I have a gem of a friend who has four kids...like myself. Except, her oldest is the age of my youngest...and she is a few years older than me. Bless...her. Another one of my friends, who is older than me, has three little girls all under Ramzee's age (7)...AND...I'd bet my hair they try for another. I loved my littles when they were...well...little, but I often bask in the glory of the small victories that come from parenting older kids, a tween, and a teen. I don't intend to be boastful. Take confort knowing it'll be you one day if you ever stop having kids!
10. There is something so liberating being able to send a little person into another room of the home with complete confidence they can initiate the electrical switches independently. I was the mother who always signed when the kid yelled, "Mom! Turn on the lights!" I may have been tempted to equip them with flashlights as an alternative...but didn't.
9. All things commode can be performed as a solo mission. The boys are still working on precision, but solo nonetheless.
8. I have wiped noses and mouths and hands for a solid decade...daily. All I need to do now, is draw attention to the dripping sauce, Kool-Aid moustache or stray booger and said youngster can execute the cleanup.
7. I no longer have a special drawer or cabinet in my kitchen filled with toys for toddler amusement and diversion while I'm cooking...Hamburger Helper.
6. They understand the term, "Go clean up". They are also old enough, and seasoned in the Matejka household to understand if something gets left out, I will kindly move it to the garbage.
5. I can nap. Unfortunately, none of the kids will "rest" with me anymore, but I can rest easy knowing they are old enough to alert me in any incident of terrible disaster.
4. Animated movies are a thing of the past. However, we have enjoyed the Frozen phenomenon. I must add that I have seen Finding Nemo 5,083 times. I've put in my time.
3. Years ago, Ole Jus and I settled into an evening routine where I bathe the kiddos and he does the dishes. Things are much better for me these days, but alas...the dishes have yet to learn to do themselves. Sorry sucker!
2. My grocery cart never visits the diaper aisle. This is our fifth year, but that seems to pale in comparison to the 11 years "diapers" graced our shopping list (some of those years before I stepped into the picture).
1. Laundry doesn't bother me so much as overwhelm me. The kids clothes are getting bigger which is unfortunate, but they are old enough to distinguish between "lights" and "darks". They are almost completely trained to put their dirty garments in their respective baskets, so now I feel like we Matejka's could conquer the world...FROM THIS SIDE OF THIRTY.