A Reader Asks a Question - Part IX

Part 9 of 10. Yes, there is an ending to this series. BTW, there is an opportunity to win a $50 gift certificate to The Vintage Pearl. There aren't many entries, so what are you waiting for?

Marvelous Megsie ponders: The mast head of your blog subtly tells the reader you've heard many comments about having a large family. What would be a good thing to say when "we" hear some one say that they have a bajillion and a half kids? Is it okay to say, "you must have a big heart" or would you prefer to be asked (again) if they're "all yours"?

Well, we kind of covered this topic this past week with the Redbook article. That being said, I don't have a bigger heart than anyone who has any number of kids, and I have to wonder if people in general wonder if a woman with any number of kids -if those kids are hers. Does that even make sense? What I wonder is, why do people want to know if the kids I have with me are all mine? Does it matter? And I'm not trying to be smarmy, but it has always puzzled me that of alll the things one could chat with me about - they pick the number of kids I have.

I get the argument that You are doing something that is counter culture, so of course people will be curious. Curious shouldn't equal rude, and I know comments often cross the line.

Kind Kait inquires: As someone on the cusp of having a big family, I'm curious about some pretty strange things. Does your dishwasher run constantly? Because we have two kids and we will have four within a year and right now, with just the two kids, our dishwasher (which is older than dirt and will need to be replaced prior to our boys being home) runs at least twice a day.

Hehe. I do dishes allllll day long. I unload the dishwasher in the morning before I get everyone out of bed. We load as we go during the day and if it gets full, I run it. I do a lot of stuff by hand, though - pots and pans, knives, large cups, mixing bowls, skillets, etc - and so maybe my dishwasher doesn't fill up as quickly as yours does. I also got a new one after the first of the year and it holds a LOT. But typically I wash a couple of sinks full of the above during the day, load the rest after dinner and run it right before I go to bed. As far as laundry goes - I change over a load into the dryer before I start unloading the dishwasher, toss in a load of clothes and then start it. I do about 3 loads a day on average.

Curious Christal inquires: With the thought of "with kids & hubby dominating your hours... what do you do for yourself?" I'm guessing it's exercise and read. And with back to school and everything else, are you finding you're doing less and stressing more? Because I'm wondering if that's where your headaches are starting - stress, less sleep, less protein (honestly if he'd only left your roast beef alone...)

I absolutely do for myself every day. I am nuts about it. If I don't get MY time, well, it's not very pleasant around here. I work out every day at lunchtime unless I have too much to do. I work out at least three mornings a week with a couple of guys and a girl from the academy doing Crossfit/Gym Jones stuff. I go running or walking by myself a couple of times a week. I also read. I love to read. I read every single night before I go to sleep. I don't really do much more for myself - unless you count shopping for groceries, lol.I absolutely think you are right about the headaches stemming from the areas of not enough sleep/too much stress/not enough protein. I try to be vigilant in those areas. It doesn't always work.

Splendid Sandy ponders: I would like to hear more on your journey with your health since your melanoma diagnosis. Um, yeah. I'm working on that. I go for my skin checks. I don't avoid the sun. I am the WORST at applying sunblock to myself. I know. I KNOW. Everyone has an area of improvement and this is my achilles heel. Interestingly enough, I have to have a MRI or some such to make sure that there isn't a melanoma related reason for the migraines.

Comments

[addy]

OK, melanoma and migraines is new to me. I need to work on the "me" time. I making progress. Thanks so much for sharing these.

[beth]

I'd put it toward the sterling cuff :)

Pretty stuff! Thanks for sharing!

[Kait]

I'm going to applaud you on your last post, even though I know you don't need affirmation. You (literally) worked your ass off and to have someone discredit that sucks. A lot. Be mad.

But back to my question - seriously? I'll be doing dishes and laundry for the rest of my life won't I?

[A Simple Twist of Faith]

I agree, we as Moms, all need some "me" time. I guess exercise and my blog are my "me" time. I also like meeting friends one on one for coffee,although that hasn't happened for awhile. My husband usually takes my girls for a couple hours on the weekend. Unfortunately, due to poor planning on my part, this weekend I spent that "me" time at the grocery store. Not fun.

[MamaCas]

On the subject of "large" families (I have 4 kids. Apparently that's an ASTRONOMICAL number of offspring, depending on who you talk to.) At the school yard one day, a mother with 2 boys turned to her friend and said, with genuine disgust in her voice, "It should be a LAW that people can only have 2 kids." Yes, she knew I was standing right next to her and could hear every word she said.

I'm always left scratching my head, though, at the people who have 3 kids and seem completely STUNNED when they find out I have 4. Three kids are a lot of work....is one more kid going to put them right over the edge or something?