Yesterday we loaded up the whole family, left Cache Valley and drove the hour and a half down to Ikea in SLC. We decided to get lunch when we got there because I just really love those Swedish meatballs, okay? Anyways, when we arrived I noticed a sign outside the door that said “kids eat free Tuesday.” Let me just give you a little piece of advice: never ever ever go to Ikea in SLC on kids eat free Tuesday. It was worse than Disneyland on the 4th of July and that’s saying something. I swear, if we hadn’t just drove an hour and a half so I could pick up a new work table for my studio, I would have turned right around and gone back home. As I was standing in the line waiting to get our food, waiting behind 800 million harried moms trying to keep all their kids happy for the 45 minutes it took to get their food, all I could think to myself was, “this is so not worth a free $2.50 mac’n’cheese.” But you know, I waited in that line for those meatballs, so I’m probably no better.
It’s weird. I was looking at all these moms who have really small kids and a few (or a lot of them) all close together in age. I remember being there. I mean yeah, I have a new baby and all that, but all my other littles are so much bigger now. I mean, Hannah is going to be nine in a month. Nine. When the heck did that happen? I remember when I used to go to the store with all three of them and they were all 3 and under and I would be clenching my jaw, sweaty faced, trying to keep some semblance of order for that 45 minutes, and by the time I got home I really, really needed a nap, or a sedative. That’s not my life anymore. When we wait in line, my kids just stand there. Probably because they are old enough to understand that death will follow if they misbehave (I kid), but really, they’re kind of old enough not to want to act like hooligans in public, because you know, it’s embarrassing. To them.
It’s weird raising kids because the change is almost imperceptible, but suddenly they aren’t “little” kids any more, they are just kids, and then you know suddenly they are like hinting at becoming a preteen, rolling their eyes at their little brothers and telling you that all their friends have cell phones. What the heck?! At eight? It makes me feel old, and too young at the same time. If that makes any sense at all.
The best thing is how they’re all like real little people now, with their own real distinct personalities, and quirks and opinions.
And I think motherhood is just a constant state of changing from one phase to another. Just when you get really good at running errands with a whole bunch of little kids, they all start school or learn how to buckle their own seat belts, and then you’re trying to figure out how to deal with those rather inappropriate potty rhymes that they come home from school knowing.
I guess the idea that my oldest turns nine in a month is making me introspective. I’ll probably be a much better mom to Ava than I’ve been to Hannah, but I sure am glad that she’s been my guinea pig. She’s an old soul, and I think somebody knew I’d need to start with one of those.
I hear ya! My three year old, 3! sings the potty rhymes! I’m at the in between stages with him right now. I remember thinking earlier this year, he’s a big boy now, but not exactly. Every time I think I’ve figured it out everything changes again! I guess that is the constant – change.
Happy Birthday Hanna!! I’ll be…well older in a month too! ;)
IKEA isn’t just in SLC, it’s in DRAPER! i consider that even further than SLC! haha. it’s a long drive for me (i’m in bountiful) but it’s an especially long drive for you! way to go. i love IKEA. but i haven’t visited it on a kids eat free tuesday yet, i guess :) i do always get food when i’m there, though. mmm. if it were closer, i’d probably go there just for dinner and browse through their as-is at least once a week.
Oh my it’s good to know they eventually learn to be good in public because let me tell you going somewhere that isn’t 6 flags or the park can be a total embarrassment of my parenting its like what am I doing wrong… Thanks I totally needed to read this after going out to lunch with them all sand telling then to sit on the bench not stand on it dance in it sit on the table or play with the blinds haha
3 under three. You go girl. I think of you as a super mom who could handle that, though. I often wonder if I could handle two when I’m in those stressful moments with my toddler. I wonder how moms do it. I guess they just do! It’s weird, I don’t even know you but I can tell that your kids have been raised well. :) If you ever want to share your discipline secrets/tips I’d love to hear them! :) Oh and I hope you show us your new work table!! xo
Where I live and in my circle, people don’t START having kids ’till around 32. You are young. More importantly (I kid, but seriously…), you look fabulous. And you all have your health, so there’s that as well.
Hannah sounds divine. I need someone like her in my life. Maybe someday…maybe not…
Love each phase, right? I’m a step ahead of you with my four littles ranging in age from 12 on down to 7. My baby is 7? No WAY is that possible. My big girl becomes a card-carrying member of the teen scene on her next birthday? Tell me it isn’t so. But I love this phase as much, if differently, as I have each phase that preceded it. That’s the beautiful part … don’t you think?
You write THE most beautiful posts about your children….and have the most beautiful littles (or not so littles) too. Always warms my heart to feel the love shared in this family.
I recently had similar thoughts when I realized how easy it is now to take our boys shopping or out to dinner compared to a few years ago when just a 20 minute trip to the library pushed me to the edge. As a mother, I’m definitely hitting another phase now that my older son is texting and my younger son no longer ‘plays’ with his friends, but ‘hangs out’. When did that happen?!
I am seriously feeling all of these exact feelings right now. My oldest is 8, and I had my first 3 within 3 and a half years, my youngest now is 4, and now I’m finally pregnant with my 4th baby. I keep having those moments where I take them to the mall, or anywhere that a few short years ago was terrifying. Yet, now it’s so easy. My kids seem so big, and well behaved. However, I worry at the park about my kids now being the annoying ones to the moms of the tiny kids. Always something to worry about, right? The change seemed to happen over night, and now Im even more terrified about having this baby, and “starting over”. :) Love your blog so, so much.
I can completely relate! My oldest will also turn nine next month. I will then have a 9, 7, 5, and 18 month old. I have wanted to borrow a nine year old for years. Now that the time is almost here for me to have my own, I don’t know how to feel. I can relate to feeling old and too young. It’s just such a crazy thing. I hope to take this phase of my family dynamic in stride as well and enjoy all that is has to offer! Love your blog.
I hear ya! My three year old, 3! sings the potty rhymes! I’m at the in between stages with him right now. I remember thinking earlier this year, he’s a big boy now, but not exactly. Every time I think I’ve figured it out everything changes again! I guess that is the constant – change.
Happy Birthday Hanna!! I’ll be…well older in a month too! ;)
IKEA isn’t just in SLC, it’s in DRAPER! i consider that even further than SLC! haha. it’s a long drive for me (i’m in bountiful) but it’s an especially long drive for you! way to go. i love IKEA. but i haven’t visited it on a kids eat free tuesday yet, i guess :) i do always get food when i’m there, though. mmm. if it were closer, i’d probably go there just for dinner and browse through their as-is at least once a week.
Oh my it’s good to know they eventually learn to be good in public because let me tell you going somewhere that isn’t 6 flags or the park can be a total embarrassment of my parenting its like what am I doing wrong… Thanks I totally needed to read this after going out to lunch with them all sand telling then to sit on the bench not stand on it dance in it sit on the table or play with the blinds haha
3 under three. You go girl. I think of you as a super mom who could handle that, though. I often wonder if I could handle two when I’m in those stressful moments with my toddler. I wonder how moms do it. I guess they just do! It’s weird, I don’t even know you but I can tell that your kids have been raised well. :) If you ever want to share your discipline secrets/tips I’d love to hear them! :) Oh and I hope you show us your new work table!! xo
Where I live and in my circle, people don’t START having kids ’till around 32. You are young. More importantly (I kid, but seriously…), you look fabulous. And you all have your health, so there’s that as well.
Hannah sounds divine. I need someone like her in my life. Maybe someday…maybe not…
Love each phase, right? I’m a step ahead of you with my four littles ranging in age from 12 on down to 7. My baby is 7? No WAY is that possible. My big girl becomes a card-carrying member of the teen scene on her next birthday? Tell me it isn’t so. But I love this phase as much, if differently, as I have each phase that preceded it. That’s the beautiful part … don’t you think?
You write THE most beautiful posts about your children….and have the most beautiful littles (or not so littles) too. Always warms my heart to feel the love shared in this family.
This is one of my all-time favorite posts of yours. I love how you write, I love your style. You are such a great mother and inspiration to me.
That was beautiful!
I recently had similar thoughts when I realized how easy it is now to take our boys shopping or out to dinner compared to a few years ago when just a 20 minute trip to the library pushed me to the edge. As a mother, I’m definitely hitting another phase now that my older son is texting and my younger son no longer ‘plays’ with his friends, but ‘hangs out’. When did that happen?!
I am seriously feeling all of these exact feelings right now. My oldest is 8, and I had my first 3 within 3 and a half years, my youngest now is 4, and now I’m finally pregnant with my 4th baby. I keep having those moments where I take them to the mall, or anywhere that a few short years ago was terrifying. Yet, now it’s so easy. My kids seem so big, and well behaved. However, I worry at the park about my kids now being the annoying ones to the moms of the tiny kids. Always something to worry about, right? The change seemed to happen over night, and now Im even more terrified about having this baby, and “starting over”. :) Love your blog so, so much.
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I can completely relate! My oldest will also turn nine next month. I will then have a 9, 7, 5, and 18 month old. I have wanted to borrow a nine year old for years. Now that the time is almost here for me to have my own, I don’t know how to feel. I can relate to feeling old and too young. It’s just such a crazy thing. I hope to take this phase of my family dynamic in stride as well and enjoy all that is has to offer! Love your blog.