I’m Trying Something New…and Old

If you had asked me 10 years ago what my family would be like, my answer would have been, in ways, very different than what my family really looks like today. I always wanted to be a stay at home mom and I always wanted a lot of kids. I think the college version of myself wanted five kids, so that I could have an SUV full. In reality, I am a stay at home mom and I have four kids (hey, not that far off), but parenthood has been nothing if not full of surprises.

I had grand plans to be a typical mom. You know, the mom who takes her kids to and from school, takes them to the park, drives them to soccer practice, joins the PTA, keeps a spotless home, and cooks real dinners all the time. I do most of that. You can spot me at school drop off and pick up. I am a card carrying member of the PTA, but I am a real slacker when it comes to attending the meetings (oops). The kids participate in a few extra curricular activities, but not all the ones they want.

But I’m not a typical mom, I also spend a fair amount of time running kids to doctor appointments – a lot of doctor appointments.

Yes, my kids see the pediatrician just like other kids. Like other families we have been spotted at the pediatrician’s office multiple times in a short time because my kids haven’t learned how to come down with the same thing at the same time. But that is pretty typical. My kids also see a lot of specialists, some more than others, because three of them have long-term follow-up care.

My kids see a/an:

• Developmental pediatrician (this is not the same as our regular pediatrician)
• Nephrologist (coming soon)
• Neurosurgeon
• Oncologist (actually we have two oncology teams at two different hospitals for two different kids, but that is a whole other post)
• Ophthalmologist
• Orthopedist
• Physical therapist
• Pulmonologist
• Occupational therapist

This list looks shorter now that it’s written out. We used to have a few more providers, (audiologist, cardiologist, gastroenterologist, general surgeon, and geneticist) but we don’t currently see them. A little part of me needs a nap just looking at this list of providers. Although, if you need a pediatric specialist, chances are I can recommend someone. Just like some neighbors have a person for electrical work, or plumbing, I have someone for whatever ails your child.

All of that brings me to this. A blog. A blog? Yes, a blog. Writing is what I know. I hope what I write will speak to you. Maybe what I write will inspire you to push through some challenge. Maybe what I write will reassure you that you are doing a great job. But most importantly, this is going to help me process and express my hopes, my dreams, my frustrations, and my fears as I raise these people amidst chaos and help them transform into responsible adults. As an added bonus, it gives me a regular place to write, which I haven’t had since choosing to stay home with my kids.

Author: Momming Good Bad Ugly

Leslie is a stay at home mom of four - two girls and two boys, including a set of twins. In another life she worked in healthcare public affairs, and spent the her first seven years of motherhood working outside the home. Motherhood is nothing like she anticipated. She began writing again to both process the curve balls her children throw, and to drown out a decade's worth of animated programming. View all posts by Momming Good Bad Ugly