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Friday, May 27, 2011

Blog Friend Feature: The View From The Shoe

"So many kids, I don't know what to do." You have to love the tagline from this week's Blog Friend Feature. Heather from View From the Shoe cracks me up with her view on parenting... and life, in general, really.  Even though she makes me feel like a major slacker because she runs all these races and I only run to get another glass of wine from the kitchen.  Read her BFF post and you'll easily see why I chose her as this week's feature:

Finally all the bribes and candy I have been sending Shell have paid off and she asked me to be her feature BFF!! I am so excited. I have been waiting for this opportunity to take over the blogging world!!!!!!!!! (Evil laugh here.)

I have noticed after giving birth to a certain number of children people think I am either weird or a superhero. It isn't unusual for strangers to ask me how many kids I have then gasp or shudder a sigh. Next they will utter, "You must be the most patient woman ever." OR "Don't you have cable?"

I am NOT the most patient woman ever and I do have cable, so I was thinking what makes it possible for a mere mortal to cope with five kids? The guidelines I came up with basically apply to any number of offspring. I personally think three is when the balance shifts and after that it doesn't matter how many kids are in the family - they outnumber the parents.

1. Call all the kids by the same name. It isn't necessary to give the all the same actual legal name. I am not George Foreman here. Just calling them all the same generic name like, "Kid" will make life easier. I can't say how many times I have been in the midst of an important, in depth, heart felt conversation with one of my kids when they interrupt my genius to point out I called them the wrong name. "I am _______." they will say. By then I have of course forgotten what I was telling them and the moment is lost and they will never understand the importance of cleaning out the litter box.

2. Count them often. I lose things. At least while my husband is haranguing me about losing keys, sunglasses, social security cards, and cash, or the car I can always point out I have not yet lost a child.

3. Space them out so eventually there will be one kid who can also double as a parent type figure if needed. Realize this older child will be a crappy parent, but better than the dog. I mean he at least has opposable thumbs. Older Child will however feed them Fun Dip for dinner and allow the babies to completely destroy the house while he tries to overcome the parental controls in order to access porn. (But he doesn't charge much.)

4. Standards should be lowered with each subsequent child. I have done this very well. Because my husband has only two biological kids, he has not. He lives with my kids every day and loves them like they were his own, but he wasn't around during their younger years to experience their baby antics. As a result he still freaks out if Shaye Baby say...happens to reach a butcher knife left on the counter and walk around with it. Whereas I tell her that is not the proper knife to use while trying to saw the cable cord in two. Really a serrated bread knife would be much more efficient. (Stupid baby.)
It is important not to limit this to safety standards, but also educational standards, and fashion/cleanliness standards as well. With five kids in the house sometimes just splashing water on them as they walk by counts as a shower.

5. And finally the last key to surviving a big family.....always wear steel toed shoes. Although my size 9 feet are usually in the same location in relation to the rest of my body it seems impossible for the kids to walk by me without stepping on them. This may be the biggest danger of a large family. I have nightmares that I will be crippled before I get them all raised.

There you have it. If you have ever wondered how moms of large families cope these are the secrets. I hope this helps you with your family, or at least serves as a reminder to use birth control.

(I promise my blog is not all about my weird kids. I do discuss current events, legitimate family issues, and politics there. Also, I lie. I didn't send Shell any candy or bribes. But I was getting ready to.)




Don't you just love Heather? Please leave her some comment love here and then go follow her blog if you don't already!

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56 Comments:

Blogger Minivan Mama said...

This is so funny! I'm a new fan and will go check out your blog! Good advice, I could use it handling my measly 3!

May 27, 2011 at 7:14 AM  
Blogger Kristi said...

That was a great post! lol I laughed the whole time! I only have two (and if hubs has his way it will only be one more when we adopt in a few years but I want at least one more biological too) but I used to nanny and this is so true-the balance shifts after 3 LOL
It's hard to go from one kid to two, then two to 3...after that it's all the same ;)
Thanks for sharing this funny blogger!
-Kristi
@ Creative Kristi

May 27, 2011 at 7:24 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Very funny... I only have four and even though they are getting older I still find myself walking behind everyone else so that I can count them and make sure I don't lose one!
That may be the only thing I did right in their eyes one day (though some days I think the teens wouldn't mind if I lost them and they ended up at someone else's house.)

May 27, 2011 at 7:25 AM  
Blogger Oka said...

I am guilty of constantly counting the kids. Not just mine, but also those that I babysit, and when the friends come over to play. I am some what paranoid one will show up missing. I won't tell if maybe that has or has not ever happened before.

May 27, 2011 at 7:44 AM  
Blogger Barbara said...

This is hysterical! Next time my husband complains that I'm always losing things I'll be quick to point out that I haven't lost our child yet!

May 27, 2011 at 7:45 AM  
Blogger Kmama said...

Hahaha! This was hysterical. I knew there was a reason I stopped at 2. ;-)

May 27, 2011 at 8:29 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

What a wonderful post! I love all the humor and joy she finds in being a mom.

May 27, 2011 at 9:10 AM  
Blogger A Mommy in the City said...

This is so funny! Going to check out her blog now!

May 27, 2011 at 9:24 AM  
Blogger LA Botchar said...

LOVE her!!! One of my favourite blogs to read. If I ever need a pick me up, hearty chuckle, slap the knee all out guffaw....this is where I go. So happy she is today's BFF.

May 27, 2011 at 9:33 AM  
Blogger Stephanie said...

Hilarious!! I only have two and that is all there ever will be! Off to check out my of your blog :)

May 27, 2011 at 9:44 AM  
Blogger Evonne said...

Steel toed shoes are definitely a good investment. Especially if your kids play soccer. Cleats hurt!

May 27, 2011 at 9:52 AM  
Blogger Sarah said...

Love the power shift comment, that's hilarious...and true!!! I am the oldest of four kids and the way people talked and asked, my mom could not have done it without me...as if. Still, I think it's funny!!!

May 27, 2011 at 10:03 AM  
Blogger The Mommy Therapy said...

I can never call my three children by the correct name, I usually end up calling them the dog's name too. One general name is a genius idea!

Very funny, thanks for all the tips.

May 27, 2011 at 10:04 AM  
Blogger Desperate Housemommy said...

I loved this. A girlfriend of mine has six. Someone once stopped her in the grocery store as she and her crew shopped and asked, "Don't you know how to say no?" I kid you not.

May 27, 2011 at 10:25 AM  
Blogger Sara said...

This was hilarious!! I'll definitely go check out her blog!!

May 27, 2011 at 10:31 AM  
Blogger Stephanie Faris said...

I only have my stepdaughter every other weekend and it drains me. I can't imagine how full-time moms of even one kid do it. But I've found in life you tend to adapt to what you are given...and I think that's it. I think we'd all learn to cope in whatever we'd been given, some are just more talented than others at it.

May 27, 2011 at 11:02 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Heather rocks socks!

I especially love number 4...it's SO SO SO true!

May 27, 2011 at 12:01 PM  
Blogger Elena Wollborg said...

This is hilarious! I so should've done #3!

May 27, 2011 at 12:43 PM  
Blogger Elena Wollborg said...

For some reason it cut me off..but....I should've done #3 even with my 2 kids!

May 27, 2011 at 12:44 PM  
Blogger Jayme said...

Her take on parenting- OMG. She could be my clone.

May 27, 2011 at 1:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The baby and the knife situation has me ROLLING over here. BAHAHAHAHA! I love this BFF and I don't even know her. :)

May 27, 2011 at 1:39 PM  
Blogger Renegades said...

Pointing out the better knife for the baby to use had me laughing.

May 27, 2011 at 1:45 PM  
Blogger Rach (DonutsMama) said...

Oh this cracked me up! You always introduce the funniest people!

May 27, 2011 at 1:47 PM  
Blogger Emmy said...

#4 literally made me laugh out loud- my kids wondered what was going on. I grew up with five brothers and sisters and now that I have my own kids I wonder how my mom did it! Heading over to her blog.

May 27, 2011 at 1:52 PM  
Blogger January Dawn said...

I only have 2 boys and a dog and I can't get their names right...I might have to try "Hey kid" from now on! Loved this, so funny!

May 27, 2011 at 1:55 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Love it! My brother has 7 kids and I have spent years watching him count them when they get in the car. When he doesn't get to 7, he'll then have to think HARD for a minute about who's missing. Funny stuff. Heading over to your site to follow you now! Thanks to Shell for introducing you!

May 27, 2011 at 1:56 PM  
Anonymous Leigh Ann said...

Hilarious! I remember washing anything that ever so much as came within 3 feet of the floor with my twins, but with #3? Paci falls on the floor, inspect to make sure it's (basically) free of dog hair, and on we go.

May 27, 2011 at 2:00 PM  
Blogger KSK said...

Hahaha! I'm a fan of anyone who can call their baby 'stupid' for using the wrong type of knife! :)
On my way to check out her blog!

May 27, 2011 at 2:02 PM  
Blogger Jen said...

Holy crap! Yeah, she had me laughing...must now go check out her blog!

May 27, 2011 at 2:03 PM  
Anonymous StinkyLittleFeet said...

Thanks for the laugh! I have 3 kids, not 5, but I could still relate to many of the things you said. Off to get me a pair of steel-toed shoes...

May 27, 2011 at 2:35 PM  
Blogger Tara R. said...

I have only two kids and have on occasion called one of them by the dog's name. I like the suggestion for steel-toed boots. I could have used them yesterday actually.

May 27, 2011 at 5:57 PM  
Blogger Poppy said...

I prefer garden clippers for electrical cords, but serrated knives teaches hand/eye coordination. Funny stuff.

May 27, 2011 at 6:06 PM  
Blogger Mom of 12 said...

Sounds like you have it all figured out! Tell me again how you got Shell to be your BFF!! That's what I want to be when I grow up...
Sandy
www.twelvemakesadozen.blogspot.com

May 27, 2011 at 7:17 PM  
Blogger Shannan Martin said...

Totally craving Fun Dip now. ;)

May 27, 2011 at 8:02 PM  
Blogger Mommyfriend Lori said...

Lawd, that was funnay!!!! I love dthis post, awesome feature Shell!

May 27, 2011 at 8:38 PM  
Blogger Nicole said...

"At least he has opposable thumbs" bahahaha!!!

May 27, 2011 at 9:25 PM  
Blogger MaricrisG said...

I grew up in a large family but the difference is, I live in a country where having a large family is normal and having one kid is odd. Here in the US it's the opposite. Insane huh?

May 28, 2011 at 12:10 AM  
Blogger Heather said...

I was so unprepared for the power shift with my 3rd. And I totally agree with the older child. I don't know how I would have survived my 3rd without my oldest helping out.

May 28, 2011 at 12:48 AM  
Blogger Babes Mami said...

Im one of 5 that later turned to 9 when mom got married a third time. I was the surrogate parent and they are all fine so far despite fun dip dinners hahaha i will be stopping by her tomorrow!

May 28, 2011 at 1:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh my, I can relate to all those! lol

My boys are always on my feet.

May 28, 2011 at 1:46 AM  
Blogger Sorta Southern Single Mom said...

She sounds fabulous! Hysterically funny. I've heard that after 3, more kids don't make that much difference... it's just adding another to the bunch...

May 28, 2011 at 6:01 AM  
Blogger Amanda said...

My father used to say that too, if you can deal with three then five more won't make a difference.

He was right!

May 28, 2011 at 9:54 AM  
Blogger Mrs. Tuna said...

As one of seven kids I saw how we wore my parents down. This explains why we only had a single kid, two against one.

May 28, 2011 at 11:31 AM  
Blogger Tina @ Life Without Pink said...

This is great! I'm off to check her out :)

May 29, 2011 at 8:04 AM  
Blogger Jessica said...

This is so hilarious, totally identify with the dumb comments when I tell people how many kids I have and with never remembering what anyone's name is.
Off to check her out!

May 29, 2011 at 10:17 AM  
Blogger Alison said...

This was so funny - I'm off to check Heather out at her blog.

May 29, 2011 at 10:54 AM  
Blogger Crystal said...

I've been a fan of her blog for awhile. I simply love her...she is a hoot!

May 29, 2011 at 8:47 PM  
Blogger Lourie said...

My husband is the one who is constantly getting stepped on. It's crazy. Maybe I just don't notice anymore. :P Off to go and check her blog out.

May 29, 2011 at 8:51 PM  
Blogger Holly said...

Well, things are going a little backward here ... I actually found you through Heather's blog today. Both of you are great and I've added you to my button page. Looking forward to your future posts~A possible future stalker too! ;-D

May 29, 2011 at 9:35 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Great tips for dealing with large numbers of kids. My sister has 5 kids too and she just calls them all "HEY!" Looking forward to reading more from Heather @ her blog

May 30, 2011 at 12:15 AM  
Blogger MommaKiss said...

I only have 2, but love just yelling "Hey You" so they both have to check in. I also have wicked low standards, it has saved many an argument.

So I'm one of 6 and can tell you that the oldest did a lot of the "help." She was cheap, too.

Nice choice, as always, Shell!

May 31, 2011 at 9:59 AM  
Blogger Keshyra said...

Hilarious! I will definitely go and check her out. Thanks for making her your BFF.

June 1, 2011 at 5:38 PM  
Blogger Laurie said...

My entire family is howling!! Great post.

June 3, 2011 at 12:30 AM  
Anonymous Sharon at Momof6 said...

Lovin' what you say! And as a Momof6- I can relate! Shell- thanks for the new BFF!

June 4, 2011 at 4:20 PM  
Blogger Sarah said...

This post seriously made me LOL :)

June 11, 2011 at 4:50 PM  
Blogger Sarah said...

This post seriously made me LOL :)

June 11, 2011 at 4:52 PM  

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