evan, lindsay, nina, elena and esther

This weekend I became a single mom of at first one, then four children. Luckily single mom-dom was temporary. My appreciation for single moms is off the roof.

HOW DO THEY DO IT.

HOW DO THEY DO IT!?

I didn't have a single break (even after they went to bed) until the third day when I got a raging migraine in the middle of the day and was rescued by a very very kind woman from my sister's ward. She herded the four munchkins over to her house while I took a nap. I don't think single moms ever have breaks. So props to a friend & old roomate of mine Cassie's mom was a single mom with 13 kids. (unbeleivable. HEROIC.)

I'd been planning this adventure for months and so when Evan got busy and went to San Francisco I decided to keep my plans. I figured, "four days by myself with these kids isn't that big a deal, but the break for my sister is" so I'm really glad I got to do it. They kicked my butt but I love my three nephews.

I just ask myself: WHY didn't I think to do this type of thing for Cassy before Nina was born? I guess I didn't see the opportunity because I hadn't experienced the challenges of parenting myself. I wish I had thought of doing this sooner, I'm sure it would have been a huge help to Cassy & Don in the past, and I could have spent time with the boys. Hindsight is 20/20 right?

This experience was timely for me. 7 months on the parenting train myself, 3 weeks into a job mentoring young children, I can't think of better experience than this to put into practice the flood of parenting information I've been discovering lately. And it's so importnat, because it will ultimately be the most important thing I will do in my lifetime, shaping the future of another person's life. Two weeks ago I started reading books like "1-2-3 Magic" and the Baby Whisperer's Toddler book, and here I am with my own case study to put what I've been learning in practice. Heavenly Father couldn't be cleverer. I didn't even see this life curriculum coming, even after I had been praying to be prepared to be a good mom for Nina. Needless to say, I've got a LOOONG way to go to really learn these things, but I feel like it's POSSIBLE.

I leave you with a question to ponder from five year old Spencer:

"What time do bees have dinner?"