And rounder than ever.
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Friday, July 29, 2016
Thursday, July 21, 2016
We Chose This
Brian & I are going to have four kids. Four kids!
Within our Catholic circle of friends, this is nothing. Most of them have five or more kids. Most of them drive big suburbans, their minivans are completely full, or they cruise around in full sized vans. Usually all of their kids are involved in the same activity because there isn't enough time in the day to drive each kid to his or her own sport or music lesson. I have a friend who describes her seven children as having a "herd mentality" meaning they have a hard time doing things without their brothers and sisters. I think this way of life is awesome.
To my secular friends, having four kids seems crazy. I could never do that, I hear them say. Or two is enough for me. Once in awhile, I feel like some of them need to justify to me why they only have one or two kids. We would have had more, but not in this economy. Our neighbor once said to me, I only wanted two kids so I can provide for them. Each of their kids have their own (fill in the blank). They go on awesome vacations. They are not chasing kids around at the baseball field. It's a lot easier finding a babysitter for two kids. Believe me, I get it. Occasionally, I get someone looking at me with pitiful eyes, Oh, you poor thing. Or, I don't know how you do it. My personal favorite is: Better you than me.
I don't fault my secular friends for saying any of this or let what they say bother me. Because it doesn't. My husband and I chose this life. Have zero kids. Have fifteen kids. I really don't care. I don't even think one is better than the other. Bottom line- it's a decision between you, your husband, and God. What bothers me is the third (and probably the most important) person is usually left out of that equation.
Unfortunately, this is the way modern culture teaches us to think. One or two kids is plenty, and maybe it is for some families. Working mothers are more important. Stay at home moms are looked down upon. Women who don't have careers must be unfulfilled. These moms must be bored. They must be lazy. It must be nice to sit at home all day and do nothing. What do moms who stay at home do all day?
I'll tell you want I do all day: I work my ass off. From the moment my family wakes up until they go to sleep I am fulfilling needs and wants. I am cleaning, cooking, washing, chasing, wiping, teaching, driving, playing, laughing (some days crying), praying, feeding, balancing, yelling, folding, carrying, planning, organizing, helping, bathing, and even growing people. I work harder than I ever have in my life. At the end of the day, I am exhausted. I do these things so someone else doesn't have to. I do them so my husband can have a great career that provides for our family so I can stay home and raise these people to be decent human beings who love their siblings. I do these things to make sure my family is taken care of. I do all of these things because no one else does them better than a mother.
Yes, some days suck. Really, really suck. But most days are great. Right now Helen and I are reading 'The BFG" and loving it. I get to watch Martin excel in his athletics. Peter is surprising me with new words everyday. We are lucky enough to have another baby.
To be honest, I don't know how we do it, but we do. And (most days) it's great.
School supply shopping.
Within our Catholic circle of friends, this is nothing. Most of them have five or more kids. Most of them drive big suburbans, their minivans are completely full, or they cruise around in full sized vans. Usually all of their kids are involved in the same activity because there isn't enough time in the day to drive each kid to his or her own sport or music lesson. I have a friend who describes her seven children as having a "herd mentality" meaning they have a hard time doing things without their brothers and sisters. I think this way of life is awesome.
To my secular friends, having four kids seems crazy. I could never do that, I hear them say. Or two is enough for me. Once in awhile, I feel like some of them need to justify to me why they only have one or two kids. We would have had more, but not in this economy. Our neighbor once said to me, I only wanted two kids so I can provide for them. Each of their kids have their own (fill in the blank). They go on awesome vacations. They are not chasing kids around at the baseball field. It's a lot easier finding a babysitter for two kids. Believe me, I get it. Occasionally, I get someone looking at me with pitiful eyes, Oh, you poor thing. Or, I don't know how you do it. My personal favorite is: Better you than me.
I don't fault my secular friends for saying any of this or let what they say bother me. Because it doesn't. My husband and I chose this life. Have zero kids. Have fifteen kids. I really don't care. I don't even think one is better than the other. Bottom line- it's a decision between you, your husband, and God. What bothers me is the third (and probably the most important) person is usually left out of that equation.
Unfortunately, this is the way modern culture teaches us to think. One or two kids is plenty, and maybe it is for some families. Working mothers are more important. Stay at home moms are looked down upon. Women who don't have careers must be unfulfilled. These moms must be bored. They must be lazy. It must be nice to sit at home all day and do nothing. What do moms who stay at home do all day?
I'll tell you want I do all day: I work my ass off. From the moment my family wakes up until they go to sleep I am fulfilling needs and wants. I am cleaning, cooking, washing, chasing, wiping, teaching, driving, playing, laughing (some days crying), praying, feeding, balancing, yelling, folding, carrying, planning, organizing, helping, bathing, and even growing people. I work harder than I ever have in my life. At the end of the day, I am exhausted. I do these things so someone else doesn't have to. I do them so my husband can have a great career that provides for our family so I can stay home and raise these people to be decent human beings who love their siblings. I do these things to make sure my family is taken care of. I do all of these things because no one else does them better than a mother.
Yes, some days suck. Really, really suck. But most days are great. Right now Helen and I are reading 'The BFG" and loving it. I get to watch Martin excel in his athletics. Peter is surprising me with new words everyday. We are lucky enough to have another baby.
To be honest, I don't know how we do it, but we do. And (most days) it's great.
Monday, July 11, 2016
Typical Logue Fashion
There are ten to twelve weeks left before this baby is born.
We have the baptismal date scheduled at our parish. We have (finally) decided on Godparents.
What else is there?
Oh yeah....names.
We'll get there.
Having the forth baby is a lot different than having the first.
Friday, July 8, 2016
Adventures With The Grandparents
We just got home from our annual trip to Northwest Indiana. Boy, were we busy! We met Brian at Notre Dame, celebrated the 4th of July, took a trip to Chicago, did a little fishing, but most of all, we just spent some much needed family time together. I'm not sure if my parents would agree, but this year's trip seemed a lot shorter than years past.
Martin getting a welding lesson from my dad.
Busted! Dump trucks in grammy's plant?
Enjoying bubbles in the beautiful weather.
Peter & my dad snoozing to Led Zeppelin.
Spending time at the park while Martin & my dad make their 100th trip to the hardware store.
Swings are his favorite.
Fishing with daddy.
Helen was getting into it.
Until she caught a fish...
Take note to Brian's jeans.
Someone slipped into the mud. I laughed a lot harder than he did.
Pete loves worms.
Martin caught a delicious bass.
Here's my ten year old son lighting fireworks on the 4th of July.
Helen only likes sparklers. That is a big step for her.
Here is my father and my son lighting a handful of sparklers over a pile of unlit fireworks.
Apparently, safety isn't a concern?
My dad & Helen enjoying a slice of pizza in Chicago.
Dining at the American Girl Doll restaurant on Michigan Avenue.
Jess, does this bring back memories?
My dad making his famous bunny cloth napkin puppet.
Can anyone find Helen?
I can't.
Twins!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
