The Fourth Boy

My Liam is special.  He is not like other boys.  He is gentle, never had any hitting or violence issues.  He was a quiet and easy toddler.  Our second child was a girl.  Then our third was a boy, a typical boy.  I didn't realize what it meant to be a boy until I found my 2 boys poised in on their hands and knees across the room from each other.  They then crawled as fast as they could straight towards each other until their heads cracked.  Literally cracked, like male goats having a territorial dispute.  Then they collapsed into giggle fits.  Once they composed themselves, they backed up and did it again.

Two years later, we had our fourth child, another boy.  I find a lot of broken things now.  My most common phrase these days: "No! That is NOT a toy!"

The curtains are not for climbing.

The stairs are not for sliding down, even though you somehow got your sled in the house.

You cannot swing from the blanket you tied to your curtain rod, bunk bed, door knob, cabinet, etc, etc, etc.

Just because you managed to climb up onto something 10 feet in the air does NOT mean that it is a good place to jump off.

We have just had our fourth boy this week.  I've met one family with 4 boys.  The mom told me her biggest challenge was how filthy they were.  They smelled and they constantly burped and farted everywhere they went.  I know her boys.  They are good boys.  But boyness, when combined, exponentially increases with the addition of each new male.  This includes their father.

I know I'm ready.  God wouldn't have given me 4 boys if I couldn't handle it.  And He also gave me my girl.  My one princess that I can look at after I put out the flames and stop the blood (sometimes literally).  She and I can escape and go for tea or manicures or shopping. 

But please, pray for me.  By my estimates, it will hit the fan in approximately 1.5 years from now.  It may be helpful to include my daughter in your prayers.  Thanks