I don't think I've ever asked myself that, really. Of course there have been days when I've wondered what it would've been like to have only 3 ...... or 4. But the answer that comes up every time is this: it would've been boring.
Of course I'm sure that other people would love to tell you, yes, six is too many. Three of those people would most likely be my daughters.
And then there are those who think I've sucked at being a mother, especially a widowed mother, so they'd most likely answer "yes". But really .... who cares? :)
But for me .... six just seemed "right".
Well, except for once.
There was that one time, way back in the early days of having six children, back when Son #3 was still a baby.
I was loading all of the kids into the car to go somewhere ... I have no idea where now. Everyone got in their seats and everyone got buckled.
I climbed into my seat, started the car and turned around to look behind me as I backed out of the driveway.
That's about the time when Daughter #1, bless her oldest child's heart, said, "Umm, Mommy? Where's the baby?"
I looked into the back seat and indeed, where Son #3's car seat usually sat, there was an empty space.
Yee gods!!!! I had forgotten the baby! My child! My youngest and most precious (ok, not really, but they all think so anyway, so I do my best to keep up the facade).
And where was said angel? Upstairs, snug in his crib, taking a nap.
I never forgot one of them again.
I've wanted to leave some behind on purpose, but I've never forgotten one again.
Yet.
:)
Happy Tuesday,Peeps.
From Oregon.
6 comments:
That's a pretty good record! Making it to number 6 without leaving one behind anywhere. I sometimes glance in the back of the car and panic for a second thinking I forgot the baby - then I realize she's not a baby anymore and that it's her long legs pushing on the back of my seat. Did that ever happen to you after so many years of having a babies in the family?
:) Ann
Thank goodness for D1!! And at least he wasn't left on the driveway!! The thought almost makes me feel sick! It's not Ask Wed, but have you ever lost one of the kids? Love your stories! Vicki
Nope. Six kids is not too many. It's too many for ME...but not for you:)You and Jim were always awesome parents. You approached parenthood as a team and that's how you learned to "parent" your wonderful kids. Being a single parent is SO hard and it's impossible to learn it all overnight...which is what was expected of you. Don't beat yourself up (or let anyone else do it either) for not being a "perfect" single parent. That's not fair. You are a good mom...and every one of your kids will grow up and be self-sufficient, moral members of society...because that's what YOU have taught them. I love you.
I love you, too, Lis .... very, very much. Thank you.
Vicki -- I'd love to say no, but Son #1 had a habit of taking off, thinking, of course, that he knew where he was going ... even though he did not! And Son #2 regularly got lost. The worst time was in the Houston Galleria .... for about 20 minutes. The mall shut down .... and he was found, entering a Radio Shack. And I was caught between that place of "I want to wring your neck for scaring me like that" and "Ii love you so much I'll never let you out of my sight again!"
I hate that place.
I was the youngest of four and one Sunday my family left me at church. I got to go home with the organist and have lunch at their house and had decided I really liked my new family when my Mother came to pick me up. I love to remind her of that story so gotta go call Mother now!
Enjoy Oregon although we are really enjoying a cool July here in Houston!
Hi Jeanine,
I grew up in a family of nine kids (but mostly with the six youngest). It was great for us kids. Yes, there was always someone to bicker with, but there was always someone to play with or confide in also. I had six older brothers and two younger sisters. Being the first girl made me the "doll my mom wanted to dress frilly" and "the challenge to toughen her up" for my brothers :) Honestly, I have no idea how my mom made it through. I raised three kids and some days I thought I would lose my mind :)
Post a Comment