Parenting 3under3 - Closely Spaced Children

Sometimes A Mom Needs A Little Help From Above

2007-07-19T19:38:00.000-07:00

Having children close in age is challenging and rewarding. If you are anything like me, at times you find you scratch your head and wonder, "Am I doing the right thing?" One thing I have noticed a lot of moms and dads with closely spaced kids share in common is a lack of time, whether you lack time with your partner, time alone, or time to follow your dreams.

Amber Humphreys is a mother of a one-year old son and three-year old daughter, and knows how hard it can be to juggle work and children.

Whether you believe in God, Spirit, Buddha, Krishna, Kuan Yin, Mother Mary, Guardian Angels... no matter your belief, I strongly believe we all have in us the ability to seek help from above. Now, I will admit, during tough times in my life I have sought help not only in the form of prayer, but also from an intuitive or spiritual guide (psychic reader, tarot reader, whatever you want or believe, angel reading).

Don't stop reading. Listen, when you struggle, sometimes it is hard to hear the messages your angels have for you, and even if you have no belief, I promise there are people that can intuitively help you. Sure, there are a lot of people that have limited abilities or claim to have some and seem to have none.

And then, there are people like Amber, who never ceases to amaze me. Everything she predicts has come true. She is kind and gentle, and uses her gifts to help guide others in an empathic and loving way. Her only goal is to help bring positive guidance to others. If you are struggling with parenting, or life, or your career, or just want someone kind to talk to, someone that will not take you for a ride, why not try it?

And yes, I know what you may think, what about money? We all worry about money. But do not. There are people that will take your money and run, but if you want to spend your money well, then seek help from Spirit from someone who will not waste your time. In less than 5 minutes your eyes will open and you may learn astonishing things. I'm sure you will hear me talk a lot more about Amber in the future. And money is available to us all when we learn not to worry and find gratitude for all the goodness and wealth we have in our lives. When you think positively, you attract more to you.

Like all of us, Amber is a mother raising her children and working a job, albeit for some an unusual one as a psychic reader.

If you are having trouble, whether you have a question about your child's education (I have), or your relationship (ditto), or your career (yes, don't we all?) and you find you feel stressed and seek clear guidance, I encourage you to pray, to follow whatever beliefs you have, and consider giving Amber the opportunity to help you see a bit more clearly. And I say this freely, I am not an affiliate, I have met people on the site she works with that have not read well, I just am amazed at what a beautiful and kind, spiritual and loving human being she is, and thought I would send you her link. I now you all have asked for help, so I thought I would give you the best you can get.

New Association In The Works for Parents of Closely Spaced Siblings

2007-04-18T16:49:00.000-07:00

Parents, the time has almost come! After much work and effort, I am getting closer to launching the new International Association for Parents of Closely Spaced Siblings. Please VISIT and see what we are up to. It will be a community for parents to share their insights, questions, concerns, books, articles and more. We will eventually ask for advisory board members and provide a panel of experts. There will be lots of FREE (our favorite word) information, and various membership levels eventually built in to offer more opportunities to parents looking for opportunities to expand their career, family, relationships and more.

Get on the mailing list now, so I can keep you updated about the latest events! Finally, a community dedicated to parents like you, parents with multiples, with closely spaced kids... parents with big families... and big responsibilities!

To our growth, our community and our success!

Busy Moms Get Busier

2007-04-05T15:50:00.000-07:00

Are you someone like me that tries to juggle a home business, family and complete your degree? It seems to me like busy moms just get busier. Well, having worked in the freelance writing industry for a long time, I have learned one important thing.

If you want to succeed, you have to follow your passion. One book I find inspiring that teaches you to do just that is Ordinary People, Extraordinary Income

If I am not inspiring enough (laugh), then read about how other people are really making it happen. It sounds like too much, I know. But if you give it a chance, I really believe you can do just about anything.

Try it and see for yourself. What have you got to lose? I used to think I didn't need a library of tools to learn anything. Now I know better. The more I learn from other people, the better my business becomes.

So I guess I have more studying to do. What does that mean? I am a busy mom getting a lot busier!

My home, the vomitorium...

2007-03-26T12:35:00.000-07:00

I am not sure that "vomitorium" is a real word, but I will use it to describe my home during the past few weeks. It seems all of my children at some point contracted some form of the dreaded flu where it comes out one end or the other. With the exception of my son Colin. I think he just chewed on a dirty sponge (yes, I admit, it happens) and maybe ate a bad bug or two.

Sounds awful, I'm sure. I find I am increasingly behind in work, school and most importantly fun. Fortunately, this weekend I had some time to catch up work. I am now right about where I need to be. I will catch up on school in the next two days. Thankfully I am enjoying the ability to take classes when I have the time. Online education... it's the only way to go.

I still need to carve out time to automate by business. That is my goal. Right now I am spending too much time in my business and not on my business. I have plans to expand my current business to include a new society or association, an idea I am still crafting. I am still ironing out the name.

It will expand on this blog naturally, and create support for parents like you and me that struggle with the day-to-day.

That leaves me with just one last assignment... FUN. I have to find a way to find some fun. On that note, I am taking the rest of the afternoon off (or the 40 minutes I have before the kids come home) to steep outside for a jog. It is after all, a beautiful day for a change...

How Busy Can A Parent Be?

2007-02-02T11:44:00.000-08:00

I am taking one of the hardest classes at AJU, Business Law. This isn't employment law, which I am familiar with. We are talking law related to large businesses and corporations, which I am not. However, you do need to know as much information as possible when you run your own business.

I am so busy right now. I am juggling my work schedule, my very hard class (which takes up a lot of time) and three sick children. The illness of late seems to be a stomach bug, with yucky stuff coming out of both ends. What does that mean for me? More laundry, more sheets to change, more "poo" to clean up and three grumpy children. I have to swing a doctor's appointment today at 3pm for the girls, and the boy is set up next week.

I am also working on expanding my business. I took my one book down on bipolar disorder, because I want to make some radical changes to it as I have been working with a new expert MD and PHD who specializes in this area and knows of many natural treatment choices.

I am working on expanding my other site that will feature my book on how to get started as a writer and make full time wages working part time hours even if you are as busy as me. I am starting a free newsletter for this site. So if you are interested in receiving it, just click here and off you go to my contact us page. Just let me know you are interested in the free newsletter and I'll sign you up. Wonderful free information on how to get started in the industry and keep your sanity.

My first class.... an A+ effort!

2007-01-06T10:49:00.000-08:00

Well, I just finished my first class at Brian Tracy College of Business and Entrepreneurship at Andrew Jackson University. I am delighted to say... I got an A! I never expected that. This class was really helpful and revealing for me. It allowed me to fine-tune my business plan for my business and come up with some new approaches for expanding my business in the future. I still love the fact that I can learn online anytime I want to.

We are still surrounded in snow here. The kids are doing terrific, despite having a touch of cabine fever. It's funny, we're surrounded in snow and my sister, who lives in Maryland, is enjoying 75 degree weather (unusually warm for this time of year). Is it global warming (or cooling?). Who knows.

Colin just popped his first few teeth and is happy as a clam. I can' believe how fast he is growing. I think he will be much like Hannah, who started walking at just 10 months old. Children never cease to amaze me with their ability and fascination with the world.

The Blizzard

2006-12-27T19:02:00.000-08:00

For anyone that doesn’t know, Colorado was hit with a major blizzard of late. For me that meant 3 days of no help with the kids, and cabin fever. The snow was too cold to take the little ones out for too long. I found myself neck deep in assignments that piled up while I was too busy watching the kids to work. Of course, the Christmas holiday through me back even further. One thing I WAS grateful for was the ability to take classes ONLINE through Andrew Jackson University. Thank goodness for that. If I had to snowshoe through the snow to get to CSU, I don’t know what I would do. I am now working on my final project for my first class, Business Growth Strategies. What I learned is there are a lot of different ways to look at a business and your customer. What works for one may not for another. Keep that in mind when you are doing your own thing or setting your own goals. We are all in this together, but we can all do it differently and still have a good time.

Any time is the right time to go to school

2006-12-18T14:58:00.000-08:00

I just threw an informal Christmas party yesterday with some close friends. One friend of mine postponed her studies while in College to have her son. She now has a 10 year old and a 6 year old. She decided to finish her Bachelor's degree and pursue her desire to become a nurse.

It's never too late to go back to school. Online university's like http://aju.edu make it easy for working parents to go to school, work and juggle a family.

We all go through stressful periods in our lives. It is important we give our children the love and attention they deserve, but it is also important we follow our dreams. This is true whether your dreams involve getting an Associate's, Bachelor Degree, Master's or even a Certificate proving your competency.

How do you fit it all in? It's tough. This past week all three kids were sick with runny noses and coughs. At times they were up most of the night again. But eventually, we all caught up on our sleep and made it through.

Don't give up your dreams when you have children. Having children may be part of your dreams. Just figure out ways to carve out time for your personal as well as your family pursuits. That way, you will lead a rich and rewarding life.

Good Grades Rolling In

2006-11-29T11:43:00.000-08:00

I recently have been the busiest I've been in my life. As you remember in my last post I prepared for my midterm from AJU. The good news is I got an A. Hurray! Sometimes I get so worried I will not do well in between watching the kids, working and studying.

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving break. This year I give thanks for my beautiful children, for my family visit (I haven't seen my family in a year) and for the opportunity to complete my education.

While trying to juggle my family visit, I still managed to find time to work on a couple of small projects and get my courses done. How? Time management. Prioritization. It is the only way. I have to work a set schedule, meaning setting aside specific hours to "work" "study" and "play."

If you find yourself struggling to find time, ask for help. My family pitched in while here (a welcome change having some help) so I could finish my studies on time and write a few articles. Normally I don't have much in the way of help.

What do you do when you don't have help? Get up early. Stay up late. Do what has to be done. But always, above all else, remain positive. Always look to the light at the end of the tunnel, because it is usually there, sometimes you just have to look a bit harder to find it!

My First Midterm

2006-11-03T09:31:00.000-08:00

I just completed my first midterm for my class at AJU, Business Growth Strategies. I have to admit, I am a bit nervous.

I did put my all into it. We've had quite a busy day here at the homefront, what with family pictures, sick children and of course, lots and lots of writing projects. I like to stay busy. It is a good thing I have a lot of energy.

What helped me this time around was a lot of planning. I started planning for my midterm two weeks in advance, because it is worth so much of my grade, I didn't want to flub it up. I also planned that the kids may be sick.

Erik was working last M-Thursday, so for the most part I was home alone 24/7. It is a blessing and a curse. A blessing because I can stay up later working without feeling guilty, and a curse because I have so much more work to do without much help.

But remember, if I can do it, you can too! Check out my latest site, ConsummateCash to find out more about what I do and how you can do it too :)

Finding Time To Study

2006-10-27T09:46:00.000-07:00

Thank the good Lord for online classes. Andrew Jackson University, an accredited online University is my top choice for online education. Check out the study method offered. Their courses are just like a traditional university only you can study online on your time.

Thank goodness for that. In the last few weeks I have had multiple doctor's appointments, many sick children and about three thousand (or so it seems) freelance writing projects I've committed to. Lately I have focused my attention on writing sales and marketing material. I love writing on business, sales and marketing because it pays well and I have a lot of experience in this arena.

One thing that IS very important to me while studying and working is ensuring I have enough time to enjoy my family and children while still young. Before you know it, they will grow up and move out, enjoying their own lives.

Speaking of children, my oldest daughter Hannah (who will be three in December) said the cutest thing the other day. We just finished watching finding NEMO. Now, my daughter has a good friend at school, his name is Max. If you ever watched this movie, you'll see that one of the fish, Dori, is a bit of a goofball but a loving, supportive and sweet character.

So I ask my daughter Hannah, "Is Max your buddy?" And, she responds, "No mom, Max is my Dori."

Children never cease to amaze me with their intelligence, strength and thoughtfullness. When was the last time your child made you smile? Be sure to write me! Check out my site and business when you can!

How To Survive Three Sick Kids

2006-10-14T12:49:00.000-07:00

If you are new to this blog, let me introduce myself. I am a proud mother of three beautiful children under three, a student aiming for my MBA concentrating in Entrepreneurship from Brian Tracy College of Business and Entrepreneurship at AJU and a self-employed business professional.

How do you juggle all three? Most parents of 3 young children either (1) stay at home to raise the kids or (2) balance work and kids or (3) balance kids and school. I rarely meet mothers or fathers doing all three.

I am here to tell you it can be done. What it takes is a lot of discipline, courage, patience and sometimes a good cry. Juggling all three is not easy. For example, just recently all three of my children had bad colds.

Of course, I also got a cold. Not fun. So for several days, when I really just wanted to lay in bed, I had to struggle with run away noses, sore throats and studies. Not to mention the oddball project.

What saved me this week was some acupuncture and encouraging words from friends and family. In times of stress, remember there is always something positive coming right around the corner.

If you can, make life easy. Thank goodness my education is online, or I think I might go crazy!

The Benefits Of Online Education

2006-09-15T15:43:00.000-07:00

I do not know how many mothers out there work and raise a family, but I expect many. Many have dreams of pursuing their education and do not know where to begin.

One thing I can tell you is a traditional education, one at a University with a set schedule, makes life very difficult for the time pressed parent. I am very pleased to have found Andrew Jackson University's online program. Here is a list of the benefits if you are interested. Let me review them in brief though.

If you are like me, you do not have a lot of time. Who does with three children under three? Who has time to work, raise healthy and happy kids, and pursue their education? That is not a problem however when you work with an accredited University, one recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, that allows you to study from home.

You do not have to worry about traveling to campus. You can study on your own time, from the comfort of your home. All you need is access to a computer.

The best part? Even the most time pressed person can complete their degree and make satisfactory progress by submitting just 1 lesson every 10 days. At least, that is how it works for the graduate program.

What I like best is the ease with which students can communicate with their peers, teachers and administrators.

AJU really provides a supportive community, especially for time-crunched parents. What to learn how I manage my full-time business, family and education? Want an opportunity to find out how you can start your own succesful business, excel with a degree and still manage to spend a LOT of quality time with your family? Check out AJU's program, and my personal site, where you can learn more about starting your own business as a freelance writer (even if you have zero experience).

I look forward to sharing more tips with you about managing my family, school and my career in the near future.

For now, the girls are doing well... growing faster than I can keep up with. Colin is now already 4 months old. It is amazing how fast time flies!

My Books Arrived, It's Time To Go Back To School!

2006-09-06T11:31:00.000-07:00

It’s started! Today my books arrived for my first class at AJU. My first class is BA 538, Business Growth Strategies. I can’t help but think this class will help boost my business. When I first started out as a freelance writer, my only concern was writing. I wanted to learn how to write well, and more often. Now however, as President of IATB Network LLC, I want to work at growing and expanding my business as much as possible.

Will it be hard with three children under three? Of course it will. I can’t tell you how hard it will be. I am trying to find time during the day to actually study. My guess is I’ll be up late at night doing that. I spend most of my early morning working. Then, I take a break to feed the kids and play.

They are off to daycare for a couple of hours, so I can actually work on my business. I pick them up at 2-2:30 in the afternoon. Then, we play some more. Run errands. Cook dinner and hang out. After bedtime, well that is when I will study. Or study and catch up on work.

It seems like a lot when you think about it. Often, my husband Erik is away 50 hours at a time. It does take a lot of determination, effort and persistence. And a never-ending supply of energy, I’ll admit. I’ll help show you ways to conserve your energy and make it happen too in the upcoming weeks.
The other day, Kayla’s teacher asked me where I find the energy. I wish I could bottle it; I would probably make a million dollars…

Going Back to School!

2006-08-22T17:51:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I am posting this message, but as we speak, I am going back to school! This time I plan to pursue my MBA in Entrepreneurship. Andrew Jackson University has graciously accepted me into their MBA program.

I know what you are thinking. WHAT? You must be crazy! I'll be the first to admit, I do have my hands full with three children under three, and my growing career as a freelance writer. But seriously folks, if I can do it anyone can.

Why? I have little direct support. After all, I personally have no family in town. Thank goodness my hubbies stepdad is in town, but aside from that really, we have no family in town.

So, I am challenged every day with the task of raising my kids, working, and now going to school. Why mention this?

I want to encourage all of you women out there. If you put your mind to it, you can do anything! And, when starting a career, whether as a freelance writer or otherwise, you need an education like the kind a prestigious university like AJU offers.

The only reason I am able to do this is AJU offers online courses. Thank goodness, I can study at my OWN pace. Meaning if I have to, I can log in hours late at night.

With three under three, I am used to staying up at night!

I look forward to sharing more time management skills with you in the upcoming weeks. Believe me, if I can do it, anyone can!

The Heat Is On

2006-07-16T10:19:00.000-07:00

I'll tell you what makes kids grumpy. 103-degree heat. It looks like for the next week or so temperatures around here are going to be up in the 90s and 100s. How awful. I feel bad for my girls, mostly because their room is as hot as a sauna.

What can you do? My solution the other day was to go to the pool. How did I take three kids under three to the pool? Well, thank God for small favors and Hannah is walking. So she is pretty self-sufficient. I wrapped Colin in my infant carrier. Kayla I carried to the pool's edge (it's a kiddy wading pool).

That seemed to work pretty well. I just had to be sure not to drown poor Colin when I stooped over to pick Kayla up and move her from point A to point B.

We are looking forward to the day when at least two of our three are walking. I'm sure that will help tremendously. My husband is still a bit timid about taking all three kids out at once, but I'm getting used to it.

Quite frankly, I can't stand the idea of sitting around the house all day, and neither can the kids. When it's really hot out sometimes we'll just go to the mall. They have a small play area the kids can run around in. At least it is air-conditioned. That's what is really important on days like this!

Taking A Vacation

2006-06-12T15:43:00.000-07:00

My sister suggested today I take a vacation. That is probably a good idea. But how do you take a vacatio with 3under3 and no family or relatives around that can conveniently care for your children?

Better yet, what do you do when you are still breastfeeding? You can take everyone on a vacation, but then it doesn't really seem much like a vacation, it's more work.

Our plan is to wait a few more months until the baby can take bottles for a couple of days, and try to sneak away. We can figure something out. Someone can watch the kids.

The point is my husband and I need time to reconnect with one another. When you have many young children close in age, they often take all your attention. My husband and I haven't gone away since our honeymoon. That was years ago.

There will be a day however, when the kids all grow up and move away, and then it will just be the two of us. What will he have in common? What will we share? If we don't stay connected, life may be a little weird.

Fortunately my husband and I are very close. We take a little time out every day to talk to each other. And it is important you do the same. These are some of the things I share in my guide. You have to take time out to share with your partner. After all, when raising closely spaced kids, you rely on your partner for comfort, support, understanding and assistance. You can support your partner when they have a breakdown, and hopefully they will do the same.

So remember, even if it means making everyone go to bed 1/2 hour early, carve out some time for the two of you. It may be the most important thing you do to survive the baby years. And no matter what, try to plan some sort of vacation. That's my goal this year.

Managing 3under3 is HARD WORK

2006-05-31T20:03:00.000-07:00

I just want to let all of you know managing three children under 3 is hard work, especially when you are trying to also run a successful home business part time. You will put in more than 100 hours a week. It is insane.

I sound very optimistic and encouraging in my posts and in my book, Parenting CSK's but I am the first to admit there are times when I feel like throwing my hands up in the air.

Other times I think, I need help. Our situation is unique. We don't have a lot of family in town that can actively run around and chase after 3 babies. Thank God my husband's stepfather is in town with two pups. My family is all in MD. My husand works a 48 hour shift 1 1/2 hours away so those times I am doing it alone.

I think most people would simply call their mother in law or other relatives for help, but we don't have anyone that is really close by except for our stepdad (who is great but you can only call on someone so much after all) to come by and entertain.

And even when people do come by to help, it can sometimes create even more chaos. My sister recently flew out to help out for a few days and niece. They were great. I really miss her and appreciate it, and I really enjoyed seeing my nephew. I did manage some extra sleep (nice). By the end of the week I could tell everyone was more frazzled though. I think even my family was astounded at the chaos that is every day existence in our home. One child is always needing something, crying, pooping, vomiting or something. And I only have 3. Imagine all you parents with 4 or more under 4!

It simply is a lot of chaos, especially when you throw other people in the mix. We are already 5 people in the house with just "us". Sometimes it's actually better though just being us. If nothing else, we have our routines, and I have to tell you without some sort of routine, I would have jumped off a cliff by now.

So, then I think I should just stop working. But I've worked hard to create a successful business that brings in income we need every month just to survive. Sad but true. We just couldn't do it on one salary alone. So then I think, we just need more patience. And that is very true. And courage, and strength as parents to be the best parents we can.

How do we survive? Well, it's like raising triplets. We have 3 babies that all need our 100% attention most of the time. We try to stick to some sort of schedule. That keeps everyone relatively calm and keeps us relatively sane. The girls get up, in the morning they go to school and I try to work, if the baby isn't to fussy. They come home, nap, we go to the park or for a walk or do some other activity until dinner time. Then we bathe, read books and sleep. It sounds easy, there are a lot of inbetweens I fail to mention.

I still don't know how we are going to afford someone watching all 3 babies and working, but we'll figure it out... you know?

What I would like to say is there are moments I do feel a bit crazy. But you do get past them. Hopefully you find precious moments in the day where your children all do something that endear you to them forever.

Take my girls. Just the other day my youngest daughter leaned over and grabbed her older sister and gave her a hug.

And just the other day my baby smiled at me, really smiled (not gas). And for a brief moment, I felt normal again.

New Baby!

2006-05-17T14:19:00.000-07:00

Well here he is, my beautiful new boy. I didn't realize how much time got away from me.

Colin is already almost 4 weeks old. We had a beautiful labor and delivery. I can tell you from experience now having three kids under three is nutty. Just nutty.

Our middle child isn't walking yet, so it's almost like having twins and a 2 year old. I find the hardest times are when Colin is crying because he needs to be fed and I have to nurse but still keep an eye on the other kids.

So far we are managing to keep our sanity just barely. But certain things have to go the way of the wind. Take housekeeping for example. That is out.

So far the baby isn't sleeping yet at night. This makes watching the other two and working during the day a challenge. My goal right now is to get little catnaps in during the day or night, an hour here and there.

Fortunately when my husband is home, he can give the baby a bottle in the morning so I know I will get at least one three hour stretch of sleep between 4 and 7 am. Sounds gruesome, but I am used to being up all night anyway. It's a good thing I am such a horrible sleeper!

37 Weeks!

2006-04-07T04:43:00.000-07:00

Now at 37 weeks, I am anxious to greet the newest addition to our family. It's always around this time that I start looking at all the natural ways to help baby along. I can't tell you for example, how much pineapple I have eaten in the last few days.

I recently met with several other moms of closely spaced kids. One common difficulty we all share seems to be keeping sibling rivalry at bay. While having closely spaced children typically helps children create strong bonds and close friendships, while young sharing is still very difficult.

Most children don't reach the developmental capacity to start sharing until they are actually age 4 or older. Until then sharing is really just an abstract concept for children.

Parents approach this problem in many ways. Some feel obligated to share when around other parents. When your children are young however, I encourage you not to worry too much about how much interest your child truly demonstrates in sharing.

That doesn't mean however, you shouldn't set the foundation for sharing. There are many steps you can take to teach your children the value of taking turns.

I do encourage my children to "take turns" with their toys. This suggests that they don't have to play with the same toy at the same time, but they do get equal time with toys. To help facilitate this process, you can set a timer and allow one child to play with a toy until the timer goes off, then switch.

Some parents prefer having duplicate toys around they house so there is always a similar toy a younger or older sibling can play with.

Still others prefer taking away the mutually desired toy until the kids can agree to stop fighting about it. While this is often met with much shock from the kids and a sure bit of pouting, it generally works quite marvelously.

The more kids have time to run around and expend their energy during the day, the more they are also likely to work together and engage in less sibling rivalry.

More on sibling rivalry and jealousy however, in the coming weeks. Be sure to send me your suggestions and thoughts as we continue this thought...

In the meantime, I am off to see if I am dilating and effacing today.

Wish me luck.

I'll try to post the results later (Unless I am in labor, wa hoo!)...

Appreciating The Little Things in Life

2006-03-24T14:16:00.000-08:00

Today I am 35 weeks pregnant. As I get closer to delivery, I am once again feeling anxious and excited to meet my baby. I also wish I could at times, hurry things up.

We are currently working on moving our two youngest, Kayla 1 and Hannah 2 into the same room together. Their sleeping schedules aren't quite matched yet, but I figured it may be best to give them a month or so before the baby comes to adjust to their new surroundings.

Every day I realize even more how much more blessed I am as a parent of closely spaced children. Today I learned some close friends of mine lost their baby. Exactly one year ago, around the time I expect to deliver, another good friend lost her baby a few short weeks after birth.

Such experiences often cause me much grief, but also remind me that even when things are most chaotic and hectic, I truly am blessed with my children. I am thankful for every tantrum, pout, spilled dinner and seemingly endless flow of diapers and at times, diarrhea.

Remember when you are feeling your most down, pressed for time or exhausted, no matter the situation, as parents of closely spaced kids we truly are blessed.

Older Siblings Sensitivity

2006-03-11T13:20:00.000-08:00

I just had my 33 week visit. My baby is still lying sideways, but I assume has plenty of time yet to turn before delivery. My second daughter Kayla was also lying transverse for several weeks prior to delivery but flipped all her own.

There are some studies suggesting that greater uterine laxity may encourage babies to lie in a transverse position when you have closely spaced pregnancies. I might agree to this given my present situation. I will keep you posted as to whether the baby "flips" or not. Right now his head is lying against my right side.

My doctor also informed me I was having a very "large" baby with a big head, the prospect of which is a little frightening.

I have noticed of late my older daughter getting somewhat nervous at my growing and frequently moving abdomen. Older CSK's are sometimes sensitive to newer babies entering the family. While I am certain Hannah will welcome her brother with wide and open arms, there is also the possibility that she is just a little scared she will get that much less mommy time with 3 babies under 3.

It is important as a parent of closely spaced kids you recognize your children's sensitivity to new members of the family. While Kayla seems oblivious to the pending arrival of her brother, Hannah is definitely aware, and a little uncomfortable. Much like around the time Kayla was born, Hannah is regressing just a bit. She has started requesting a "binky" drinking from bottles and is throwing more frequent tantrums, I assume out of frustration.

The good news is you can take active steps to prepare your entire family for the arrival of the latest member of your family. Make sure you carve out a little extra time before baby arrives to cuddle up and snuggle with your other children. Make a point to tell them how much you love them, and how important they are in your life and the life of their newest sibling.

Most children approach a new arrival with a certain level of intrigue, mystery and trepidation. Remember that ultimately they just need the reassurance that you will always be there to hug, cuddle and snuggle with them no matter how many babies there are to share.

Do CSK's Share a Unique Form of Communication?

2006-03-04T05:55:00.000-08:00

One of our readers shared a delightful story I'd like to share with you all. Last week she brought her three children to the doctor as her son needed vaccinations during his well visit. When the nurse approached him to give him a shot the oldest kicked her on the shin and yelled at her. This resulted in her middle child crying. The doctor said that her children were so close in age that they can communicate like twins. They have an "unspoken language" which no one will ever understand.

Children close in age DO share a unique bond, and this includes a bond for communicating. My oldest daughter, now two, will talk to me like an adult. But when she turns to her sister, she sometimes breaks out in "baby talk". She always manages however to bring a smile to her sisters face. Very often my oldest will bring a certain toy to her younger sister or babble something at her and then turn to me and say, "Mommy, Kayla needs sippy." I know the two of them share a unique bond I may never have the priviledge of fully understanding. They even talk with each other back and forth at night.

It makes perfect sense that younger children bond so closely and have an unspoken ability to communicate with one another. We should nurture that bond to the greatest extent possible while our children are young. Many children will grow into adults that share the same unique, close bond. It is lovely to watch and just one of the very perks and rewards of raising closely spaced children.

My very best wishes to you all, Anne

Hi Parents! Trimester 3

2006-02-23T03:56:00.000-08:00

I am now in my third trimester for those of you that don't know. I always forget how large a woman gets when she is more than 30 weeks pregnant. I am finding that lifting my two girls is a bit more challenging than it was a few short weeks ago. Nonetheless, I am surprised I still have the energy I need to get through the day. My girls are becoming increasingly aware of my growing belly, with Hannah taking great fun simply kissing my belly and rubbing it now and again. I haven't decided if Kayla is really aware she is going to be a big sister yet, we'll see.

I've started the typical water retention and bloating syndrome as I like to refer to it, that usually hits me third trimester. For those of you that haven't been there before, here are my top strategies for relieving water retention during late pregnancy:

Try a pair of support stockings. They make your legs feel great, even if they are a bit challenging to put on. Put them on before you get out of bed in the morning. Just hurl your leg into the air and pop 'em on. They also help with varicose veins. Trust me, wearing them is like having a tiny massage parlor attend to my legs all day. Much better than going without.

Drink more water than you think you need. I generally suggesting drinking one or two glasses above what you think you need. Yes, you will have to pee a lot. But it's better than looking like the stay puff marshmallow woman.

Try a cup of tea in the morning to help beat bloating, but watch your caffeine intake! Remember that beverages with caffeine can be dehydrating. While they initially may help with water retention, utlimately if you don't replace the water you lose you'll bloat again.

Avoid fizzy drinks and soda's. Believe it or not the carbonation can result in bloating and water weight gain.

Elevate your legs when possible during the day.

Exercise when you can.

That last one is very important. I know its tough to think about exercising around this time, but exercise is still an important part of your health routine, and I promise will help with fatigue and bloating. Even if you manage to get out and simply walk around the block, you are doing your body a great deal of good!

SHARE YOUR STORY!

2006-02-16T19:44:00.000-08:00

I am looking for parents of other closely spaced babies, toddlers, tweens and teens to share their story for an upcoming guide! Please visit me at http://www.closelyspacedkids.com/contactus.html to learn more about how you can make a difference! Or EMAIL me your funniest story, most challenging moment, most pressing piece of advice! What do you do to get enough sleep? Do you bother with house cleaning? How do you deal with sibling rivalry? What would you do differently if you could? What is the most rewarding aspect of raising CSK'S? I can't wait to hear from you!