Imagine you are drowning in a swimming pool. Then imagine someone leaned over, handed you a baby and laughed.
Yes, that is very much what life with three can sometimes feel like. But only sometimes. And I'm here to tell you that it's all worth it.
Three years ago, I found myself with one lovely blue child and one lovely pink child, and they could put on their own shoes and feed themselves.
But there was always a tiny baby shaped gap in my heart that I wanted to fill - I decided to go right ahead and sign up to baby Number 3.
Do I look like a sleep deprived mombie most of the time? Yes, I do.
Did we have to adjust our surroundings to make room for another mini-human? Yes, we did.
Do I regret it? Not at all (and not just because I can't give her back).
But I can say in all honesty that the *12 minutes a week of pure family bliss I get when all three have their heads together, laughing and helping each other, makes the other billion seconds of chaos totally worth it.
The way I see it, it's like getting a mummy promotion. More responsibility but also more reward. You have to put up with a lot of extra flack, but you feel a fantastic sense of achievement when you finally get it right.
Party of Three
I understand that many of us are content to have one or two children, and I'm sure whatever anyone decides on - we all agree that we feel blessed with the children we are lucky enough to have in our lives. However, as a mum of three (under five) I get asked all the time what life is like with three from those who are considering growing more humans. It's obvious that it's going to be more difficult to juggle the needs of three children but I'd like to point out the positives:
1. Sisterly love
I have a fantastic relationship with my sisters, and as I already had a boy and a girl, I thought it would be so lovely for one of them to have a brother or sister. As it turned out, I had a sister child. Now seeing those two little pretty flowers playing dolls or fairies my heart melts a little. Every Single Time. The bonus is that I get to dress them in matching dresses and do their hair. We never really grow out of dolls ourselves do we?
2. Extra Helpers
Two barely get the ironing done. Now I've upgraded to three children the house can be spic and span in no time. Their tiny fingers are perfect for scrubbing skirting boards. (Joking, not joking)
3. Mob Mentality
Couples worry about being outnumbered by the children. Embrace the mob I say and pivot. The children back me up during vital issues when I'm trying to persuade their father. We bully him about going to Nandos over Milanos, getting penne instead of fusilli and other hugely important issues like watching Charlie and the Chocolate factory during the Grand Prix.
4. You get to upgrade your car
Seriously. How does anyone see this as a bad thing? It's necessary. Like milk.... and shoes and cocktails. And you don't even need to upgrade your house, it's not like they will actually sit at the kitchen table or sleep in their own beds.
5. They keep each other entertained.
As I had my first two children close together I never really saw this gem firsthand. But now I have three they are fascinated with each other. Yes, they are also mini Muay Thai fighters, but that's still entertaining for everyone.
6. Cuteness factor
Amid the din, there is always one of them being utterly adorable and cute all the time. It's usually my favorite one. (Yes I went there). I do have to say that the third child really does just fit it. You don't have the same high expectations (or time) that you had on your first or second and it doesn't seem to matter. They have extra people to love them, and the bonds I see being created are so worth it to me. It's another funny little personality to colour our lives. In my experience, it's not too much more expensive either as they share prams, clothes, baby baths and the little one mostly eats dirt anyway.
It's the little things
Yes, it's more cooking, more expense, more shoes, more hassle. But please don't forget that it's also another first day of school, another good-night kiss, another little opinion to add to the shape of your family. It's another type of giggle, another version of you and your partner, another set of chubby arms to throw around your neck. And when you know it your last, all those little extras make it oh-so-precious.
Do what's right for your own family mama. But for me, it has brought us triple the joy.
*I lied, it's 9 minutes.
