What I Learned This Week

As a mother of four small children, there is always a learning curve. It seemed to be an extra big curve this past week. In a nutshell, here is what I've learned:

1. If you and a friend decide to take six small children to the local swimming pool, call ahead first to make sure they are open. Otherwise you may waste nearly an hour getting kids ready, only to arrive and realize it's closed for a swim meet. I mean, really? The one time out of the entire summer I am brave enough to attempt the pool with the kids??

2. You should make sure that all your children's toys are put away in the garage when parking the SUV. This will avoid the catastrophe of running over a beautiful pink tricycle that you had envisioned your third daughter riding next summer.

3. Make sure the battery in your children's Barbie Jeep is well charged, unless you want it to die midway on the walk through the neighborhood. At the bottom of a hill.

4. Make sure your three year old uses the bathroom before taking a walk past the neighborhood's new home construction. Otherwise you may find yourself explaining that a stinky porta-potty is not an option while she is crossing her legs ready to pee her pants.

5. Pack diapers for all non-potty trained children so that your six month old does not end up wearing a size 4 diaper.

6. Don't expect watching fireworks with four small children who are up two hours past bedtime to go exactly how you planned. Of course, that should go without saying.

7. Before spending several hours weeding your yard, make sure that's exactly what you and your hubby both concluded would be the best way to spend your time.

8. Don't get too excited over an iced mocha from McD's. Chances are you will spill it all over the laundry room as you trip over preschoolers super excited over their happy meals.

9. Ending lists in an unrounded number bugs my sis-in-law blogger Julie. You can find out more about her OCD tendencies at her blog, From Inmates to Playdates.