“What’s the hardest part about raising triplets?”
I get this question a lot. People expect to hear “changing a million diapers” or “keeping them contained in one area” or “cleaning after meals”. And YES, those thing are all difficult at times. But if you want me to be completely honest, the hardest part of raising triplets (and I imagine this also applies to moms of any number of kids) is living in the moment. Being completely present with my kids. Being all there when they want me to play with them.
“What?! That’s the best part!” Yes, you are absolutely right. I LOVE playing with my babies on the floor and letting them crawl and climb all over me. I love reading books with them and building towers. I love taking them on walks through our neighborhood in their wagon. But I’d be lying if I let you believe that that’s what our days consist of.
Unfortunately, even among the joy of those sweet activities, my mind is constantly wandering to my task list. I’m always thinking about what needs to be done and how I can get a chance to do it. “Okay, if I can get them settled to play with this toy, I can go do the dishes” or “I’ll put them in their walkers and do some laundry” or “As soon as she lets go of my arm I’ll be able to get up and vacuum.” Rather than relishing in the affection and snuggles and giggles, my mind is saying, “Prep food for their next meal, clean the kitchen for the millionth time today, refill the diapers and wipes, attend to the never ending piles of laundry, put away the clean clothes that have been sitting in our room for 3 days, clean up the spit-up on the carpet, fix the broken toy from earlier…”
Most of those things are absolutely necessary, and some of them are urgent. But sometimes I have to remind myself that these days are fleeting. My kitchen will always be there and for the most part it will be a mess. The laundry will always be there and will never be completely caught up. But my kids will not be this age for long. They will not always cherish spending time with me as much as they do now. I won’t always get to read stories while they sit on my lap and giggle and touch the pictures. I won’t always be a human jungle gym. Wagon walks will become less exciting for them. Patty-Cake and Itsy Bitsy Spider won’t elicit precious smiles and giggles like they do now.
My hope and prayer for myself, and for you if you can relate, is that we will let the kitchen be messy for a few extra hours (or days). That we will focus more on showing our kids love as opposed to our back sides while we clean dishes or fold laundry. That we will cherish each and every moment with our children while they are little. That I will be the very best mom to them that I can be, and that they remember me choosing them over a clean house.