So who is this Orange Rhino chick anyway?
I am a stay at home mom to four BOYS ages 5, 3 1/2, 2, and 6 months. Yes, we’ve been busy, yes they were all planned, no I don’t know why I have all boys when I have a low threshold for noise, chaos, and physical behavior! Before I became a SAHM I worked on developing really cool consumer brands like “M&M’s.” Whenever I miss working, I just tell myself that I am responsible for launching 4 totally new brands! I am not a writer and I don’t pretend to be. I am, however, an “emoter”; I would tell my feelings to a wall. I describe myself as a sarcastic, honest, overwhelmed, over-achieving (but in a good way), down-to-earth person. I am very hard on myself but only because I want to do better for myself and those I love, like my family and my friends.
I love to eat nachos, ice cream sundaes, and sushi; three foods I haven’t had for 6 months due to breastfeeding. I think my a*s will grow exponentially when I stop pumping and start eating! I met my husband on a blind date and told my mom after our first real date that I was going to marry him. I was right! It didn’t take long for us to decide we wanted a large family and we feel fortunate to have 4 healthy boys.
Moving forward, I will refer to my sons as #1, #2, #3, and #4 to help protect their privacy. That and well, quite frankly, that is how I have started calling them at home because it is WAY easier….Our days are filled with pre-school, occupation and speech therapy lessons, extra-curricular lessons, lego building, Candy Land playing, fist fights, verbal fights, I’m not going to listen to you fights, tears and more. The more being love and laughter of course.
Now here’s a little bit about each boy…why I love ‘em and why they drive me to yell! (I figured a little insight into their distinct personalities would give you numerous insights into why I yell so much!)
#1 (5 years old): He is amazing: intellectually curious, empathetic, charismatic and more. He is a very aware little boy which makes him very sweet but also very emotional and sensitive to noise, chaos, and change. As such, he is easily set off and quick to yell, but then hard to settle down when he is upset and in the obstinate zone. He requires a lot of love, understanding, 1 on 1 attention and patience. (Don’t we all?!) I have the love and understanding (personality wise he is my long lost twin!), it’s the attention and patience that I am lacking!
#2 (3.5 years old): He too is amazing, aren’t all kids all the time? He has a love for life that I dream of having. Absolutely nothing fazes him; he is completely carefree and walks around smiling and telling phenomenal stories with great gusto. But, in being so carefree, he takes his precious time to do everything and he could give a sh*t about what I have to say or his brothers think. He intentionally does things to incite a war with his brothers and does so with a twinkle in his eyes. Oh, and his everyday voice is normally as loud as a yell.
#3 (2 years old): Ah, sweet, hysterical #3. He is an absolute ham, always making us laugh. His grandparents call him little-John Belushi which fits him to a tee. But our little Belushi is struggling with a speech delay, is starting in with the same sensitivities as his older brother, and has a mystery physical ailment that makes him cantankerous as h*ll for 7-10 days a month. During this time he alternates between whining and tantruming (is that a word?) All. Day. Long. It’s beyond intolerable.
#4 (6 months old): At only such a young age, he too is amazing. He is a perfect combination of his older brothers, loving, easy-going, and full of laughter. He is an absolute sweetheart, truly. From 6:30 am until 7:30 pm that is but at night, whoa, his sleeping habits suck! He still doesn’t sleep through the night consistently due to a sensitive stomach and often wakes up with bad gas pains. Once he farts, all is right with the world. Ah, such a man!
So there you have it. A view into my life as a Stay at Home Mom to 4 boys under 5. I love my 5 boys (husband included!) immensely, challenges and all. I love them so much that I am willing to undertake this crazy challenge!