Having kids from 11, 7, 6, 5, and 2 makes for a real juggling act sometimes. Especially since my 3 in the middle have some special needs. We try to do things that give each of the kids special one-on-one time, but it's still difficult sometimes. During the week, each kid has a day of the week where it is their day to run errands with the parents if we have to go to the store or do stuff like that. That's our special time with just that one child. However, my 6 year old goes to therapy 2-3 times a week and the others view that at not always fair. We're trying to juggle everything and make it as fair as possible. However, I know too that they're not always going to see things as fair and I'm slowly accepting that is ok too. Some of my kids have more "needs" than others and we have to address that too. We do a lot of explaining around here on why things are the way that they are and for the most part the kids are accepting of that. The little ones don't always think it's fair that my oldest gets to do the things that she does, but that's just a perk of being older or sometimes I go out with her so that we can focus on "big girl" talks that the little ones aren't ready for. That type of thing. And of course, the baby gets attention because she's the baby. My 7-year-old asked me the other day when we were going to go back to doing certain things with me and I was surprised to find that she missed doing the theraplay attachment games that we were doing. I told her that we could start doing that again next week. We try to have a family game night and a family movie night during the week too so that we're still bonding as a family and the kids have family nights to look forward too as well. But, I am finding that they like their time that is set aside especially for them as well. We're not always perfect with it...there are some times where we just go with the flow as lots is going on during the week, but we really try to make it where they have their own special day of the week and where we're doing our family themed nights as well. There are of course times where Andy and I need time to ourselves too or to do our own things as well so we don't burn out either. It's all a juggling act balancing 5 kids...2 bios and 3 adopted...2 without special needs and 3 with...but I'm also learning that God helps me to balance it all when I let Him guide me too. Things go so much easier when I just let Him lead me and fill me up. And I love it when I hear affirmations from my kids that they appreciate their own special time with us and time with our family too. It can get out of balance sometimes, but God is good at helping me balance it back out when I just listen to Him.
God, thank You so much for helping me in this juggling act and thank You for filling me back up when I need You so that I have it "inside" to give back to my children and family. Thank You for guiding me in my parenting journey and for helping me to help my children each feel special and unique and to enjoy our time together. Amen
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