Two vs. One

When I implored for questions and motivations to help get me through the summer blogging slump, wright helped out with "What is the best part about having two kids? What's the hardest? Another one: What's you opinion on swim lessons? We just started (Baby Girl just turned one) and I'm not sure what to think of them or what to expect to get out of it."

The best part about having two children, so far, is seeing them interact together. Granted, Claire is 8 and Liam is nearing 19 months so their interactions are quite different, as you know, than a four and 2 year old but it has been a real joy to watch my daughter be a big sister. She helps out in a myriad of ways and is actually capable of "watching" him, while I am very nearby of course. Liam adores his sister and she him. He still calls her "mommy" and, in many ways, she is as much a young, more fun mom than I am.

The reason RxMan and I decided to go ahead and jump into this parenting gig again was because we didn't want Claire to be left alone if something horrible were to happen to us. The summer before we began trying to conceive, a friend/distant relative of mine lost her father very unexpectedly, after losing her mother several years before to cancer. She was an only child, single, and not close to her extended family and didn't have many friends. She was all alone at the funeral and that was the day I made up my mind Claire would not sit alone at a funeral for my husband or myself. While I am not close to my younger brother, I do have him and that would probably be a great comfort in the event that my parents were to both die. So, with the knowledge that she is no longer an only child, I have found great peace in knowing she shouldn't ever have to travel the world completely alone.

The worst about having two kids? Well, the fact that they are 7 years apart is difficult in that I have started completely over again. Claire was/is easy. I have to only direct her towards brushing her teeth and putting on shoes, whereas Liam is still very needy. Also, his schedule is very rigid and hers is way more flexible. Also, having two kids has caused my husband and I to begin the dividing and conquering that I didn't expect until much later. He might take Claire to softball/ballet/scouts while I stay home with the little guy, who goes to sleep at 7pm most nights (or vice versa, of course).

About swim lessons....we didn't start Claire until she was about 4 and haven't begun yet with Liam so I don't know how much I can say that would be helpful except it will be slow progress and there may be tears. Hang tight, mommy, swimming is a skill they need and it will all be worth it...good luck, wright, and thanks for the great questions!