Parenting is hard and requires a sense of humor.  It also doesn’t hurt to ask for a little divine intervention once in a while.  Thus, we pray as a family before dinner, and the adorable prayers of my twin three-year-olds are both entertaining and impressive.

Perhaps I’m not the only one, but I often think about how things were different when I was a child. It might be because I’m in the midst of raising my own children. It might be because I miss simpler times. The world may have undergone a drastic change. Whatever the reason, one thing I reflect on often is the difference in babysitting now versus twenty years ago.

I went into the final days of my 42-week pregnancy armed with hopes and plans of what my experience as a new mom would be like. I arrived at the hospital on my induction date with a nervous smile and the naive expectations only first-time moms possess.

I remember the days of holding friends’ babies, while longing for children of my own. The one thing that didn’t cross my mind at the time, while smelling those sweet newborns and kissing those squishy cheeks, was how short a time period a baby is actually a baby.

To make things a bit more complicated, I travel for my job.  This often includes multiple flights, airports, car rentals, and late nights.  I realized very quickly that pumping is not a traveler’s sport, and here are some of the valuable lessons I have learned.

When I toured her daycare facility, I grilled the director, I brainstormed with her teachers, and vigorously highlighted the menu showing them exactly what she can eat. I know they are prepared for her.

Confession. On more than one occasion, I’ve been unsure if I’ve secured my daughter in her car seat properly. I’ve tightened and pulled and shrugged, all the while praying nothing bad happens as I drive from point A to point B.

Our family became complete 6 weeks ago.  Baby #4 signifies the end of a chapter: I am done having kids.  It’s bittersweet knowing I will never experience the glory and misery of pregnancy again. 

Baby number 2 is a chance to right all of your wrongs; to look back at the silly mistakes and expectations and do it the ‘right’ way this time around!

I read about the second-child syndrome when I was pregnant with my second, and heard many moms talk about how different it is once you have more than one child.  However, I vowed that I would give my second child just as much attention as my first.