Acorns in the Mouth: Changes in Parenting with Multiple Kids

After having three kids and "fondly" looking back on all of the parenting memories so far, it is amazing to see how things have changed from one child to the next.  Now my observations in this area are not strictly related to three girls, but I think to anyone who has multiple kids, whatever the genders may be.  Here are some examples to illustrate how rules, behaviors and attitudes of the parents change with the third child.

1. Clothes - First child was always dressed perfectly in clothes that were absolutely clean.  If they got a stain on it, they were probably changed very quickly.  Also, if a piece of clothing came back from the laundry and the stain was not completely removed, that piece of clothing would only be worn again in an emergency clothes shortage.   Also, whenever the first child wore that piece of clothing the parent would feel obligated to explain why their child was wearing a stained piece of clothing. Second child was dressed nicely, but if clothes got dirty they were never changed.  If a piece of clothing had a stain on it after being washed, it was still worn as long as it was not too bad.  Explanation to friends and family would be some witty comment about the second child having to wear the hand me downs of the older sibling.  Third child is lucky if they get dressed some mornings.  They may just stay in their PJ's until lunch because it is easier.  If they do get dressed, the clothes most definitely have a stain or mark on them somewhere from one of the previous siblings.  Also, they may go more then one day in the same onesie, if it does not "smell too bad" or if the parents are in a rush and just need to get somewhere.
2. Eating - First born was held for all bottles and talked to soothingly throughout.  A great bonding experience.  They peacefully ate all of their meals in their high chair or booster seat and never were allowed to walk around with food.  The second child had all of their bottles while being held, but probably were interrupted by the attention seeking first child.  All meals for the second child were still in the high chair or booster seat, but were much more rushed and quite possibly would have had to happen in different settings on occasion depending on needs and schedule of the firstborn.  Still not allowed to eat food while walking around.  If the third child did not walk around while eating they may never get fed at all.  They also never get to sit alone with their bottle and enjoy quiet time with a parent.  They are lucky when they get to sit in a booster or high chair for their entire meal.  And more times than not it will be a quick meal because the older siblings have somewhere to be.  But they learn to drink bottles on the move, and grub food from any and all adults.  They become very self sufficient early on.
3. Out and About - When you go out with the first child to a new environment the parents are more than likely going to try and sanitize the entire playing area.  They will not let their child roam on a common area type floor (i.e. a gym, restaurant floor, or school cafeteria).  The parent will be within arm's length of the child at all times.  And of course nothing will be allowed in the firstborn's mouth.  When venturing out with the second child the sanitizing of the area may be brief, if at all, and the exploration range will be broadened, but still within a 10 foot radius.  The parent will try to steer the second child to play in the same area as the older sibling to keep it simple.  Still nothing will be allowed in the second child's mouth.  With the third child, the parent is more than happy when arriving at a location to be able to but the child down and let them "explore" all they want.  As long as there is some sort of gate or door that keeps them in the enclosed environment and they can be seen within 50 feet. Not uncommon for a parent of multiple kids to be heard saying "Have you seen 'insert name of third child here' running around?"  Dirty floors? No big deal.  The parents are happy the third child is entertaining themselves and they have a few moments of peace.  Hermit crabs in the mouth? Give them a second to see that they do not taste good and then stop them from eating anymore.  Sucking on acorns?  As long as they are too big to cause a choking hazard, let them suck on them and spit out and then continue the process for as long as it keeps them happy and preoccupied.
4. Special Circumstance - If the first child had a foreign object, say a bead from a child's necklace, end up in their poopie diaper there would be absolute panic in the house.  The parents would be calling poison control, their pediatrician, and rushing the child to the emergency room.  They would probably sleep in the same room with the child through the night and possibly take off from work the next day to keep an eye on them.  If same object was found in the second child's diaper, the parents would probably call the pediatrician to make sure there was nothing special they should do and just keep a close eye on the child for the day.  When the third child has a bead end up in their poopie diaper, there is no real concern for the child, but the parents decide to use it as a teaching lesson.  They bring the offending diaper to the kitchen table and make the two older kids look at it and explain to them that they need to clean up all of their toys or this is what will happen!

If you have more than one kid you can probably relate in one way or another.  Maybe not exactly, but you probably will have plenty of your own examples.  And despite the changing approach to parenting as the number of kids increase, it is amazing how they all survive just the same.