Four kids will change you

It's true what they say about parents becoming more lax with subsequent kids. 

The whole thing about being neurotic for your first born and easing up a little with the next, etc. etc.

I'm here to tell you that having four will change your life DRASTICALLY.  To quote a good friend (although she was talking about her third) " the last one pulled the stick out of my ass when he came out". 

That has been SO true for me.  I  know I've mentioned my anal, OCD ways before.  I was still this way with three kids.  Our playroom was highly organized with labeled bins and shelves.  My motto was "a place for everything and everything in it's place". 

I was great at remembering where I'd put things or who I'd loaned things to.  I always knew where the binky was, never lost a sippy cup, always had the diaper bag with me.  I managed this with three kids, but the fourth one broke the bank.

I no longer can find anything.  We go through pacifiers like water, I throw out sippy cups on a weekly basis.  And I don't even care about the house anymore. 

I used to mop at least once a week and I would pick up the living room every single day.  I couldn't stand to see things out of place.  Now, eh, if the floor gets mopped once a month I give myself a high five.  If the toys are put away one day a week I'm ecstatic. 

Candy falls on the floor, go ahead and eat it.  No five second rule here.  You could find an M&M a week later and I'll let you eat it.  Want to play in the toilet?  I won't pour Purell all over your whole body, probably just a quick little bath.  Want to play with bugs?  Go right ahead.  Want to eat some dirt?  It'll make you stronger.

Seriously, I just CAN'T be anal anymore.  There isn't enough time or energy.  But, you know what?  I think I'm a better parent NOW.  I can just relax.  I'm not constantly trying to get the next thing done while life is being lived.  I'm not trying to protect everyone from everything while they're trying to have fun. 

I can finally just live in the moment instead of trying to make the moment the best moment ever while losing site of what really matters.

Comments

[camikaos]

i only like purel at the zoo or what have you.

[mielikki]

are you kidding? You're a Goddess for having four of them.
I am struggling with just the man, and his teenage daughter!

[Tina]

Amen sista!!! lol

[In the Trenches of Mommyhood]

I hear you! With one, I was totally neurotic and anal. With two, I was more relaxed, but still on top of my game and in command. With three little boys? FORGET IT. I waved the white flag a long time ago.

[Angie]

AMEN!

[pgoodness]

Good for you (and the kids, really). I am totally less anal (man, that sounds dirty! ew) with 2 kids than with one. If I ever had 4 they would probably just have to parent themselves while I slept on the couch or something. :)

[bubblewench]

You're a freakin saint.. I won't even have ONE!!

[Jenn @ Juggling Life]

I'm still pretty neurotic and anal, even after 4.

[San Diego Momma]

What you describe above happened to me after the second.

But I've always been pretty lazy -- EXCEPT where toilets are concerned.

[San Diego Momma]

What you describe above happened to me after the second.

I've always been pretty lazy -- EXCEPT where toilets are concerned.

[holly]

a-bloooody-men.

i will have a clean house when the kids (...and the husband....) aren't in it!

[Jo Beaufoix]

Snort, if I had four we would live in a dump, seriously, I did the laid back thing on number two. Brill post.