how constant are kids?

The hardest thing about having kids is how constant it is. From the minute they wake up in the morning, there is always someone who needs something, or wants something doing, a nappy to change, a name to sew in a jumper, a reading book to do, someone to get dressed, someone to pick up or drop off, someone who wants to tell you something. Even feeding them, as soon as they’ve devoured one meal you have to start thinking about what to feed the four hungry mouths in a few hours time. Then there’s the shopping, just when you think you’ve stocked up for a few days, it’s gone, consumed by four growing girls. The washing is constant too, as soon as you think you’re up-to-date with the washing basket, you can guarantee it’s steadily getting filled again. Cleaning and tidying, well that’s like chasing your tail and never actually catching it. I could spend the day putting things away and tidying but I don’t think I’d ever manage to finish, they can get stuff out faster than I can put it away! Sometimes, I feel like I’m juggling balls in the air and if I ever stop they will all come crashing to the floor. Even when the kids have gone to bed, there is a million (well it feels like a million) things to do and sort out! Does is ever stop? It feels a bit like a rollercoaster that you can’t get off! Sometimes I think, “I’ll do that, when I’ve just got stuff sorted” but what you come to realise is, you never actually get everything sorted, you just have to get on with as much as you can, as best you can and try not to let the rest bother you. Of course, one day, they’ll all fly the nest and leave me wondering what to do with my time! I really don’t know what I did, before I had kids (apart from having a full-time job), did I manage to get things done? Get to the end of a ‘to-do’ list? Instead of being on this constant rolling program of never ending tasks, that never gets completed, but you just keep doing enough to keep the list from overflowing and spiraling out of control.

And why do kids always have to follow you everywhere you go? going to the toilet without a gang of little followers is a distant memory!! If I nip upstairs to put the washing away, very soon afterwards there will be the patter of little people coming up the stairs after me. If I get everyone ready for school, leave them by the front door and say, “Everyone stay here, I’m just going to grab a shopping bag from the back porch,” it’s almost guaranteed that at least two, if not more will follow all the way there and back (you can also guarantee that, because you’re in a hurry, you will swing around quickly, not knowing that someone has followed you, and bang straight into them, then you have to comfort and sort out the onslaught of tears that follow.) Kids also can’t ever give you a minute, if you’re doing something, or on the phone, they will expect you to stop immediately to sort out their wish. If you’re not giving them enough attention, they will sit on you, climb on you, put something in front of your face (I have just removed the balloon Millie has thrust in front of my face) or fiddle with something they know they shouldn’t to ensure you turn your attention back to them!! Okay, rant over….back to cooking tea!!