3rd Down

I had my third little girl 2 years ago, and I feel like I've been running ever since. They say that the transition from two to three kids is the true test of a mother, probably because you have more kids than you have hands. "If you can handle three kids, you can handle a dozen!" they say. I don't know about that, but I'm amazed at the difference in my parenting from #1 to #3. You can call it redefining priorities, or a change of perspective, but I call it survival. For example,

My first daughter was allowed to dress up in a designated costume between the hours of 3-5 pm. After her afternoon nap, but before dinner and a bath. I recently peeled my youngest out of not 1, but 3 costumes after 24 consecutive hours of wear.

I read all the child training books with #1 and was convinced that 2 year olds should be able to sit quietly and happily beside their busy mothers for several hours, doing nothing. After two very active daughters consistently disproved this theory, I distracted #3 with cotton candy the other day. And it worked.

I carried #1 wherever we went, #2 went into the bulky double stroller with #1. #3, not so picky, plops down whenever she's tired. Who knew kids were so easy?

After my older girls randomly stripped down at very awkward moments, I learned the secret of the swimsuit. Little girls love swimsuits. If you put one on over their clothes, they can't bring themselves to take off the suit in order to get their clothes off. Of course, then your kid is wearing a swimsuit, but at least they're clothed...

Foiled again!!

Usually.

And finally, probably the most important lesson I've learned from having kids...

Why get mad when you can get a picture instead?