Managing 3under3 is HARD WORK

I just want to let all of you know managing three children under 3 is hard work, especially when you are trying to also run a successful home business part time. You will put in more than 100 hours a week. It is insane.

I sound very optimistic and encouraging in my posts and in my book, Parenting CSK's but I am the first to admit there are times when I feel like throwing my hands up in the air.

Other times I think, I need help. Our situation is unique. We don't have a lot of family in town that can actively run around and chase after 3 babies. Thank God my husband's stepfather is in town with two pups. My family is all in MD. My husand works a 48 hour shift 1 1/2 hours away so those times I am doing it alone.

I think most people would simply call their mother in law or other relatives for help, but we don't have anyone that is really close by except for our stepdad (who is great but you can only call on someone so much after all) to come by and entertain.

And even when people do come by to help, it can sometimes create even more chaos. My sister recently flew out to help out for a few days and niece. They were great. I really miss her and appreciate it, and I really enjoyed seeing my nephew. I did manage some extra sleep (nice). By the end of the week I could tell everyone was more frazzled though. I think even my family was astounded at the chaos that is every day existence in our home. One child is always needing something, crying, pooping, vomiting or something. And I only have 3. Imagine all you parents with 4 or more under 4!

It simply is a lot of chaos, especially when you throw other people in the mix. We are already 5 people in the house with just "us". Sometimes it's actually better though just being us. If nothing else, we have our routines, and I have to tell you without some sort of routine, I would have jumped off a cliff by now.

So, then I think I should just stop working. But I've worked hard to create a successful business that brings in income we need every month just to survive. Sad but true. We just couldn't do it on one salary alone. So then I think, we just need more patience. And that is very true. And courage, and strength as parents to be the best parents we can.

How do we survive? Well, it's like raising triplets. We have 3 babies that all need our 100% attention most of the time. We try to stick to some sort of schedule. That keeps everyone relatively calm and keeps us relatively sane. The girls get up, in the morning they go to school and I try to work, if the baby isn't to fussy. They come home, nap, we go to the park or for a walk or do some other activity until dinner time. Then we bathe, read books and sleep. It sounds easy, there are a lot of inbetweens I fail to mention.

I still don't know how we are going to afford someone watching all 3 babies and working, but we'll figure it out... you know?

What I would like to say is there are moments I do feel a bit crazy. But you do get past them. Hopefully you find precious moments in the day where your children all do something that endear you to them forever.

Take my girls. Just the other day my youngest daughter leaned over and grabbed her older sister and gave her a hug.

And just the other day my baby smiled at me, really smiled (not gas). And for a brief moment, I felt normal again.

New Baby!

Well here he is, my beautiful new boy. I didn't realize how much time got away from me.

Colin is already almost 4 weeks old. We had a beautiful labor and delivery. I can tell you from experience now having three kids under three is nutty. Just nutty.

Our middle child isn't walking yet, so it's almost like having twins and a 2 year old. I find the hardest times are when Colin is crying because he needs to be fed and I have to nurse but still keep an eye on the other kids.

So far we are managing to keep our sanity just barely. But certain things have to go the way of the wind. Take housekeeping for example. That is out.

So far the baby isn't sleeping yet at night. This makes watching the other two and working during the day a challenge. My goal right now is to get little catnaps in during the day or night, an hour here and there.

Fortunately when my husband is home, he can give the baby a bottle in the morning so I know I will get at least one three hour stretch of sleep between 4 and 7 am. Sounds gruesome, but I am used to being up all night anyway. It's a good thing I am such a horrible sleeper!