28 July 2012

Success


I made this Automotivator in late 2007 when I had half the number of children I have now.  But in general, I've found that managing two kids was a bit easier than one, three easier than two and four easier than three.  This is mainly because my own skills at 'dealing' have improved, and my care factor for The Unnecessary has decreased.  I'm getting better at triaging my problems, a far cry from the paralysis I used to feel when my firstborn would start crying just as I realised I needed to wee.  That used to make me panic a little.

This weekend, Mr de Elba is away from Saturday morning until Sunday afternoon, and so far, we're surviving.  We haven't seen blood or flames, and although things can go from good to bad quite quickly, they can go back to good just as quickly.  This is because the moods of the average three-year-old boy can turn on a dime.  So can those of a feisty five-year-old girl.

I am also decreasing my expectations - the kitchen isn't visitor-ready but at least it's not attracting rats, the clothes are not folded and put away but they're all washed and dried, and I'm planning simple meals like spaghetti bolognese and abandoning these plans in favour of even simpler meals.  Toast, for example.

So we're good.  Blood or flames, I've just got to not care unless I see blood or flames.

7 comments:

Tracy P. said...

May your weekend be free from both! Love the updated profiles! Your blog looks ready for action--but it is not on a level of importance with blood or flames, so I'll just enjoy the updates whenever they come. :-)

mamahasspoken said...

You are some kind of superwoman being able to just give birth to the fourth AND have all four by yourself, no help except for the older children. I bow down to your amazement!

Unknown said...

Wow! Best wishes for a wonderful bloodless, flame less weekend!

The Accidental Housewife said...

You're amazing!

I remember that terrifying feeling of needing to wee at 3am when Peanut was crying - but I also remember not having that with Bug! Poor, neglected Bug ;)

Hippomanic Jen said...

So by this reckoning, having seven or eight children would be easier than having none at all?

Givinya De Elba said...

Hip Jen makes me think there must be a flaw in my reasoning somewhere.

gartcott aka Penny Hannah said...

Expectations that include a rat-free kitchen, clean clothes and food of any sort on the table sound like a pretty good standard of living for a busy post partum mum of four, in my book. Well played Givinya, you're officially in the running for Supermum of the Month.