I'm a Much Better Mom When I Only Have one Kid...

Let me start by saying, that the title up there is something I said to Ken recently (somewhat tongue in cheek), and he refuted my claim by saying that, "It's easier to interact one-on-one but that doesn't make you a bad mom."  I should also mention that I don't think I'm a bad mom or a great mom; just a mom doing the best I can to parent three little ones into adulthood.

With all that said, I have had so much fun having Benjamin to myself this week!  Frances and Henry are with my parents, so it's just been Ben at home.  He stayed up til 10:00 on Saturday night to see Ken come home from work, just because he could.  He layed across my lap and Ken's lap during Mass on Sunday, just because he could.  We took him to the park Sunday night and he played with both of us and directed our play, just because he could.

He's so fun!  I know he's a cutie.  He always acts cute for me.  (The rest of you all get stink faces, sorry.)  It's just that he tends to get overshadowed by his older, larger and MUCH LOUDER siblings!  On Saturday evening we were snuggling on the couch and he heard a strange sound.  "What was dat sound, Mommy??"

I told him it was just the house settling.  The I laughed because I realized that it's probably never quiet enough around our house for him to hear something like that!!

I've been able to have conversations with him without being interrupted.  I've been able to watch all the episodes of Team Umizoomi without someone trying to watch another (obviously, inferior) show.  I've been able to turn the direction he wants  to leave the daycare parking lot and come home.  I've been able to spoil him rotten, and I hope he's enjoying it. 

Because Friday afternoon he gets his siblings back!!  The funny thing is though, I've asked him if he likes be alone and he says no.  He tells me he doesn't know how to go to sleep by himself.  He keeps getting out a snack for himself and "one for Bubby and one for Sissy."  When he gets in the van he points out where Henry {usually} sits and where Frances {usually} sits.

Don't get me wrong-I love having three kids.  I've always imagined that I would have three.  In fact, I remember referring to Henry as a "middle child" at least a year before I got pregnant with Benjamin.  I love all three of my kids!  But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy a break every once in a while.  Or some one-on-one time for each of them. 

 He "drove" these cars all over the playground.  We had to stop at the gas station to get gas, the grocery store to get soup, the car fixin' place to change a broken tire and home to go to bed.  He also pointed out (several times) that his car was faster than Daddy's because his was in front!