To parents of more than one child...
 

...my hat is off to you. I babysat my 9 month old fussy niece today, while also watching my own 3 year old. I got absolutely nothing done. I had to admonish my son countless times about sharing. I had to listen to one unhappy child while helping the other one. I don't know how you do it and keep your sanity. Here's to you!!

My children are 5 1/2 years apart so it is not as hard as those whose are closer in age. I had different issues to deal with, but it is easier to talk to a 5 year old at times. I got very lucky, my daughter is like a little mommy to my son. There are days when I get nothing done, and my daughter is in school. I think being a parent is something all of us should be proud of, no matter how many children we have.

I have 4, and with me, my wife has 5 (she says I'm worse thant he kids). Overall, it's not that hard, just a lot of laundry, and cooking. They are all 3 years apart, and yes, they argue, but they help each other a lot.

I don't have multiple children of my own but I babysit about 8 hours a day for 2-3 other children besides my own daughter. They are all within 1 and 4 years old. It's easier I think when they are somewhat close in age because you can find activities that they all enjoy.

I don't get a lot done during the day. Naptimes are a boon. I have found that keeping them well fed keeps them much happier. One particular girl is extremely crabby after a nap unless I have a snack ready for her before she even wakes up. Once she's had a good healthy snack after her nap she's back to her joyful self.

I even don't have multiple children to care for in the evening usually but I have done it on occasion. Those parents with multiple children still have so much more of themselves that they give 24/7. I will add a hats off of my own to them.

Thanks -- and know the rewards are many. I love watching my 11-year-old (with her own room) sleep with her 9-year-old sister every night. I love walking in to wake them up and seeing their arms around each other. I enjoy hearing one of them praise the other for a job well done. Sometimes when I'm just too worn out, it is great to have them to entertain each other.

I also love to have my out of the house sons call the girls just to visit. I love that my Air Force son is visiting before he deploys to Korea and plans to "take the girls out to spoil them."

I love knowing that if anything happens to us, they have each other.

AND, I am 100% in support of people's right to choose no children or one child.

I constantly think of how amazing my parents are to have raised 5 kids, 3 of which are graduated from college and 2 (me being the youngest) still in college. Lots of pressure to be the 5th one to graduate :)

My mother-in-law gave me the best advice. She told me two kids weren't that bad, because you have two hands. Its the third one that throws you.
I stopped at two.
And yes, children can eat up the whole day. That's why its a job to take care of them.

Its good that they are so gosh darn entertaining. It makes it all worth the effort.
The good times balance the hard times.

Thanks! I love getting encouragement. I think the hardest time for having two boys was when they were infants, but I look back to those days as the most peaceful days of my life as well, when my hands and heart were doing exactly what they were meant to do as a loving parent. I've got two great boys, and I couldn't imagine life without them. I'm the luckiest guy in the world!