Reader Question: Four kids?

"How hard is it to have four children? Do you find that it's impossible to go places or that your life has changed tremendously going from two to three or from three to four?" [This reader will have 4 children 4 and under.]

Hmm.... It's funny to think about how hard or easy it is to have four children because once they are here they are here for better or worse! Our situation is different than yours because we have a pair of "big" kids and a pair of "little" kids. You will have four littles. In some ways, I think that will be in your favor. You can do one activity that will be exciting and fun for ALL of your kids because they are all close in age!

I've always heard that going from 2 to 3 is the hardest because you go from "man to man" to "zone" defence! I think I agree with that. Going from 3 to 4 evened things out. With 3 kids it seemed that we always had someone left out--either our girl, or the baby of the family.

Going from 3 to 4 has been quite the transition, but I think that has more to do with the dynamics of our particular family than because of adding one more child. Kendi came home when Eric was really worn out from dialysis last September. Then his transplant occurred in January. That era was much more stressful than we thought it would be. The first year after a transplant is pretty involved with doctor's appointments. No lie--it was very trying to take 4 kids to 3 hours appointments 3-5 times a week for 3 months!

I don't at all feel like life is difficult taking four kids. We all pretty much go everywhere together. It's always been that way. We grocery shop as a family of six. Little ducklings! The kids know how to walk in a line or all touch the basket as we shop. Just a matter of teaching them the procedures. You'll do great! It will be busy, but don't forget to savor all of the little moments you have throughout the day. I so wish I would have taken more times to savor every moment of when my big kids were little ones.