I feel like a fraud whenever someone says to me, wow, you’re such a supermom, four kids under the age of five, blogging, writing, all the social media-ing – how do you do it? You are amazing!
I am not amazing. I am an ordinary human being, who is incredibly blessed. I have help and support on a daily basis. I DON’T do it all, and I certainly don’t do it alone. (Though I do manage a daily shower, regardless.)
My husband is incredible. He takes the boys to school and picks them up every day. We are lucky that his working hours are flexible and he works from home a lot. He is also very aware of the amount of work it takes to take care of four kids, and he pitches in where he can, mostly with the older two. On weekends, he takes the boys out so they stay entertained and get fed (heh). He also buys me lunch most days, and comes home with treats (think doughnuts, chocolate, ice cream, cupcakes! Also the reason why I have no chance of losing the rest of this baby weight). He’s even been doing the grocery shopping – he’s a keeper!
I have great in-laws, who live five minutes walk away. The older two head over every evening for a couple of hours, so their dinner (and entertainment) is taken care of. My mother-in-law comes over every Sunday morning for two hours to look after the twins, so I can actually leave the house and be with the rest of my family. It’s a sanity saver.
Housekeeper – I’ve got one five days a week, from 8.30 am to 3.30pm. She does all the cleaning and laundry, and sometimes, helps me with the babies. It’s always handy to have an extra pair of hands when you have twins. We are SO lucky that domestic help here is affordable, and I lucked out with J. She’s been working for us since mid-September (right after the twins were born), and the boys like her. She’s incredible, and I’m so glad I don’t have to worry about chores. Except for weekends – I still do laundry and (minimal) cleaning, just enough to stave off the filth.
And? My boys are really good big brothers. They don’t begrudge the attention I have to give the twins (though yes, there is some acting up on occasion). They have each other (thank goodness), and though they bicker and fight, for the most part, they are really good about playing on their own and entertaining each other. Fortunately, they have no activities outside of school, except for my oldest son’s weekly speech therapy sessions.
So you see, I don’t do it all. I am mostly nursing, rocking, holding, cuddling and photographing the twins. I steal some time to hang out with the older boys when I can, and at night, I watch TV with my husband, each holding a baby. When all is quiet like now, I write.
I am just an ordinary person, with an extraordinary family.
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