In the context of writing about plagiocephaly (huh?), Valerie mentions this, “You do what’s best for your babies, while keeping in mind risks and taking reasonable and responsible precautions. You hold, cuddle, carry and nurse your babies (as you are able) in ways that provide for their emotional/spiritual needs as well as their physical, according to what is most appropriate within your family dynamics. No two families or babies are identical, things will work differently under different circumstances. You also learn and grow with each new baby and methods and priorities sometimes change or transform. Sometimes something that works becomes a habit with future babies.”

I found her words a good explanation of how many larger families adjust and adapt to doing things. Every baby is different, and usually, there is a different circumstance to each new baby’s arrival. Michelle Dugger, mother of practically two baseball teams, says, “Here I am a mama with her 17th child on the way, and so many people think ‘Oh you’ve got it all figured out.’ I am still learning. Just when I think I’ve got something figured out I try it on the next one and it doesn’t work.”

Flexibility seems to be a common theme to getting it all done. (Figuring out what needs to be done and what can be left undone is another.) You have to adjust. Now, it’s my humble opinion that you can be a little too flexible. I accuse Somebody In This House of this all the time. Guys parent differently than the ladies.

Just the other day, the big kids grabbed the camera and told on Dad when I came downstairs. The fact that the baby is still in his jammies at 1 p.m. is something I do too, so I can’t laugh too much at that one. But me? I never miss the kids’ naptime. Are you crazy?!

sleeping