How do you do it? I have had to work a full time job since way before I had kids (now 16 & 13). How are you able to stay home with yours without working/without your husband working and now separated? Must be nice to stay with your kids all the time and not have to work…. My husband has been out of work for 3 years and only recently found a part time job. If it weren’t for my job we would have lost our house years ago.
I think caring for five children is the living definition of WORK.
Plus Jennifer uses her talents as a photographer to support her family. I think it sounds catty to say “must be nice” like it’s a vacation. I am truly sorry your situation isn’t ideal for you, but that’s no reason to hold it against people who ARE blessed enough to work from home or work on location once in a while and stay home the rest of the time. Even women who are lucky enough to stay home full time while their husband works full time pull their weight with cooking, household maintenance, budgeting, etc
I ended up not having children, but if I had..I would have stayed home and that would have made me lucky but not any LESS hardworking than you. And caring for FIVE! Personally I bet Jennifer’s workload is 3 times what mine is and I work full time in a high pressure environment. (nursing)
I will be praying for your husband to find a great job, a job which allows you to be at home as much as you desire.
It’s pretty much next to impossible to work outside the home on a regular basis with five children. I did it as a single parent with three children and it was really really difficult. I was not receiving child support at the time so my county did assist with day care costs, if it wasn’t for that assistance I would have been spending well over $400 a week in child care and I’m going back to the early 90s. I can’t imagine what it would cost now. Once her husband has secured full time employment she will be entitled to 40% of his wages, well that is the percentage here in New York . I can’t speak for Jennifer, a lot of people seem to try to for some reason, but my opinion is that once her husband starts paying child support, she will be able to bring in income from her blog and her photography business. I really did miss being home with my boys when they were little, I wish I could have worked part time but it just wasn’t possible for me.
Here in Minnesota child support is a little different. We have a calculator that goes by both parents income. The laws changed a few years back-fathers felt they couldn’t have a second family and it was too much and unfair. If she makes more and they split the kids a certain amount-she could actually end up paying him.
It’s important to have a bit of FUN in the midst of Trials!! It’s learning to not take life so seriously and laughing instead! It’s Joy!!!! Yep, That’s what it is – Pure JOY!!!
Kicking myself for not thinking of it myself! Going to get the mattress now…will be great fun for some kiddos who are sobbing and crying and enjoying the general “5 o’clock when is daddy getting home” meltdown malaise.
My 3 kids and nephew used to slide down are steps on a toy box lid!! The mattress was at the bottom against the wall to cushion their landing. The fun stopped when someone’s foot went through the drywall! They had to fix the hole!!
To be a kid with not a care in the world, priceless.
Thanks for sharing!
I am sure there will be another call from some to remove your kids immediately due to the lack of parenting ability on you part and allowing those children to be placed in danger for the sake of a photo op……….
Me I gotta say that hey at least they are using mattresses I remember doing such things with cousins and a laundry basket, miraculously we managed to all survive . Nice to see the kids being kids and just having a moment during this time to just be crazy!!
Hello Mrs. Jennifer,
Is this a photo of a ” NO more Monkeys jumping on the bed” Party??? If so , Can I join next time? LOL! Love you & all the kiddos too. Love Randee in TX
This post made me smile big. So nice to read something like this from you right now. Hope you are continuing to feel better and better. Many prayers going out to you and the kids.
we used to do that as kids too! So much fun- kept us occupied for a long time! Although we didn’t have a railing on the side of the steps so there were a few ‘accidents’ over the edge = )
Awesome! We never slid down mattresses, just down the well-padded and carpeted stairs in our footed sleepers. On our stomachs. It’s one of my favorite childhood memories.
How could you not know what that is!! The joys of raising children! Really was hoping you were going to be doing photoshoots as baby #6 is due March 16! As this is our last I am hoping to do some pics with all the kids and baby.
It took me a minute to figure it out. Trying to figure out if Big Mac was laying on a wall or if Flurry was lying down or climbing up a mattress! LOL! Mattress surfing! My kids have resorted to sledding down the stairs since we have no snow. Although we only have half flights of stairs so it’s not as much fun as a full flight!
We only did this with sleeping bags. Whole mattresses would have been way more fun (and easier on the bottom I imagine!). Glad you’re having a little fun!!!
Nothing like mattress surfing! We used to use beanbags when we were younger. Oh the memories. Sounds like a ton of fun and memories being made. Get to feeling better Jennifer. Still praying for you & your family.
I’d say mattress sliding down the stairs My brother and I used to slide down the stairs in our sleeping bags! We had a ton of fun. Gotta love creativity and the kids have a blast!!!!
Seen this plenty of times! Lol jumping/wrestling on the airmattress. Hahahaga fun! Except my husband tells ours they are’t allowed. I think he’s worried it will break it or something.
Hmm. The bed wsd intended to be movef upstairs but decided to let the kids have a little fun first by turning it into a slide. Is that correct? Totally looks like fun. I wanna try!
I feel the need to put a disclaimer in here for those extreme view points:
Now before someone goes off to the extreme about seat belts and bike helmets, my kids do wear them and most other safety precautions, but they also have slid down the stairs a time or two, played in mud puddles, and get dirty from head to toe on any given day and had a blast.
Crazy town! ;0)
How do you do it? I have had to work a full time job since way before I had kids (now 16 & 13). How are you able to stay home with yours without working/without your husband working and now separated? Must be nice to stay with your kids all the time and not have to work…. My husband has been out of work for 3 years and only recently found a part time job. If it weren’t for my job we would have lost our house years ago.
She makes money from her blog.
I think caring for five children is the living definition of WORK.
Plus Jennifer uses her talents as a photographer to support her family. I think it sounds catty to say “must be nice” like it’s a vacation. I am truly sorry your situation isn’t ideal for you, but that’s no reason to hold it against people who ARE blessed enough to work from home or work on location once in a while and stay home the rest of the time. Even women who are lucky enough to stay home full time while their husband works full time pull their weight with cooking, household maintenance, budgeting, etc
I ended up not having children, but if I had..I would have stayed home and that would have made me lucky but not any LESS hardworking than you. And caring for FIVE! Personally I bet Jennifer’s workload is 3 times what mine is and I work full time in a high pressure environment. (nursing)
I will be praying for your husband to find a great job, a job which allows you to be at home as much as you desire.
It’s pretty much next to impossible to work outside the home on a regular basis with five children. I did it as a single parent with three children and it was really really difficult. I was not receiving child support at the time so my county did assist with day care costs, if it wasn’t for that assistance I would have been spending well over $400 a week in child care and I’m going back to the early 90s. I can’t imagine what it would cost now. Once her husband has secured full time employment she will be entitled to 40% of his wages, well that is the percentage here in New York . I can’t speak for Jennifer, a lot of people seem to try to for some reason, but my opinion is that once her husband starts paying child support, she will be able to bring in income from her blog and her photography business. I really did miss being home with my boys when they were little, I wish I could have worked part time but it just wasn’t possible for me.
In Minnesota, we use a child support calculator. It factors in both of the parents wages and the percentage of parenting time.
Here in Minnesota child support is a little different. We have a calculator that goes by both parents income. The laws changed a few years back-fathers felt they couldn’t have a second family and it was too much and unfair. If she makes more and they split the kids a certain amount-she could actually end up paying him.
I had a big hole in the sheet rock at the bottom of the steps in my old house from this very thing! Good times!
It’s important to have a bit of FUN in the midst of Trials!! It’s learning to not take life so seriously and laughing instead! It’s Joy!!!! Yep, That’s what it is – Pure JOY!!!
We used to do that when we were kids! So fun!!
Mattressboarding. Approve!
Do you realize how DANGEROUS THAT IS?
Kicking myself for not thinking of it myself! Going to get the mattress now…will be great fun for some kiddos who are sobbing and crying and enjoying the general “5 o’clock when is daddy getting home” meltdown malaise.
My 3 kids and nephew used to slide down are steps on a toy box lid!! The mattress was at the bottom against the wall to cushion their landing. The fun stopped when someone’s foot went through the drywall! They had to fix the hole!!
To be a kid with not a care in the world, priceless.
Thanks for sharing!
Michele
My 4 siblings and I used to do this all the time in our house! With the smaller crib mattresses.
So much fun!!
Continuing to pray for you guys.
Good.Simple.Fun. I love it.
I have great memories of doing this as a kid
but my mom told me not to lol, we did it in secret HAH!
i use to do that ALL. THE. TIME!!! I loved it!! looks like they are having a blast!
We did that when I was a little girl. My best girlfriend still talks about how much fun that was to this day.
Are those Small Fry’s fingers on the right? You got them all in one shot
Yes they are!!! Good eyes!!
Love the picture! AWESOME
Awesome!
I am sure there will be another call from some to remove your kids immediately due to the lack of parenting ability on you part and allowing those children to be placed in danger for the sake of a photo op……….
Me I gotta say that hey at least they are using mattresses
I remember doing such things with cousins and a laundry basket, miraculously we managed to all survive . Nice to see the kids being kids and just having a moment during this time to just be crazy!!
Yeah!! I gotta ask….LOL
WHAT are they doing?
Whatever they are doing…..it looks FUN!!!!
My Mother never let me do anything dangerous…but she did let me slide down the stair steps! So much fun! Looks like it was fun for all!
Looks like so much fun! You enjoy them!
Hello Mrs. Jennifer,
Is this a photo of a ” NO more Monkeys jumping on the bed” Party??? If so , Can I join next time? LOL! Love you & all the kiddos too. Love Randee in TX
Looks like they’re enjoying their selves!
Amy
Coolest. Mom. Ever!!!!
I agree! It looks like they were having a blast! I l think that is Small Fry down at the bottom. I love the picture!
So fun! I’ll have to remember to do that when we move into our next home with a big staircase!
No need to ask. Just have to say……LOOKS. LIKE. FUN!!!! ENJOY!!!
This post made me smile big. So nice to read something like this from you right now. Hope you are continuing to feel better and better. Many prayers going out to you and the kids.
cute!!!!
MATTRESS SURFING! youre the coolest mom ever.
we used to do that as kids too! So much fun- kept us occupied for a long time! Although we didn’t have a railing on the side of the steps so there were a few ‘accidents’ over the edge = )
oh how fun! Wish I had stairs only for that reason…wouldnt want stairs otherwise. I bet the kids loved it!!!
that is a fantstic shot! so much fun going on! love it!!
I’m coming over!
Looks like they’re having fun!
Something the kids will probably remember for the rest of their lives!
Love this. What a great, fun idea. Praying for you..
What a cute picture!
Awesome! We never slid down mattresses, just down the well-padded and carpeted stairs in our footed sleepers. On our stomachs. It’s one of my favorite childhood memories.
We did too!
I wasn’t going to ask, either. But was going to say the same as the other…mattress surfing on the stairs.
Thats awesome! Gotta have fun moving! I can still remember sliding down the stairs in my slippery sleeping bag. Crib mattress—–genius! I love it!
Love it!
Much better than laundry baskets!!!!
How could you not know what that is!! The joys of raising children! Really was hoping you were going to be doing photoshoots as baby #6 is due March 16! As this is our last I am hoping to do some pics with all the kids and baby.
nope-the mattress is the slide. it stays put and the kids go ZOOM :}
It took me a minute to figure it out. Trying to figure out if Big Mac was laying on a wall or if Flurry was lying down or climbing up a mattress! LOL! Mattress surfing!
My kids have resorted to sledding down the stairs since we have no snow. Although we only have half flights of stairs so it’s not as much fun as a full flight!
If you are matress surfing I am totally jealous!!! We dont have stairs. Have fun!!
We only did this with sleeping bags. Whole mattresses would have been way more fun (and easier on the bottom I imagine!). Glad you’re having a little fun!!!
Nothing like mattress surfing! We used to use beanbags when we were younger. Oh the memories. Sounds like a ton of fun and memories being made. Get to feeling better Jennifer. Still praying for you & your family.
Fast and fun way to move the mattresses down the stairs.
Mattress Surfing. There’s nothin’ better.
Looks like fun!! Mckmama, I heard this song this morning and thought of you, please take a listen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdN5GyTl8K0
Mattress Surfing down stairs, oh yes please!
might not be, but it sure looks like it and sounds like fun!
I bet that was lots of fun….mattress sliding….:-)
Is he helping put his bed together?
We used to love doing this as kids! Riding mats or mattresses down the staircase. At least that’s what it looks like they are doing!
Mattress Surfing are we!?! LOL!
Love it!!!! Finding fun in a move that wasn’t expected nor wanted. It is good for you and them!
Woo-hoo mattress surfing!!
ok fine I’ll ask. Why are they SO cute?
Mattress surfing! Love it!
Looks like they are doing the same thing the girls did in ‘The Princess Diaries 2′!!! Looks like fun:)
nothing wrong with having some fun while carting (or should say sliding) a mattress down the stairs
I’d say mattress sliding down the stairs
My brother and I used to slide down the stairs in our sleeping bags! We had a ton of fun. Gotta love creativity and the kids have a blast!!!!
my siblings and I did that as well… our parents would have killed us if we used mattresses…but we used the mattresses in our dorm… lol
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. I use to love doing that as a kid!!!
Hahahaha!!!! How fun is that?! I bet Flurry was having the time of his little life!
too cute! Looks like lots of fun!!
My super cool mom used tyo let us do that too
Ridin the matresses down the stairs on moving day? Looks like fun.
Looks like something my son would love to try if we had a straight staircase.
NEW BEDS MEANS NO BUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Praying for you all, Jennifer!
Nana Judy
now that is fun, though my kids would have use each as a sled instead of all as a slide, i like the slide idea better.
Seen this plenty of times! Lol jumping/wrestling on the airmattress. Hahahaga fun! Except my husband tells ours they are’t allowed. I think he’s worried it will break it or something.
I love mattress surfing!
AWWWW sliding down the stairs on a mattress ROCKS!! have fun live life!!
They are riding down the stairs on mattresses!! HOW FUN!!
Matress surfing?
*mattress.
Hmm. The bed wsd intended to be movef upstairs but decided to let the kids have a little fun first by turning it into a slide. Is that correct? Totally looks like fun. I wanna try!
Mattress surfing???
Lol!!!! I remember doing that with my brothers and sisters all the time when we were younger…. Glad to see they are having fun!!
Looks like they’re sliding down the stairs on mattresses? What fun, I used to do that when I was a kid.
Jennifer, they look like they are having a great time. Hope you are feeling a little better today.
you’ve got the kids mattress on the stairs and they’re using it as a slide. what? we do that a lot. =)
I’m thinking they are “riding” the mattress down the stair case? Am I right?
i did that as a kid. and it was “dangerous”…. and it was FUN too! lol
I look at the things I did as a kid and would label many of them “dangerous” by today’s standards too, but you are right, fun!
oh, i meant it in good fun! it makes me laugh these days that we have to put kids in suits of armor just to go ride their bikes…..
I totally agree!
I feel the need to put a disclaimer in here for those extreme view points:
Now before someone goes off to the extreme about seat belts and bike helmets, my kids do wear them and most other safety precautions, but they also have slid down the stairs a time or two, played in mud puddles, and get dirty from head to toe on any given day and had a blast.
ummm…………u were having the boys help you move the beds out?
Looks like sheet changing day!
Could they *be* having anymore fun!?;) Love, hugs and prayers!!
Are they sliding down the stairs on a crib mattress? Fun! Used to do it all the time as a kid!
Gotta have a little fun in life while you can – and boy this looks like a blast
Jennifer – NO SLIDING FOR YOU!
I agree with Judy K on the NO BUGS comment – things are looking up!
Stay well, Jennifer – hope you are healing both inside and out.