Kids on the coast

There was definitely some disappointment from the family and more than a few disapproving looks as we walked down the street, but then again, we’ve never cared what anyone else thought.
 
Yes, we are a little crazy. So what do you get when you cross a boy who nearly knocked himself out when he ran up the back of Mr Whippy while chasing the van on a scooter, and a girl who got her tongue stuck to the element in the back of the freezer for trying to lick some frozen cordial? You get three gorgeous kids who are definitely a bit nuts as well.

Jenni and I are now in our thirties with our two girls who are turning 17 and 14, and our son who is going on 9. In contrast, my three best mates and their partners surprisingly all had their first child within two months of us having our last.
 
So how exactly does our experience of parenthood differ to that of our friends? The biggest issue was money. We struggled to achieve the financial stability that our friends had because they only had to look after themselves. Some people might say we missed out on being young and all that jazz, but the truth is if we did want a night out, my mother-in-law was always willing to look after the kids, and my mother came to the party as well when they were a bit older.

On the other hand, our friends have entered parenting after years of doing what they want when they want. I would argue it’s a lot harder for them. They have less patience, they are more irritable, they don’t have as much energy, and they seem to long for those days when the only person they had to worry about was them.

As their freedom becomes more and more limited with each child they have, Jenni and I are gaining a new lease on life, not that it wasn’t great before. In ten days time while they’re at home wiping snotty noses, changing nappies and watching The Wiggles on TV, Jenni and I will be at the Soundwave festival in Brisbane living it up with our eldest daughter and her boyfriend.

There are the added bonuses as well. Jenni loves it when our daughter’s friends come over and ask her if she is their sister, and everywhere I go I’ve got one of my beautiful girls with me (Jenni included!).

We’ve had a great time and it’s only getting better. Our kids went everywhere with us. They grew up with us and we grew up with them. It wasn’t always easy, but let’s face it, life by yourself isn’t always easy. As young parents we were never lonely. Last month Jenni and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary. We’re still crazy, and crazy in love.

Things have changed a bit. The kids are growing up, I’ve traded bakery ovens for the life of an academic, and Jenni’s doing a Uni degree and trying her hand at different jobs, but you’ll still find us on any given Friday night dancing around the lounge room with the kids having a Singstar competition.
So if you happen to see a big fella walking by with three beautiful girls and a boy who will be singing out loud for the simple fact he likes nothing better than to hear his own voice, say hello. Chances are you’re walking past the luckiest man in the world.