People often ask me what it was like to have newborn twins. Well it was hard, really hard. But having one baby is hard too. I once tried only taking care of one a day, and trading off days. That didn't really work out so well as you can imagine. We all survived somehow. As they got a little older I realized that having twins actually works to my advantage. You know how sometimes it's easier to get things done when your child has a playdate over? That is sort of what it's like to have twins, they entertain each other.
All three of my children play pretty well together, 75% of the time. The other 25% of the time, is a post for another day.
This week one of my twin daughters has been at my sisters house going to a summer camp with her cousins. Which means that we have gone from three kids to two for the week. It's been a little strange. One the one hand, it's much easier to get two kids to agree on what is for lunch and supervising one less bath/shower/brush teeth/pajamas makes bedtime just a bit smoother.
But on the other hand, I feel like I'm missing a limb. It's sort of like the whole week has been lived in limbo until she gets back. I've never been away from any of my kids for this long.
My other daughter is at a soccer camp all week, so I've spent a lot of alone time with my son. Which has been great, he's a fairly easy kid. But after 10 light saber fights, several games of soccer on the xbox and buying about 800 ice cream cones from his shop in his room, I am ready for all three of my kids to be home at once. Mothers of only children, I don't know how you do it.
So low and behold, three kids is just the right number for me. An acceptable level of chaos without sending me to the funny farm, and enough kids so that there is always someone to play with. Or maybe it's just that no matter how many you end up, you settle in, adjust and can't imagine anything different.
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4 comments:
I remember right before my second was born quizzing parents of two children about how much harder it was and not wanting to hear the negative answers. Now I can't imagine life otherwise. I think seven would be CRAZY. I'm just not that organized. I too am in awe of mothers that seem to have it together.
I love this thought process! I often say I could NOT do three children if they were all between 5 years apart (or any combination like that) because I can ONLY imagine life with a teenager, 9 years later a 2nd born and then a 3 years later sister.
I think you're 100% right -- we all just settle in with what we're blessed with and roll with it!
Can I just admit that I had NO idea that those two were twins??? Call me dense!
The constant playdate really is the bonus of twins, especially as they get a little older. Yes, there's some arguing, but mostly they keep each other busy.
Now that I have my third, it's going to be strange when it's just me and the baby while the big kids are in school in the mornings!
My theory is she has to be like that to survive. We have three. We know how to handle three. But with seven? She has to be on top of everything to not lose kids.
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