The Number Three

I love odd numbers. I like objects in odd numbers too, like paintings, collections, plantings, fashion accessories, you get the picture. It feels balanced when objects are proportioned in odd numbers. It might seem weird to some, but it’s just how it is. So it’s not surprising we have three children.

But let me say, having three kids seems anything but balanced! 

A family portrait might look balanced, but our lives are crazy nuts. Adding the third child meant our lives became exponentially busier. Exponentially! 

It's like adding gasoline to a fire, you know it will make the fire bigger and stronger, but you really don’t know how much bigger and stronger until you pour the gas over the fire. And BOOM it's huge! Well adding a third child to the mix is just like that—BOOM.

I’m still scratching my head on why the change and I’ll save you from thinking I have the answer because I have no idea. How could just adding one more child make such a huge difference in our lives?!

Here’s what I do know. It’s not because there are two parents and three kids—the classic comment, “Oh you’re out numbered.” Nope that’s not it.

Yes there is more laundry, more dishes, more messes, more beds to make, more teeth to brush, more baths to take, more food and clothes to buy, more activities to drive to and so forth. And yes, being a homemaker my job has increased 100 percent since having another child. So now I figure I am performing at 300 percent with each child demanding 100 percent from me.

But again, why did the third child make it seem like SIX children were added?

Is it because there are three children at different ages and different stages of development?

One thing I do know is it's more important now for me to take care of myself and do what I need to do to keep my sanity and wits about me.

I wouldn’t change our lives for anything! 

I’ve embraced the oddness of it, the craziness, the fun, joy and laughter of it all. It’s forced me to become even more pliable and flexible.

What…wait.., I think I got it why it's exponentially busier juggling three kids… really I think I got it… I never learned to juggle. Maybe in my free time I’ll pick it up and see if that helps me.