Real Life, People. Real Life.

 

 

 

Some snapshots of life. 

 

People keep asking how we are adjusting, or how our new kids are doing and the short simple answer is:  well. 

 

I will say though, that a certain five year old in the house is struggling.  I always find it difficult to write about Seth because I mostly blog so Jon and I (and our children if they want) can look back some day and see what life was like.  I know for a fact that no baby books or scrapbooks are being compiled around these parts, and I want to remember when I'm old and gray the funny things they said and how their personalities and interests evolved.  And I love them.  And love to talk about them.

 

However, I do not wish to mis-lead or present a picture of our family that is simply not true. 

We have one child who struggles mightily with control issues and anger issues, and really anything that goes along with emotional regulation.  He tells me weekly (daily?) that he wishes he were a grown up.  Translation:  I want to be the boss.  I want to make my own rules.  I want to control the events in my life.  Yesterday when he told me that, he also said that he would live in a house next to mine and we would be neighbors and see each other every day and he could come over for dinner and we would eat hot dogs and pizza.  So sometimes it's just plain 'ol sweet. 

 

But here's the kicker.  He would likely be struggling without any extra bodies in our house.  We have been home for about 2.5 years and we have seasons were we see tremendous growth and seasons where daily meltdowns are common and even expected.  In many ways, having littles in the house has helped Seth and has given him avenues to pitch in useful, real ways.  (Because he wants to be a grown up, remember?) 

 

I will say that with more kids in the house, it is a challenge to have your oldest be your firecracker.  (Is there ever a good birth order to be the wild child, you ask?  Who knows.)  Ollie sees Seth's reactions and it seems he is beginning to think that is the normal way to respond to disappointments.  It's kind of strange watching Ollie work himself up, because it lacks all the heat.  It seems like he is just acting in a way that he thinks is the norm.  Conversely, Ollie is also beginning to take on the roll of peace-maker.  I think this is a great life skill, but it also makes me so sad for him in a way that I can't really explain.  I guess I hope he doesn't ever feel a burden to keep everyone happy, that's not your job, kid.  People can look to Jesus for contentment.  Nevaeh and Seth play together some, but usually she keeps her distance and is honestly kind of afraid of him.  Seth never hurts anyone intentionally, but I think his frequent volume keeps her at bay.     

 

So I guess what I'm saying is, it's not all sunshine and rainbows over here, but yes, thanks for asking. The two new ones are adjusting fantastically.