5-Minute Time Out: Raising Sextuplets
Jenny Masche on avoiding the pitfalls of Jon & Kate.
by Jennifer V. Hughes
July 3, 2009
What has been the hardest moment so far?
The hardest part is making sure we focus on our marriage. The first year was really hard. I had six little people who were totally needy of me and
I had a husband who was needy of me too, and I didn't have enough of me to go around. It's been a struggle but it's been good because it makes us work on it. If things are too easy you can get complacent.
What has been the best?
Absolutely the babies and our families. Our families rallied around us and it was so amazing. That and just regular people. I email a lady from South
Africa to this day. She followed our pregnancy and we just became friends. It's cool when you meet people from all over the country who are praying for you.
What do you think parents of just one or two measly kids can learn from your experiences?
"I can't physically force six of them
to sit in chairs."I think there are probably a lot of things I do wrong. Hopefully people will see that and say, "Oh yeah! I don't want to do
that!" [Laughs.] I hope that people can learn how to let go of things and choose your battles. With only one kid you can fight a lot more battles. With us, we really have to let a lot of things go.
How do you get six toddlers to bed? Feed them? I'm talking logistics here.
You just do it. I fix dinner, I put it on the table . . . they're toddlers, they sit down, they eat, they run away. I can't physically force six of them
to sit in chairs. Dinner time is just like that around here. They actually loved diaper changes because they got alone time with me. You learn how to be really, really patient. You do six of everything and that's your whole night. Once you get them down you
take a breath and think, we survived the day.
I feel that way with one!
My friends with one all say the same thing! I just don't know any different.
How do you get anything else done? Dishes? Laundry?
I have to do everything when my kids are asleep. I do a huge clean up at naptime and a huge clean up at bedtime. My husband is really good at cleaning
up the house. That's something I'm grateful for.
I know that multiples often have health difficulties
— are all of your children healthy?
They are totally healthy
— we feel so blessed.
So, are you going to have any more?
[Laughs.] No. My husband got fixed when they
were four months old. That's done. C'mon, really?
About the Author
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Jennifer V. Hughes is a writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Mothering magazine and the Columbia Law School Report. She also makes a killer sangria. |
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