You are so right, Kristin--with older kids it's not the physical work that's so challenging, it's the listening, and knowing the right thing to say (or hoping to God you at least don't say the REALLY WRONG THING). I have one son, 12, who would literally get home and talk to me all day long. Like, I think he'd follow me into the bathroom if I let him. He is one question and story and vent after another. He has a way of sucking up all the energy in the room--it's like he's a bundle of open nerves and just has to question, question, question, and talk, talk, talk. I understand him, because I think I was also that way. But I find it exhausting.

But one thing I've also noticed about having more kids, that's GREAT? It doesn't have to be all me, all the time. Sure, my husband and I still do the parenting, and the majority of the emotional hand-holding and coaching. But my son has brothers to talk to and there are always other people in the house to soak up a little of that nervous energy. Sometimes I have to rescue my second-oldest son, who isn't nearly as talkative and craves alone time and appears to be drowning in his brother's talk talk talk. But most of the time, they figure out a way to work around each other and get their needs met. It's pretty cool to watch, really--and it takes at least some of the pressure off of me.