Adjusting to life with 3 kids

I’ve been a mom of 3 for over 6 months now. 6 MONTHS. I can’t even believe it because it feels like my water broke just yesterday and we headed to the hospital to meet our newest princess. The past 6 months have been a total whirlwind and I’m not going to lie, it hasn’t been easy.

For starters, we’ve gone from man to man defense to zone defense. Someone wants mommy or daddy at all times and do the math, we’re outnumbered. Someone ends up getting upset or acts out to get more attention. And unfortunately the baby usually wins because hello, she’s a baby and needs fed. And while I’m not technically the only one that can feed her, I usually do because otherwise I have to pump while she gets a bottle and that defeats the whole purpose, right?

Leaving the house is probably one of the most challenging parts. Especially now that the temps are in the 20s and I have to leave to take P to school and pick her up from school three days a week. Gymnastics one of the other days. And then there are the birthday parties, sports games, holiday parties, etc that we’ve committed to. Poor baby has no choice but to spend a lot of her time in her car seat! I just like to think she’ll be relaxed and one of those go-with-the-flow kind of people when she gets older (unlike her mother…)

Working from home is almost impossible now. Ever since I returned from my trip to Chicago, baby decided she doesn’t like sleeping now (day or night) and takes 15 minute cat naps. Maybe she’s afraid I’m going to leave again or she’s going through a growth spurt. Either way, I feel like all I do is feed her and then hold her because God forbid I put her down. Fuss fuss fuss. I know, I should be soaking up this time with her. But I also have to make a living somehow and although I’m my own boss, I still have deadlines and commitments like everyone else.

My husband and I usually try to spend a few hours a night hanging out, watching our shows, etc. But it usually winds up with him doing the dishes and folding laundry while I scramble to get some work done before I can’t keep my eyes open any longer. We’ve been on one date since I had the baby in July and it’s long overdue. But finding someone to watch all three kids isn’t an easy task, not to mention when one of them is a newborn. Thank goodness for my parents… can we say lifesavers?

It’s not always the prettiest picture. I’m stressed out and yelling because no one picks up after themselves. My bed is rarely made. Laundry sits in piles for days before I get to it. I’m usually slaving away at my phone or computer because I forgot I had something due. But that’s real life. I’m a working mama just like any other mama who leaves the house and goes to an office. So although I sometimes feel guilty and like I should be going places and doing things with the kiddos during the day, sometimes I just can’t.

I’m human. I’m learning how to be a mom to THREE kids and sometimes just saying that stresses me out. I forget to send in permission slips or send tuition checks. We’re still looking for a library book somewhere that was due back a month ago. Sometimes the baby stays in her pajamas for three days before I put new ones on (gotta cut down on that laundry and hey if it’s clean it’s fine…)

But they are loved. We spend time reading before bedtime and I tickle their backs until they fall asleep. We play board games and watch movies. We have dinner together every night. We try to take them out for a few hours separately when we can, because I know they need that one-on-one attention. And I hope that’s what they remember. I hope they know that mommy and daddy aren’t perfect and we’re just doing the best we can while loving them with all we can.

So people often ask me what it’s like to have three kids.

It’s chaos.

It’s crazy.

It’s stressful.

It’s overwhelming.

But you know what else is overwhelming? The love. We’re done having kids for a lot of reasons but I don’t think I could spread my attention any thinner. I know I could absolutely love more children but God gave me three beautiful, healthy kiddos who need their mama and I just want to make sure I’m cherishing this time as much as I can.

I know it won’t be like this forever. One day there will be enough time to vacuum or to change the laundry before having to rewash it 3 times. But you know what there won’t be? Little hands tugging at my legs to pick them up. Or teary-eyes asking me to lay with them until they fall asleep. So as much as I lose my mind some days, I know that these are some of the best years of our lives.

Is it easy? No. Worth it? 100% yes.