Thank you dear! I appreciate your words. Honesty... that's something I'm trying to have. I want to be honest with myself. You are so right about having guilt continually hurt me after this should be all done. Right now, I hurt. I had some harsh words with my mother-in-law this morning, telling her to back off. I told her what she's done to me and to my husband. I don't think in her rush to "help", she ever thought of how she affected my husband and subsequently... me. So, I'm just trying to sit with this. I am ok... really I'll be ok. Maybe I need to be convinced of it more than I realized. I just hate being labelled. What the doctor said didn't hurt quite as much as what my mother-in-law has said, but his words were much more pointed and cruel. Maybe I'm not a good person, but I have certainly tried to be. Right now, as tears stream down my face... I continue to try.

Thanks for reading my blog! It's nice to learn that there are other parents with kids around the same age that are learning similar things :) We are doing a good job, no?!

I think that must be the perfect age... 6-13... they have the stamina and patience to handle long projects like frosting cookies. I love sour-cream cookies :)

*sigh* I still have 2 bags of gingerbread cookies to frost and I'm dragging my feet because I know how much work it will be.

lol- I completely agree with your analysis :) My mom has a similar viewpoint to hers as they are Catholic and follow the NFP... but she at least has simply kept her mouth shut. It's also fascinating to me that a woman who is not married, dating, has ever had children, or has ever struggled with fertitlity or issues within a marriage... has the audacity to share her uninformed opinion. I'm glad she has standards, but I'm not willing to put myself in the situation where I am forced to hear all about where I've gone wrong.

I figured it was prudent to consider what my husband and I can handle and how many children we can support... and then act accordingly. 4 is my limit. It is stupid to think I should have an endless amount of children without the ability to support or love them.

Exactly, which is why I didn't post this in that thread. Unfortunatly you can't help but catch glimpses of it when you sign on. :P

you are an amazing mommy! don't forget it!

even on those days when you have to change strategy!

Karla,



Thank you for telling your story! I do want to be the first source of information, especially when it comes to sensitive topics like sex. Hopefully, I can continue this open dialogue with the girls.



I miss the days when it was just my 3 girls- but Jack has introduced a whole new wave of challenges. Did you find that as you've approached each child, things have changed? Is one so completely different than the other 2 that you have to change your strategy?