A mother’s work is never done (especially with 4 kids under 3)

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http://www.suntimes.com/news/steinberg/12439254-452/a-mothers-work-is-never-done-especially-with-4-kids-under-3.html

A mother’s work is never done (especially with 4 kids under 3)

Neil Steinberg May 11, 2012 9:00PM

Shhh. They’re sleeping.

In four cribs nearly filling the small dark back bedroom of a modest, two-bedroom brick home on a quiet street in Skokie. Four little daughters: Malynn, the oldest, who turns three next month, plus triplets Annette, Samantha and Cecilia.

It’s 5:50 a.m. The day is about to begin — well, the sun is coming up. When any given day begins or ends is an arbitrary distinction for a mother of four children under the age of 3. You could just as well say the old day is about to end.

“Samantha just went down,” whispers Michelle Baladad-Widd, 38, sitting in her dim living room a few days before Mother’s Day. Okay, “living room” is deceptive. Think “nursery.” Much of the floor is interlocking squares of multicolored foam. The entrances are barred by child gates. Toys are scattered about. A Dora the Explorer play house. A single orange plastic ring speared on a yellow post. A changing table. Three identical red high chairs wait against one wall.

“It was a little rougher night — not too bad,” Michelle says. Cecilia — Ceci — was up from 1 to 2. Sam got up around 5. Michelle thinks she herself slept from 2 to 4.

Did she always want to be a mom?

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Happy mothers day!