balancing limits

i knew this season was going to be tricky, trying to hold up the traditions that our kids have grown to expect and love balanced with our 2 new sons and the fact that all of this Christmas stuff was brand-new to them.

side note: watching a 4 year old take in his first Christmas season is WILD.
W. I. L. D.

i'm constantly balancing everyone's limits.

and, just in case you forgot, there are 6 (6!) children.
6 different limits.
plus pat and i have limits.
{oh, dear Lord, do i have limits. ugh.}

we have spent the last 5 months pulling back, saying "no", being together, putting the VERY intense needs of lincoln and levi first - almost always.

we, as a family, have done this together. as a team. it's been good. and we've all had {mostly} good attitudes about it all. this is US now. we will do what we need to do for each other. and this is what we needed to do.

but, now, in this season, i'm dipping my toes in the waters of making sure ALL my children's deep needs and expectations are met. sometimes this means lincoln sits on his bed for a few minutes because he can't stop talking long enough to let bailey tell me a story about her day at school. sometimes this means levi goes to bed even earlier because pat is going to be home late and i am determined to read to my kids but levi won't stop crying and whining and pulling bailey's hair on the couch.

oh. and it's not just those gorgeous black boys.

sometimes bailey sits on HER bed because SHE can't stop talking and sometimes sawyer goes to bed early because he can't obey.

i read this article the other day and it hit my heart deep. she is a wise, WISE woman and i'm grateful she shares her wisdom with us.


i don't know what my point it really. but i want to document this part of this season.

mostly, i'm just trying to make the best decisions i can in each moment. and there are a lot of factors to balance in every decision. and a lot of decisions to make. ok. my brain hurts :-)