer |
Posted - Aug 30 2005 : 5:08:40 PM
Things change Mamasboys. Don't be in a rush to make up your mind, especially if you are under 38, as you still have opportunities with your family. If you can manage to take three small children camping, if you had another in two years, your eldest will be quite a large boy and it would still be like taking three small children camping plus one bigger one. Four is a nice number for a family. My fourth is now 8, and her biggest brother is 17 ready to leave home. They were all three years apart. My youngest is 3, and I found the decision hard like you, but have loved having her. |
| Park Avenue |
Posted - Aug 30 2005 : 05:57:16 AM
Thanks!
Michele |
| FloralSaucer |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 4:09:43 PM
Welcome Mamasboys, Mama0moon, katie-ell and Park Avenue! |
| Mamasboys |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 1:18:13 PM
Love reading about all your families!
My boys are 5, 3 1/2 and 9 mos. We are on the see saw about having more. Always wanted a big family, but are living in a 2 bd, 1 ba house and don't really have the means for anything bigger. Besides, the boys spend most of their time outside and you certainly can't beat our view!
We will start homeschooling Josh next week. The thought of sending him to school to be locked into a chair for hours on end makes me shudder. He is about as active as you come and some teacher would have him on Ritalin by the end of his first day! He loves helping with the rabbits, pigs, chickens and garden and is always talking about how big he is and how he is almost a man like his daddy  and he looks forward to putting "bad guys to jail" just like his dad does(he's a police officer).
Will is the brains and heart of the family. He is gentle and sweet, smart as a whip and tough as nails. His brother always comes running to tell me that 'Will has blood!' and there's my buddy, just playing away saying 'I'm not hurt, I'm tough'.
Ben is the baby and having a tough time realizing that life does not revolve around him. Since he has become mobile and able to destroy towers and Lego trucks, he has lost some of the cuteness that his brothers found so dear. Since he has figured out how to open our wood stove and eat and smear charcoal over the carpet and couch I can relate to the boys :) Ben is my budding farmboy who comes w/ me on my chores in the baby backpack and will wean from breastmilk to raw goatsmilk come next spring.
We struggle with the decision to have more children as travel, camping, canoe trips, etc. are still very doeable with 3 and worry that the more children we have, the less 'fun' things we can do as a family.
I absolutely LOVE having boys and am amazed at the people who feel they have to express their regret that I didn't have a girl. I even had a lady come up to me at Costco and peer into the infant carrier and say 'that better be a little girl in there'. When I said no, it was another boy, she looked sad and said 'you poor thing'! I was stunned for a moment then told her I was only sad it wasn't TWIN boys! Grrr...some people!
Anyway, great to meet you all!! Sounds like you all have very beautiful families. |
| katie-ell |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 11:18:20 AM
Wonderful to read about each family. We have an only child, and I'm surprised that some people feel the need to comment about it. We have a one and only by choice, and have never been unhappy with that decision. We love our families, both our little nucleus and our extended families. That's what it's all about, isn't it. |
| Park Avenue |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 06:18:53 AM
Hi all, i am wife to Dean a great and supportive husband of all that i do and all that i don't do.
I have 2 kids, Shoshanna is 17 and a really great girl. She is heading into grade 12. She isn't fond of school, and has her sights set on something in emergency services. Probably a medical responder for the oil rigs or bush camps. Then she hopes to meet a nice guy, with a quad and a 4x4, get married, have some kids and be a wife and a mom. Maybe driving an ambulance p/t...just to get her out of the house a couple days a week. For now she works at Wal-mart, to pay for her truck and all the things she likes to buy for herself. It kept her very busy and out of trouble for the summer. On a side note she is also hightly intuitive and is very interested in alterntive healings, crystals etc.
Josh is 15, and heading into grade 10....where have all the years gone. My baby is off to high school. ( lol which in our school just means your locker isn't acrooss fromn the kindergarden anymore!)He is a typical boy, interested in cars, bikes, PS2, and music that annoys his mother. He is a great boy also, and spent the last 3 days helping his dad jackhammer the cement step off the front of our house. He always says he is going to grow up and live in the city, and not have to bother with all the grass, and repairs and house and home and garden stuff that he has to help out with....but I think he will stay close.
I was not what you would call an attatchement parent, but i truely loved being a mom. I still do. I raised my kids by what felt right for our family. I did not breastfeed at all, and I am surprised at my friends who seem to equate this with being a 'good mom'.
My kids are my greatest achievement in life so far, and my greatest joy.
I am also learning that while I love them dearly, and will hate for this phase of life to end, I don't want to be a controlling mom, who hangs on tight without giving them the freedom to move on with their lives, I don't want to have a breakdown when they are ready to leave the nest. Trying to develop a life for myself as this phase nears completion, so that i won't be standing there wondering what I do now...as they drive off to new lives of their own.
LOL No one really ever told me this day would come and I would have these feelings of worry about "what will i do when my babies are growing up?" when I was knee deep in bottles, colic, and diapers.
It is so great to read all of these posts about how we feel about our kids. So much love and pride!
I don't know if it is just a lifestyle thing on this list where most want to achieve more of a 'homegrown' lifestyle, but it seem that there are so many moms out there ( not you guys!!) who are just not into thier kids anymore, and so many kids who are growing up kind of lost. It is sad and scarey at the same time.
Hope everyone has a great day!
Michele |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Aug 28 2005 : 5:23:10 PM
Newt..I love that..makes me think of "Lonesome Dove!"
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things |
| mama0moon |
Posted - Aug 28 2005 : 3:13:31 PM
My one and only, Newt, is 5, she'll be 6 in October. She will most likely be my only as I suffer infertility. She is also my greatest joy as I managed to have her despite the infertility (and no drugs or medical interevention of any kind). We did attachment parenting with her, she breastfed until two months after her 3rd birthday (and still has moments when she tells me how much she misses it.) She is homeschooling and learning French and Spanish. She adores all things creepy crawly, she is Newt! Queen of the amphibians..:D |
| mama0moon |
Posted - Aug 28 2005 : 2:53:23 PM
Homeschooling, attachment parenting, a woman after my own heart. Your children sound wonderful.
Steph
quote:
Originally posted by TheSoapMaven
All six of mine have been/are being raised in the country. They are 27, 25, 24, 17, 13 and 9. All have been homeschooled. The three older ones all live in "the city" now due to work obligations but head home to the country for some quiet and "real food" every chance they get.
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| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Aug 23 2005 : 8:35:05 PM
I guess..they are the cheap ones for sure though...not the nice ones with a snap to the skins. (I mean nice as hot dogs go..not my favorite thing) My boys like them almost burned black when we do them over a campfire.
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things |
| FloralSaucer |
Posted - Aug 23 2005 : 7:05:52 PM
Are they the ones with red skins? I first heard they could be done that way on the weekend, when my kids went with youth group to the snow. |
| TheSoapMaven |
Posted - Aug 23 2005 : 7:02:37 PM
Truly Jenny, you are so blessed. Enjoy your celebration! Hugs all around!!!
Susan
Proprietress of Dahlem's Soapworks http://www.thesoapmaven.com
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| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Aug 23 2005 : 6:44:12 PM
Thanks Floralsaucer! We will grill the hotdogs on a gas grill.
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things |
| FloralSaucer |
Posted - Aug 23 2005 : 6:07:11 PM
Not long until Thursday. How do you do your hotdogs?
I have had kids at home for 17 years during the day, since I was 24.
At one school my daughters went to they made an issue of one being fair, blond and average, and the other tall, dark with darker skin. They must think they are not sisters, which is sad. Not all darker skinned people are non Anglo!
Jenny you are a good role model, I have been worried that maybe I should stop having kids at home during the day, there is always some kind of background social pressure in our minds isn't there? |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Aug 23 2005 : 11:40:14 AM
It should be so much fun..we are going to make homemade rootbeer too... a big treat!!!
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things |
| showmemom |
Posted - Aug 23 2005 : 08:01:00 AM
hey jenny-
congratulations on your adoption finale! what a great family yours sounds like.
have lots of fun-you have something HUGE to celebrate.
talk to you soon.
karen
Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.
Victor Hugo |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Aug 22 2005 : 9:18:07 PM
I love being a mom and have 7 children...two homemade and 5 adopted; Corey, who is 27 and going through a divorce (was married 5 years) who has a wonderful daughter who just turned 3. He has her half the time and is a wonderful dad,and works as a handyman and does construction. He is really talented and can do anything he sets his mind to.Second is Casey, who is 25 and single who is a plumber and loves to fish and can fix anything! He is a great uncle and is cute..they are both tall and good looking and I miss them alot..they both live in Calif right now.
Then I have Adopted son Justin who is 20 and is going to college in Calif too..he is the smartest guy I know and is going to be an aeronautical engineer or something like that.(seriously) He is amazing. He came in to our family when he was just turning 15 and is my 9 year old son's half brother. Next is Summer, who we adopted 2 years ago. She will soon be 11 and is my best helper. She is alot like me...stubborn, bossy, a tomboy for the most part and busy..haha. She is a hard worker and a great "mini mom". She loves to play softball and also has been playing the piano for a year now and is quite good. Then comes Travis who just turned 9. He is really really smart like his older brother and is so much fun. He loves to draw and ride his bike and is a great reader. He has more freckles than most little boys and is cute as can be. He came into the family when he was 3.
Next is daughter Erin, who is almost 9.She has been in the family for two years. She is our girly girl and loves to dance and sing. She took dance for 2 years and now has decided to start taking piano lessons instead. She is small for her age, and wears glasses...looks like the American girl doll,Molly. She is just a joy to be around. Our youngest is Dalton who just turned 8 a few months ago. He the sweetest guy. He is tall for his age, and loves to play baseball. He has some speech and learning problems, but has made great strides since he joined our family in November. He was 7. His adoption will be final on Thursday so that will be a big day for our family. We are having a big party here on Saturday..he requested barbqued hot dogs (his favorite food..yuck) and a BIG cake. Should be fun!!
My last three kids have only 4 months between them..so for 4 months of the year I have "triplets". Right now I have a 10 year old, a nine year old and two eight year olds, soon it will be an 11 year old, two nine year olds and an eight year old..we have alot of October birthdays. WE get alot of comments about how the kids dont' look like each other..which is funny since the ones who look the most alike are not blood related...oh well. And we get the comments about how close in age they are..size wise they look like they are about a year apart each..so that would be possible..having the last three with a 4 months space between..not possible ..haha I would have been 39 when the last one was born..so that is okay I guess.
I am loving having the younger kids at home now. I havn't been without at least one child still at home since I was 19!!
My husband and I have been married for almost 10 years. He didn't come with any kids..I came with the two oldest boys..who were actually nearly grown by then. Steve is the greatest..have never been sorry I married him ..ever!! He is a hard worker and a great husband and father. I am amazed at the blessings I have!
++
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things |
| jpbluesky |
Posted - Aug 22 2005 : 6:57:29 PM
Well, I have an only child...now 26. Try that for fencing off rude remarks. Even wonderful people who are parents themselves will make terrible remarks about "only" children being spoiled and selfish and unable to socialize. Not true! my daughter is loving and caring and is a good mother herself now, and expecting her second child. She has always been thoughtful and naturally full of integrity.
Four weeks after I had her, I had a hysterectomy, so our choice was made for us. It has made us no less a family unit than if we had several children.
jpbluesky
heartland girl |
| Whimsy_girl |
Posted - Aug 22 2005 : 6:51:58 PM
I get the exact same kind of response when people see my 2 so close together!
I think people just HAVE to have something to remark about...
you can be oh so smart, or you can be oh so positive. I wasted a lot of time being smart I prefer being positive. |
| MeadowLark |
Posted - Aug 22 2005 : 6:31:51 PM
There is a planned 10 year age span between my daughters. When very pregnant with my 2nd daughter and standing in a grocery line with my 9 year old daughter a woman had the odacity to look at my daughter and then my pregnant belly and say OOOPPPS! and laugh. I was feeling testy and said this oooopps was an AAAAHHHHHHH...smiled and then ignored her. GEEEEZ, some people!
Being is what it is. Jean Paul Sartre |
| FloralSaucer |
Posted - Aug 22 2005 : 6:00:01 PM
That happened to me for the first time at the hairdressers the other day. Does she want me to come back lol? |
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