I have three kids and one of my best friend has five kids. When we get together, which is often, we have eight kids running around. We always like to joke that we bring a party wherever we go. To some people it sounds totally chaotic and to be honest it mostly is chaos. However, it is the kind of chaos I have grown to love. Hearing my girls scream with delight when they see all the other kids that they have known since they were toddlers and infants fills my heart with joy. These two groups of kids have literally grown up together. There comes a point when it is no longer just friends and it becomes family. I can confidently say these people are family.
Yesterday we decided to have all eight kids to our house for a sleepover. I haven't decided if I am crazy or awesome. The party consists of two groups of siblings. Our family has 3 girls ages 8, 5, and 2. The other group of siblings has two older boys 9 years old and 7 years old along with triplet 3 year olds which are two girls and a boy. We have decided to take an old mattress from the basement and set it up in the living room to make a "couch bed". This is actually something that my husband and I used to do when we lived in my parents basement for a short amount of time. We put our second hand sectional couch around the outside of the only mattress we had and made a big comfy sleeping and living area. The kids loved it. Jumping on the bed and jumping on the couch is part of being kids. I am pretty sure that "The Floor Is Lava" was definitely played a few times last evening.
The best thing about having all these kids here is that everyone is entertained. This translates to a mom not having to entertain anyone. While the house may be burning down around me I find solace in the fact that no one is asking me to play with them. I can sit quietly writing this blog while listening to the giggles and the pandemonium. Cleaning up the destruction from all the fun is tomorrow's problem. Times like these are few and precious as a mom. We are constantly craving just a few minutes of not being pulled or touched. Moms are needed all day and every day from everyone that lives here. Dogs, husbands, and children all require our attention, emotion, service, or time. Therefore I am already more relaxed from this sleepover because of the few moments of peace that it has given me.
My wonderful husband has been called away to work late tonight. He will not be home until after 9pm. Honestly it is not that upsetting to not have reinforcements. Having 3 girls that are constantly running around and being crazy is the same amount of chaos as 8 kids running around and being crazy. There will definitely be a little more mess to clean up tomorrow after the others leave but fun will also go with them. Summer gives us more time to spend with those families and friends that we don't get to see because of crazy school schedules. These big kids get to see each other less and less with the business of school and extra activities. Therefore anytime that we can add extra together time during the long summer days is something that I love to do.
I could choose to get stressed out by the extra spills and paper towels being used. I could choose to get upset by some things that might get broken. I could choose to get overwhelmed by all the food that has to be made. However, I choose to embrace and love it all. The decision to allow this to happen and not sweat about it is better for all the people that are involved. All the kids are going to have a fun time and I get to relax on the couch while occasionally getting up to feed 8 constantly hungry children. I love the extra chaos. I love the extra fun. I love the extra kids. I don't think I would want 8 kids in my house everyday but I can do anything for 24 hours. Besides the fun that is had will last a lifetime and that is worth more than any mess that is made in the process.
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