Why five is easier than two

Whenever I'm out and about, or the subject of children comes up, I get comments on our family size. Many comments are from moms of one or two who "can't believe" I can deal with 5, because they "have enough trouble with their two." While I know everyone's circumstances are different, I am here to tell you that TWO *IS* HARD. I know, I had only two at one point. Two is especially hard when they are both, say, 5 and under. So give yourselves a break, moms of two, and realize it IS hard, it is not like there is something wrong with you that you can't handle 2 when I can handle five. (BTW, I never said I was "handling" five well either, LOL!)

Here are a number of reasons why I find five kids easier than two:

• they entertain each other more often. When Kid A doesn't want to play with Kid B, Kid A can go to Kid C or D or E and convince them their life would be better off with a rousing game of Polly Pockets. When I had two, if Kid A didn't want to play with Kid B, I usually had BOTH Kid A and Kid B coming to ME for entertainment. I'm not good at, nor do I particularly like, playing kids games. As in, I'd rather get dental work than play Polly Pockets for an hour.
• It doesn't take 5 times as much work to deal with 5 kids as opposed to 1. Five sandwiches for lunch only takes another minute or two when everything is lined up, cooking dinner for 7 vs. 3 people means a bigger bowl but not twice the prep time, the kids can be taught together for several subjects, etc . Laundry...oh wait, laundry does seem to multiply exponentially. Scratch that.
• There are always hands to hold the baby. When I had a newborn and a two year old, I can probably count the number of times I ate a hot meal in those days on one hand. Now, with 10, 8, 4, and 2yo's, I can yell, "Anyone want to hold/play with the baby?" and many people will come running. My 10yo is especially good with him. Then I get to eat a quick lunch or go to the bathroom without balancing the baby on one arm.
• Same goes for little chores. When I had two young children, it wasn't a tenth as easy to say to the air, "Could someone grab another roll of paper towels on their way upstairs?" and have it actually occur. Now there are many hands to help with the little things that would have me running in circles all day before. Now, maybe that has to do with the fact that I have *older* children, but I think in part it is the "many children" factor - because it is not only my olders that help. It just seems like with more, there is always someone who is "not really doing anything" and can help get the toddler a piece of cheese while I'm nursing the baby.
• Younger children in a large family learn a lot by osmosis. This is good and bad. Good when they already know how to read, add, subtract, brush their teeth and change the CD in the player; bad when they start sounding like their 10yo sister with the attitude problem.
• The "dilution factor." This is my dh's name for the phenomenon of gaining the proper perspective on each person's issues. When we had two kids, each illness, head bump, or other concern tended to take on large proportions. Now that we have more kids to worry about, each issue just seems a little less traumatic. I can imagine what a basket case I would be about my dd's alopecia or her sister's hearing loss if each were my only child. Serious problems get their due, of course, but "serious" is put in much better perspective.
• Experience is on my side. By the fifth baby, you have usually learned many tricks/ techniques/routines that make things easier. You also finally understand just how fleeting time really is, and don't get half as worked up about the kids' little phases, because you know deep down they will be over before you know it. Having that perspective on colic is a lifesaver, let me tell you!
• The love is multiplied. And that really covers a multitude of sins. I need all the coverage I can get!!