1. MBMF and I Have Come A Long Way
MBMF and I have been friends since our little girls were both "only children." I have to put that in quotes because my strong-willed three year old is not my oldest...that privilege is held by my beautiful OTHER strong-willed daughter, who is 20 years old, supporting herself, and living on her own. Yes, so I was blessed TWICE with strong-willed daughters. (Makes the teenage years a little hellish, but does lead to strong, independent young women - SERIOUSLY!!!)
ANYWAY... at the time I met MBMF, I think she was pregnant with her second. My husband and I were thinking about trying for our baby number two. I watched MBMF's every move when her second was born. Who goes into the car first...the oldest or the youngest? If they are both crying, who do you answer first? When you don't see who started it, who do you scold?? And most importantly, how in the world does she make two kids happy and not go insane in the process??? So, basically I was writing (in my head) my How to Be The Best Mommy In The World (HTBTBMITW) Handbook, and MBMF and her two daughters were my main characters. My inspiration. I had mommy experience after all, but not mommy experience with more than one child at a time! That's a lot different!!
So, MBMF and I have grown a lot together - now when we go out on play dates, there are six kids between the two of us instead of just two! Our relationship is a little like a marriage in the way we manage our kids when we're all together. And, when we're blessed enough to have our husbands join us, it's nice to sit back and have an uninterrupted conversation with her! If I think about it too much, I can't figure out for the life of me how in the world it works, but somehow it does. And thank God, because she is still my inspiration (did I say she's pregnant with her 4th now?!). People come into your life for a reason, and I'm still calculating all the reasons why MBMF is here...
2. My Husband and I Have Come A Long Way
This could be a post in itself, so I'll try to keep it short. Inviting MCHN into our home convinced me that God really does have a plan and we are all here to carry it out. I might kick and scream and try to get things to happen MY way (did I ever mention I'm a little stubborn?) but one of the best things that's happened since MCHN came to live with us is that I'm beginning to think about God's way before trying to make things happen my way. I think my husband is grateful for that!! You see, he's just as stubborn as I am (and has no trouble admitting that!), so if I'm backing down a bit, and letting God have the lead, then that's also leading to more harmony between my husband and I. It took us about seven years to get to this point, but I'll take it, and look forward to what lies ahead for us!!
3. The Kids and I Have Come A Long Way
After two and a half weeks, the honeymoon phase with MCHN is wearing off (boy, that was quick!) and we're getting down to the nitty-gritty now. I've tackled my fear of being the walking hot mess of unorganized chaos through Wal-Mart (yes, it DID happen...) and yes, I survived and lived to tell about it. By the way, the shoe MCHN threw during her tantrum disappeared for 3 days, but as it turns out, that's EXACTLY why they have a lost and found at Wal-Mart!!
4. JPJ (Just Plain Jill) Has Come a Long Way
And, just when I thought I had figured out which kid to put in the bath first (or to take out first for that matter!), which one to lay down for nap last (the one who can't figure out the gate at the bottom of the stairs of course!), or just how much leeway I can give my almost four year old and still trust her to do what she'd do if mommy were watching...what I really figured out was that there is no handbook with the secrets of how to be a successful mommy when you have more than one child who needs you (even if MBMF makes it look carefree and flawless most of the time!). There's never as much time or patience or hugs as I'd like there to be, but what's really important here is a little saying a dear friend shared with me long ago...
Yes! The journey itself IS life! The old JPJ would have stayed all wrapped up in that HTBTBMITW Handbook. I would have been kicking myself for not being there when my almost four year old crossed the street by herself while I tried to carry one two year old in one arm and drag the other one with the other arm while she threw a tantrum (and I swore I'd NEVER do that!!). But, my almost four year old was safe, promised she'd never cross the street on her own again (seriously!!) and I realized MCHN's tantrum won't be the last....life is what happens along the way...
And, on a good note, I lived each of these moments to the fullest, gave it my all and have learned lessons that are making me more of a woman than I used to be, more of a mommy than I thought I ever could be, and the kind of wife I really want to be.
Hmph, and all this happened along the way...
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