8 Things Christina Can Teach You About Motherhood

Summer is finally here! And for those of you with a bunch of little ones who better to ask than someone with FIVE children.  Three are still in diapers!

Christina and I talk almost every day and constantly she's sharing information with me that I didn't know or I'm glad to have her as a resource of knowledge and I'm grateful I get to get a peek into her life.  I joke and call her the young lady in the shoe because she knows how to handle her small tribe. 

Meet my bestie Christina!

 What do you love most about being a mother?

The connection. I was an only child growing up and my parents were separated so life was pretty lonely. I love knowing that I'm connected with these amazing little people and that they'll have each other for the rest of their lives. 

When it comes to the children which is your favorite season?Fall has always been my personal favorite but even more so with now that I have kids. Fall is the beginning of everything exciting: school, holidays, snow...the only thing I like about summer is having all the kids home with me. 

What is the number one thing you wish you were told before your first child?

There's such an emphasis on how hard it is to be a first time mom-"Your whole world is changing!" and "Things will never be the same! Say goodbye to sleep!" And so on. I really wish someone had been more positive about it. The first six weeks are hard. You don't sleep. But after those first six weeks things start to get better. You fall into a pattern and it really does get easier. No one told me that, everyone just said "get used to it".

What is the number one thing you wish you were told before you had your last two?  (the twins)

I wish someone had warned me about how the public perception of my family would change. It's almost taboo these days to have five children. I went from being told on a regular basis how adorable my children were to now "Are they ALL yours?"

What's the most challenging question your eldest son has ever asked you?  How did you answer it?
I'm divorced from my oldest son's father and he asked me why we couldn't work it out. There are so many aspects to a relationship that are difficult for a 9 year old to understand, especially because his father is a great guy. I told him that sometimes, people just clash and don't bring out the best in each other and when you really care about a person, you want the best for them, even if the best means you have to go your separate ways. 

What is your favorite thing about your husband?
His dedication to our family. My husband is amazing. Neither of us had an idyllic childhood and he is as equally as passionate as I am about not repeating our parents mistakes and to being the best possible versions of ourselves for each other and for our children that we can be. It takes a lot of strength to put your impulses aside for the sake of your family, especially when you weren't taught to do so.

What do you wish strangers knew when they saw you walking with your adorable tribe?

That I don't need sympathy. 

All of my pregnancies were wanted. We wanted a big family and I love it. Yes, it gets crazy sometimes. Yes, doing simple, every day things like food shopping take an obscene amount of planning  but I'm well aware that this is one of the happiest times of my life and one day I'll look back and miss when my children were small so I always try to maintain an attitude of gratefulness instead of frustration. 

Share a teaching mothering moment with us.  :) 
My first two children were boys. We desperately wanted a girl and our third baby amazingly enough, was our little girl, FINALLY! 
The first time I changed her diaper in the hospital, I saw that suddenly there was a flood beneath her. It came out of NO WHERE. Magic pee. When boys pee, it's very obvious and you've gotta look out because it shoots but with girls, it just pools around them. 
I also saw that she was bleeding and I totally freaked out. Turns out, when girls are first born, they have a "period" where she expresses some of my hormones. At that very moment, I knew that my life with Julie (and my boys) was going to be one hell of an adventure. 

Where can we find you on social media?
I'm on twitter at @Regeenalane 

I'm so glad she took the time to answer my questions I hope someone out there finds some of her answers insightful and interesting I know I sure do.  And that's who I write this blog for, me and people like me.

And if you want to check out her hubby's vlog: David Nicky