WHAT I KNOW
By Lisa Row a proud mom of 4 boys
Jaryd 14, Josh 13, Alex and Anthony 5
 
I normally don’t have time to write, but some how I found a few minuets on a Saturday night.  So, I thought I would put down in words what popped into my brain while I was contemplating the fact that next year my oldest will be entering high school and my twins will be starting kindergarten.     
 
Here is what I know:

• It is possible for 3 out of your 4 kids to have colic. Both of your twins can have colic and it can last for 4 months.
• Twins don’t have to “run in your family”.  But I promise they will run around your house.
• Having kids 20 months apart does not prepare you for twins.
• Projectile vomit and poop can happen in a newborn.
• How active your baby/babies are when you are pregnant is an indicator of how active they will be as children.
• Encourage independence in your child even at a very young age.
• Not until your kids are about 7 yrs old can you sit by the pool and get a tan.
• At age 10 boys’ brains stop working and there is usually property damage involved.
• It’s ok to let dad wrestle with the boys even if they get hurt. (Although, I don’t encourage it right before bed).
  
• Mommy can almost always kiss any boo boos away.
• Boys love to throw balls in the house.  No matter how small or light the ball is, something always breaks.
• Most boys printing and handwriting is terrible.
• Stitches are inevitable.
• Trampolines are a great investment.
• Little League Baseball is expensive. High school football can break the bank.
• Boys love to wear shorts and hate to wear jackets.
• Ceiling fans won’t cut off your son’s head.
• 3 year olds can jump off the top bunk beds and survive.  Once this is established it usually becomes a game.  (This is how I know about the ceiling fan).
• Boys will pee in your bathroom trashcan and bathtub.
• If a boy pees above the water in the bowel it willspray all over your bathroom.
• Boys don’t know how to flush the toilet or put the seat down.
• Boys love to hang out with their Mommy.
• As soon as you get rid of all the baby stuff, you’ll end up pregnant again.
• Lastly, boys love to be naked and pee outside!

Michael and I go out every single aturday night no matter what.  Most of the time we go get tacos and then hang out at the book store.  We've done everything from shopping at the grocery store to attend a local
play.  We are committed to getting out once a week; it gives us something to look forward to, and a chance to reconnect.
~ Tonia Morrell ~

I don't have a lot of words of wisdom because I'm still going through a lot of adjustments raising 3 children all these years.  But one thing I do know, in order to keep a healthy relationship with your husband is to
plan at least one date night each week.  And plan a little get-away for the two of you, if you can.  Do whatever you can to find someone to watch the kids so you can do this.  A family member is the best and we've
been lucky enough to have my in-laws take care of the kids when needed.  But if you don't have family to help, hire a babysitter to watch the kids for a few hours so you can go out to dinner alone.  You have to have
that time to sit, relax and talk without the kids needing every bit of attention from you.  
~ Lorrie Seigel ~

My mom has explained on numerous occasions that she’s going to buy a Jaguar when she wins the lottery. The only problem is she doesn’t play the lottery.  I don’t think she’s ever purchased a Lotto ticket.  Still, it’s nice to
have a plan…

Some friends recently came over with their one year old (call her Mary) and asked us how we got our kids to sit still to eat at meals.  My short answer was, “I never gave them any other choice.”  Understandably, they were dissatisfied, but to be frank, I’ve learned the hard way to hold back the long answer because it always comes across as rude and no one really wants to hear it.

People rarely ask for your advice unless what they’re doing isn’t working.  In this circumstance, Mary was running around our house while the rest of us sat for dinner. Her parents were taking turns enticing her back to table with food and chasing after her.  When they did manage to capture her, she’d squirm out moments later and begin the process again.  My long answer would’ve begun with, “I never allowed my kids to do what Mary is doing right now”—something I’d never say to a friend in the heat of “battle.”

I honestly think that kids and dogs have more in common that we’d like to believe.  If you want them to do something, then you never allow any other behavior.  In my house, kids sit down to eat and my dog Dublin stays off the furniture.  The difference is Dublin was a heck of a lot easier to train and few people ever need to know if I’ve failed with Dublin.  My kids, on the other hand, are walking/talking billboards who advertise my every success and failure as a parent.  I said it was logical, not easy.

See, my mom wishes she had a Jaguar but is well aware that’s not going to happen.  Some parents, however, wish their kids acted differently but never set any other expectation. My husband and I have expected our kids
to sit still to eat since before they could walk.  In the early years, they were strapped in, in and out of the home— we never left the house without portable high chairs. More importantly, we decided when they were done, and nobody got up before that.  As a result, my 7 year olds can easily sit through dinner at a nice restaurant, for up to 1 1/2 to 2 hours.  Practice makes, if not perfect, pretty damn good.

The last reason I won’t give a full answer is I know my situation differs from a lot of others’. For starters, my kids like to eat. They have hyper-speed metabolisms and are generally content while eating. Things only get dicey if we have to wait too long for the food. Second, the upside of not having any help with child-rearing is you have the freedom to be consistent. Mary’s grandparents watch her much of the week, so her parents don’t have that luxury. Lastly, my parenting style borders on the tyrannical and few have the desire to follow in my footsteps. So now you have the long answer I wouldn’t give Mary’s parents.  Do with it what you want.  Just remember, you can’t win the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket.

Cheryl Baltes