Growing pains

1st off I would like 2 thank everyone 4 their birthday greetings 2 Kyla yesterday. She had a very good day & has been stuck 2 her mp3 player that we bought her ever since. Wow cant believe that shes 12 years old. It amazes AJ & I that we have been parents 4 that long. We have watched Kyla grow 4rm a baby, 2 a toddler, 2 a preschooler, 2 a schoolie & now a teenager. Are we really that old? (you dont need 2 answer that shanley!)
We are in the middle of a clash of personalities in our home at the moment. It seems that 4 some reason all the kids personalities have shifted a little more in2 maturity & they r all trying 2 assert themselves in2 or hang on2 positions in the family... all at once.
Kyla is demanding a lot more freedom, independence etc, Kaytlynn is expecting alot more from us, both emotionally & materialistically. Liam & Maddy are trying 2 hold on2 their little kiddies tags while trying 2 cope with what is expected of them at their appropriate ages. And Ethan has totally changed his routine in2 1 that suits him regardless of our objections 'sigh'.
And in the middle of it are their parents, trying 2 be supportive, give them what they need while keeping ground rules in play. Not an ez task I assure u, especially with 5 of them. I have 2 admit that Im glad that I had all my children at a young age. I think it would kill me 2 be running around after Ethan at the age of 35 while trying 2 cope with the rest of them. I applaud all u 30+ plus mums (& dads!) just starting their families. U have more stamina than I think I would had I started (& finished) any later.