Intro

I do not have any kids of my own yet, but you do not have to, to have experiences being a Mom. My time to be a full-time Mom hasn't started yet, but I have had both smaller and larger doses of what it takes. I grew up as the oldest of 6 kids. I had my own hobbies, but family was an important aspect of my life too. I helped raise one of my siblings one summer. She was still a toddler and nursing, but my Aunt was diagnosed with cancer and my Mom took it upon herself to be the one to help her find platelet donors. She had an extremely rare blood type, so, as a result my Mom was on the phone a lot, and couldn't converse very well if my sister was upset and crying. I had babysat before, so it wasn't my first experience with kids, but it was my first larger dose. My summer was spent on my sister, or my Aunt's kids (my cousins) while she was in the hospital, or going to the bathroom. I had very little personal time besides going to the bathroom. (I'm sure there's moms that can relate to that).

My second larger dose was in Utah. I picked up a job as a nanny, part-time, while going to school. I admired the Mom. She felt her talent was in raising kids- and she was very talented in that. So after she raised 6 kids of her own, she adopted 9 more. She adopted them 2 at a time, adding as she felt she could handle more. Unfortunately, when she added the "last 2" some of the other kids started acting out. One had been neglected before adoption, and symptoms that resulted from that were starting to show up. Another girl also started showing similar signs of acting out due to neglect when a baby. And all were diagnosed with ADHD, not just ADD. At this time she was contacted saying there was another little boy, related to one of her girls, who was going to be put up for adoption. They usually try first to keep family members together. The Mom decided one more couldn't hurt. So the last, the 9th adopted and 15th kid was brought in, and was diagnosed with Autism. Somewhere towards the last few she realized she needed just a little more help. So if she had to shuttle kids to doctors appointments, someone could be with the youngest three. Or someone could help clean up after all the active kids while another could play, or help with homework. It was because of this that I was blessed to get to know and help out with this family.

My third larger dose is now. Saturday is my only full day of no kids. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, in the mornings, I help with twin girls that are nwo 4 months old. Monday through Friday in the afternoons, I help with triplet boys that are 6 years old. And Sunday, for 2 hours at church (by far my lightest day) I help with all the kids between 18 months and 3 years old. We average 9-10 kids a week. And I am learning a lot. Comments, insights on current problems I'm facing are appreciated, otherwise, just enjoy reading- I hope you learn something from what I try, and/or my mistakes.