The
beauty of having older kids is no one wakes me up in the morning except the
dog. As a matter of fact, I sometimes forget they’re home at all. It usually
occurs to me around 11:00am because I either want to do something and the
driveway is chocked full of cars that must be rearranged before I can reach mine
OR dirty clothes magically appear in the laundry room during traditional sleeping hours
(we are awake simultaneously for about 11-13 hours per day). Or the breadcrumb trails left throughout the kitchen and family
room after midnight.
On the plus side, they’ll willingly (within reason) run
errands for me, walk the dog, unload the dishwasher, etc., etc.
The
biggest difference, and what I forget in the time between their last visit home, is the shift
in decision-making dynamics. They are mature-ish creatures of an extremely headstrong and opinionated nature. I
suppose they’ve always been this way.
Historically
and for the most part, our parenting style has been a dictatorship. Although I
still think it’s fair to govern this way, it doesn’t go as smoothly as it once
did. Everything is deemed discussable (and negotiable), which then
leads some to believe we’re running a democracy. They think we vote on things. We, my husband and I, don’t. But then
this happens…
“I
agree with Daddy.” Or “Dad, Mom’s right.” Or “We don’t think so.”
We can feel the fault lines shift especially if there are an odd number of us involved. The “two against one” phenomena occurs. The playing field tilts when sides are taken
and someone is odd man out unless all four of us are present. That typically turns
out two against two then half the family is unhappy or disappointed or miffed.
Life
with little kids is physically exhausting.
Life
with adult(ish) children is mentally exhausting.
Nothing is perfect.
Believe
me, we still haven't figured it out but I have no problem resorting to “because I said so” or outlandish and
empty threats of punishment (especially if I’m woken during the night which I do not like) in a pinch as evidenced below.
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| When 5 boys spend the night... |
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| And I didn't hear a peep! |
