Not So Bad After All...

We are now on day 6 of no working dishwasher! When it broke, my first thought was, 'well, when are we getting a new one?' How could I manage without a dishwasher?!?! I love my dishwasher! What mothere doesn't?
And now I will confess, it really hasn't been that bad. I actually think it has been great. Do I even speak the words...maybe we don't need to get one? Right away my amazing husband came up with a great little schedule for the kids. My 7 year old washes the breakfast dishes, while the sisters dry and put away, 8 year old washes lunch dishes while others dry and put away and 11 year old washes supper and others dry and put away. I wipe the table and also help with putting away and some drying, but to be honest, I have barely done any dishes! What I also love about it is the family time together. Just standing around working together and chatting. It reminds me of my childhood. My parents only got a dishwasher when we were all married and out of the house. They would say they had four dishwashers...ha ha, groan;) I remember the laughing and joking around with my siblings as we did the dishwashes. It was family time. And although my parents have a dishwasher, they next to never use it. Still, when we all get together my Dad washes and the rest of us dry and put away.
So, all in all, I think it has been good for my family. It is fun. I think working together is good for them. But if my washing machine goes, then I will really be in trouble! :0

Finally Here...

I remember years ago when I had three little ones under the age 4. It was very busy. I remember looking at friends who had a 10 year old daughter and she would love having her little sister on her hip, and I was running after a toddler with a baby on my hip and I would think, someday I will be there. My husband and I would also dream of the day we had a babysitter in the house, and here I am:) My oldest now 11 and she loves being a little mother:) If I need to run to the grocery store I am able to jump in the van, by myself and quickly get what I need. No more getting 5 pairs of coats on, 5 pairs of shoes on, 5 seat belts to buckle up, none of that, just me quickly getting to the grocery store and back in less than 20 mins! The best part is that my daughter is loving this new responsibility! She too has dreamed of this day when she was old enough to babysit her younger siblings. Every time I leave the house, she is beaming with excitement and feels like such a grown up:)
And now, I see so many who are just starting out with their families. They have a toddler around their ankles and a baby in their arms, and I go back in time. I so badly want to help them with whatever I can do. I remember those days. Those challenging days. I just want them to know, it does get better! And believe it or not, although it may feel like time is crawling at a snails rate, before you know it, your oldest will be 11 too:) And as trying as it can be some days when they are young, the benefit of having them close in age is when they grow up, they become such good play buddies, (most days ;) ).
So, to all the moms with little ones, hang in there and cherish these days, they do grow...and quickly!

Wise Beyond Her Years...

My oldest just turned 11...crazy! As a special treat for our children, we let them pick out where they would like to have their birthday dinner. A few years ago, our oldest picked Jack Astor's, which is a very yummy choice:) Again last year she chose Jack Astor's. Much to our dismay, the uniforms for Jack Astor's had changed...mainly just the women's. We were very disappointed in the change. The girls went from wearing black pants to wearing, very tight (nothing left to the imagination, kind of tight), very short (they are unable to bend over without revealing their bottoms), black skirts. WHY? The food is really good!! Why do they feel the need to try and 'attract' with their clothing? As parents, we openly talk about what we feel is appropriate and not appropriate. We would like to raise well dressed girls that feel they don't need to use their lack of clothing to gain attention. So, this year, we asked our daughter where she would like to go for her birthday dinner and she said, "I really like the garlic pan bread from Jack Astor's, but they dress really inappropriately there. At Kelsey's the women dress more appropriate, I would like to go there." I was so proud of her for coming to that conclusion on her own. We didn't say anything or try to persuade her, she came up with the decision on her own. I really don't get it! I feel bad for the young girls and women who feel the need to dress in a way just to get attention from guys. And I am very disappointed in restaurants who are changing their dress code to having their female staff wearing very revealing clothing.