A family complete……

Raising kids with LOVE ♦ January 16, 2012 ♦ 1 Comment

Our family was completed with #4, our son Connor.  Our house was definitely busy with 4 children age 6 and under, but it was wonderful.  I had always thought that we would parent a son pretty much like we parented our daughters.  We can start the whole nature vs. nurture conversation, but let’s just leave it as ….boys are different!

Who knew that Barbies could be flushed, guns could be made from blocks (in a household where toy guns were forbidden) and two boys wrestling in the backyard were not fighting.  I am still learning how to raise a son, and thank goodness for my husband who reminds me often that boys need to be “let go” in different ways than girls.  I have gotten more used to one sided conversations, not knowing the details of a date, and watching him take more physical risks than the girls ever did.  I also have learned to appreciate the hug and kiss he gives me, the conversation he shares when he is excited, and the time Brad and Connor share as father and son that I will never be a part of, those times are priceless.

Raising several children under one roof is a lesson in parenting flexibility.  Same parents, children with different talents and temperaments, same rules of the house, different approaches to discipline, same love and desires for each child, different journey with each.

Now that you know a bit about me and our family, hopefully we can tackle some of the pressing parenting questions that most every parent has.  From learning the best way to get your infant to sleep, how to tackle potty training, to how to handle it when your 16 year old pulls out of the drive for the first time.  Been there, done that….let’s share the journey.

Take a breath, enjoy the joyful moments of each day, and remember you don’t have to be perfect to be the perfect parent.

Cindy