Of course, in just over four short months, that will all come to a screeching halt. And truth be told, I'm a little scared. You would think that after four kids I'd have it down and be the model of confidence. For so many years babies and toddlers ruled my hours and consumed my world. I intentionally spaced my four about two years apart and just kept plugging away. I'd been doing that for so many years it has molded my reality. Now, as I face my fifth baby, I realize it's been several years since I've had a toddler...and a lot has changed.
Not all the changes are bad ones. I may be spoiled right now with a little more freedom, but this will be the first time I'll have a baby with siblings old enough to experience it with me. With all my other kids being older, I won't have to struggle with a baby in one arm and two toddlers throwing fits in different directions. Most of my kids are old enough to actually go to the toilet when they need to vomit, so I won't have to worry about multiple kids vomiting through the night on multiple beds and carpets (something that is a reality when you have multiple small children). That's a plus, right?
I'm also excited that my two oldest happen to be girls and can't wait to dote on the new baby. I know quite a lot of older siblings that resented being given so much responsibility with the other kids; some even to the extent that they don't want a large family, or kids of their own at all, because they feel like they already did so much to raise their siblings. Because of this, I'm very careful to allow my older kids the right to still be kids and I try very hard not to over-tax them. They aren't the parent, after all. As they do get more responsibility, I'm careful to help them understand that they also get greater privileges so there is a balance. Thus I hope to help them learn responsibility without getting resentful. That being said, I still think it will be great fun to have some little helpers around. I might even go as far as teaching them how to change a diaper. Seems like a good idea to me...