I haven't mentioned it here yet, but I've brought another child into the daycare crew, bringing my total to 5 full time (including Baby Girl) and one part-time kids. The latest addition has gone over very smoothly, with hardly any difference at all.

That being said, today I was short a kid, and it was a good thing, too. The youngest baby wanted to be held and bounced a lot today, and the older baby is teething. And of course, Baby Girl just wanted her mommy from time to time, and Toddler Boy was his usual energetic self. So I had my hands full trying to meet everyone's needs.

At some point in the afternoon I was bouncing the baby-baby, and enjoying the fact that everyone was comforted and happy, and I thought to myself: Man, wouldn't it be nice to go back to just four kids? It was so much easier then!

But then I had a quick flashback to when I had changed from three kids to four kids and had thought: Man, wouldn't it be nice to go back to just three kids? It was so much easier then!

And when I realized that I had once thought four kids was hard, and now I think it would be easier, I laughed! The truth is, a larger group of kids is not that hard. I find it sort of amusing when I talk with other moms about what I do, and when I tell them I watch five kids, there is always a gasp! followed by an "Oh my goodness" and sometimes a literal step backwards, as if having large number of kids is contagious. I'm always quick to say it's not that bad and is actually easier than it sounds.

With each addition to the group you make adjustments, figure out ways to handle the additional workload, re-define the term "flexible," and truly appreciate the spare minutes of time you are given. It's amazing what you can accomplish in two minutes when you've been waiting all day to do something other than wipe a nose or wipe a bottom!

I've heard it said that going from one child to two children is the hardest transition, and from there on it gets easier. From my experience, I find that to be true. Taking care of more than two children at a time is do-able. Sure, there are times when housework is put off (indeed, most of my housework is done on the weekend when I have only ONE child to tend) or I don't eat lunch until all the kids have been fed, and at the end of the day I'm tired and my feet hurt. But I've survived and I credit good planning and organization, and the expectation of accomplishing only one thing each day: taking care of kids.

So, yeah, it's not that bad. Not that I'm looking to expand anymore...