Herd or Individual

I came from a family of 2 kids and I am the youngest. My brother is 6 years older than me so I pretty much grew up as an individual. Plus, I was a girl, he was a boy. "The kids" wasn't a term used for us. I loved it. I was free to be me and not ever just shoved off to the side with us to entertain ourselves.

Now, I have 3 girls, all 2ish years apart. It is so easy to put them into the "girls" or the older girls or the 2 little girls or whatever. They often get listed in the herd category. I am not sure if it is an introvert thing...not really liking the whole shallow thing...or if it is how I was brought up, but I hate that my girls get that herd mentality. Having each of them be an individual is what I really want.

We focus alot on each one's personality, they are very different from each other so that helps but it is a ton of work. Not to mention, the oldest one (5) understands when things are different for her verses her sisters (the justice of it all)! I can't figure out why I don't like the herd thing, I am not even sure it is that bad...I guess it all boils down to me not wanting to be put in a box and made to just go from here to there for no reason. Rebellious, why yes I am :). I guess for the next 18ish years I am just going to have to live exhausted trying to make sure that each child gets to go their way, not just the way of their sisters.

Ok, now that I really think about it...God doesn't treat us as a herd. He knows what each of us needs down to the detail...He surely is thinking of my girls the same way. Each one with a special and unique plan for their lives, including when they were born. Ok, I will live tired and take time to make sure my girls feel part of the family and work as a team but also that they feel that they are an individual, not just a Schultz child.

Carry on all of you out there! Raise your kids strong!

Name Tags

Call me an introvert but I hate name tags. I dislike them so much, it is almost a phobia. Several people have tried to explain why you should where them: Easier to approach you, less pressure for people to remember your name or you to remember theirs, learn names quicker...

I hear you all and I understand you, doesn't mean I agree, but I understand. Here is why I don't like them:

1. people talk to you like they know you, even if they don't
2. people look at your chest for your name
3. I can never get them fully straight on my shirt
4. promotes shallow conversations

The last is the most disheartening to me. I can talk for quite awhile to people but I would much rather stay out of the reach of people who want to talk about nothing for a long time.

Being a rebel is a slight part of it too...let's not forget that I have that tendency in me (thanks mom!) I will not be offended if you don't remember my name, I more than likely don't have yours memorized...let's just say our names and be done with it!