Quote Originally Posted by Ibu Jari
I hope all of you who don't like children don't ever have unprotected sex and end up getting pregnant or getting someone pregnant.

I have two beautiful children, my 5 yr old son, who love him very much. But my GOD, whoever mentioned adopting at 5 or 6 yr old, you might want to read up on your Gentle Discipline starting now. He's a very bright child, but has like NO short term memory
"Please don't touch the nintendo unless mommy says you can"

and I turn around he's trying to shove the cartridge even deeper into the machine. *rollseyes*

I also have a 15 (almost 16) month old daughter, who still doesn't sleep through the night. Yes, it's difficult, and I would really love to get a full nights sleep every night. But when she looks at me with thoes deep baby brown eyes, I melt. And her wet little kisses are just heavenly.

I have given birth twice, the first one was not easy, but mercifully only 9 hours. My second birth was all of 28 minutes from the first contraction to her actual birth. My husband caught her. Yes, she was born at home (planned). I did not ask to be medicated for either birth.

I love my children dearly, and I adore newborns. Being a mother of a newborn you don't really realize how little sleep you've gotten. Especially if your breastfeeding and cosleeping with your warm little bundle. My daughter nursed every 1.5 - 2 hours around the clock for the first 8 months of her life, and I never felt sleep deprived unless we had another night time issue, like teething, or illness. And of course, they're just so darn cute!
Hi Ibu Jari- Wow, you've got a lot to handle, but it also sounds wonderful! I am sure I am going to have to learn a new level of patience. I have to use "Gentle Discipline" (is there a book on that I could read???) a bit when I teach knuckleheaded college kids, but I guess at 5 or 6 it can be a real challenge! I have already learned about this thing called the "Liberian Pout" which is something many of the kids adopted from there use when they are disciplined- and I have been told that the best way with kids from that culture is not time-outs but rather to take away a toy for misbehavior. Another interesting cultural thing is that many of the children there are prone to lying, and it isn't as frowned upon there as it is here, so that will be a new thing for them to learn.
I'm so glad to hear from others with kiddies, I will be checking in with you!