The Question

Ever since the birth of our third child, I get what I like to call "The Question", also known as, "Do you think you are done?"  It often comes from complete strangers.  I would like to respond with, "It's none of your business," but I was raised with good southern manners.  I usually say, "I think so, but God may have other plans."  That's polite enough, right?

The other question I get, which is phrased in a much nicer way, is "So, how is it with three?"  This usually comes from mothers of two children, so I give them the benefit of the doubt that they may be considering a third child.  I try to answer as honestly a possible.  Most days, that's easy.  Every now and then, when I'm ready to commit myself to the funny farm, I err on the side of caution so I don't send that mother running and screaming in the opposite direction.

How is it with three?  Or should I say three kids, a husband, a dog, three cats, a fish, two birds, and three hermit crabs?  In some ways, it is easy.  You've already been through the baby stuff twice, so you don't worry you're going to break them, and you know that sometimes babies just have to cry.  Your older children already understand that sometimes your attention has to be divided.  My kids are far enough apart that they can do some things for themselves and also help out with the baby.  These are all the positives.

I wouldn't say that there are negatives, but some things are tough.  Scheduling, for instance.  The baby naturally wants to take naps at the same time as preschool and elementary school pick-up.  Since my older children's schools don't have buses, that means the baby is always interrupted in her daytime sleeping.  Now that it's summer, I have a hard time figuring out how to get three people to three different places.  It always seems like one has camp here, the other has a doctor's appointment there, and the baby needs to nurse at exactly that moment.  We are slowly but surely figuring it all out.

While the kids seem fine and happy, I have moments when I feel like I'm not able to give them enough individual attention.  I try to focus on doing one thing a day with each of them, such as discussing a book with my oldest and building train track with my middle child.  (As an infant, the baby is getting plenty of one-on-one time!)

My advice if you are considering allowing the children to outnumber the adults in your household?  Go for it.  The amazing moments I have every single day far outwiegh the unhappy insanity (we've got plenty of happy craziness around here, but who wouldn't want that?)