Ahhhh, spring fever is in the air!! With double digit temps & some sorely needed sunshine finally coming our way, you just can’t help but have a “spring” in your step!! The kids have gladly ditched their winter coats for lighter gear & spent every possible second available to them outside…& as any mother knows, THAT is the true joy of spring…kicking your brats OUTSIDE where they can trash whatever the hell they want! My big kids came home today having made plans for THE neighbourhood park, the million dollar extravaganza recently added that can delight & entertain kids of all ages for hours at a time, & that is, invariably, full of kids we all know. As fantastic as this is, on a boring day, it’s still a couple of blocks away….an easy walk or bike ride that my 2 oldest have finally been allowed to do on their own since last summer, but obviously The Diva & The Baby cannot. So despite having done this for 12 straight 
years, I am still in that rotten position of having to go with, staring at nothing, twiddling my thumbs, endlessly pushing The Baby on the swing or following her all over the equipment. Though I do have a few tricks up my sleeve for getting out of this….having the big kids keep their yaps shut as I sneak them out the door before the other 2 catch on, or begging & bribing my other kids to take turns pushing The Baby & following her around while I play on my Crackberry! Alas, I seem to suffer from massive doses of “mom” guilt, far more than most I think, so it’s rare that I’m able to climb out from under that long enough to mess with my kids. First off, I can’t help but feel guilty for The Baby being at home all day, inside, without her siblings, especially right now after a long winter cooped up & fresh air & sunshine finally arriving on the scene, just calling her name! Then, I see my big kids gazing longingly at their friends & siblings when it’s their turn with The Baby, & I can’t barely stand for the weight of the guilt…so within minutes, I’m shooing them away, & taking over once again. Kids should be kids….it was my own foolishness that I neglected to take in to account the 15 plus straight years of constant hands on mothering that would accompany 4 rug rats & slowly drain the life right out of me. I’m loathe to ever ditch my little ones on my big ones. It’s a cop out….they are NOT her parent.
Sunshine & Lollipops!
So it was that today I found myself giving in to the spring fever, with all 4 yard apes, & a slew of their friends, at the park after school. Though it had crossed my mind to sneak the big kids out without the wee girls, word spread before I had a chance to quash the gossip amongst siblings….& of course, there’s the guilt. Crackberry in hand, off we went. And as it turns out, the fresh air & sunshine were just what we ALL needed! Such a fabulous afternoon, finally being outside after so many months! Even better? The Baby is quite a bit older than our last visit, & wasn’t nearly the pest to her siblings as last summer, nor did she require having me follow each & every step she took. We were also blessed
with the company of some of my “other” kids, as well as various & a sundry friends from school. Given that my “other” kids have known our family for years, they are always happy to help out & just outright play with my littler girls, & I was once again reminded what a nice boy my son is, when he & his friends, a bunch of 11 & 12 year old boys, spent most of their time with the girls as well, including pushing The Baby on the swing for the better part of an hour….& it warms my heart to see him choose such great kids for friends. Most of them have neither younger siblings, nor sisters, yet my girls are fortunate to be watched over & cared for by many “big” brothers. The Baby was squealing in delight to be the centre of such attention, & to have so many people willing to indulge her obsession with the swings, & though I would usually be bored out of my skull, & making noises to leave well before the first hour is up, we stayed for more than 2 hours, playing soccer, exploring the walking path & forests, & running around the playground. Me & about a dozen delightful little yard apes! Of course, all of that fun & fresh air have yet another benefit….SLEEP! Yes, all the kidlets in bed asleep, quickly & easily, & even a little bit early! Hopefully I will be able to hang on to this memory of our first visit of the year, when, by the time August hits, I find myself dreading yet another “boring” afternoon at the park! Thank God I have all that “mom” guilt to keep me going back, I’d hate to miss out on all the fun!
Signed,
The Mayor!
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes spring has sprung finally. While I can’t complain about the lack of snow we had this winter I am so glad to see the sun shining and being able to go outside with a hoodie and vest on.
The single child has been enjoying the playground n0t only at school but the one that is right outside our front door. I have had to drag him in to eat and as soon as he is done he is back out until dark. He is loving it!
I think it’s really nice that you don’t think of your older kids as built-in designated babysitters for the younger ones. I mean, it’s fine to have them help out, but I always think that parents that assume it’s their older kids’ ‘job’ to look after the younger ones are sort of jerks — like you said, they didn’t choose to have the kids.
Eve had a similar swing obsession to your Baby. I actually really preferred pushing her on the swing for an hour to the sitting and thumb-twiddling (I don’t have a blackberry). My son is allowed to go to the park alone now, and she’s pushing for it. Haven’t the heart to tell her she doesn’t have a hope in hell for the next couple years.
Just have to say it again. Four kids. Whew. Hats off.
@Allison..She had four because she lost most of her mind after the first one and lost what little she had after the second one. That’s why she has four. Tee hee
Not many things more relaxing than just swinging on the porch during perfect weather!
Love the spring cartoon.
Twitter: CTMayor
March 10, 2010 at 6:52 pm
LOL @ Allison….yeah, some days I really wonder what I was thinking…hahahahaha!! But no, I have never felt right putting too much on my big kids. The boy will watch them while I run to the grocery store here or there, & I may holler at them to pour juice for a little one or help them get on to their Webkinz acct., but honestly, that’s the extent of it….though it would be nice if the brats would do more chores, THAT’S like pulling teeth LOL!!
And yes, I think we are allll soooo ready for spring, & being outside, frsh air, sunshine, kids playing….SO EXCITED!!!