Giving birth to seven children in four years (two sets of twins, one set of triplets), and two singles set the stage for me to be creative in how to take care of my family, feed them, clothe them, discipline them, and to have fun.
I had one six-year-old, two four-year-olds, two two-year-olds, and two-month premature triplets who were on a 3-hour eating schedule. Just feeding them took 24 hours a day if I didn't have someone to assist me. My husband was my only assistant in the beginning. My mother came over every other night to take care of the 10 o'clock feeding. I had to devise a program so we could exist. Our six-year-old became the supervisor and fixed breakfast and lunch for her siblings. The four-year-olds did dishes without a dishwasher, folded tons of diapers and clothing, vacuumed, and played with their two-year-old brothers. The two-year-olds learned to count and play 50 pick-up as they picked up 50 items off the living room floor (including lint from the diapers).
That's how it started, and the book carries on with ideas of how to potty train, keep children calm and silent when appropriate, and basically how to exist happily with such a large family in a two-bedroom, 750 sq. foot home.
Stress is the name of the job for almost all first responders. Learn how to lower your stress, help other first resonders lower their stress, and how to deal with people at a scene who are stressed.
