Transition to Three

Harder than the transition to two.

Still definitely easier than the transition to one.

Now that Nora is five months old, I feel I can comment on what the transition to three kids has been like.  In some ways, it was easy.  I was used to interrupted sleep, feeling like a jack-in-the-box during mealtime because I'm constantly jumping up to get something for someone or wipe up spills, having to nuke and re-nuke my morning tea and still forgetting to drink it because someone needed me...  I was already hauling a diaper bag around for Karl; adding more diapers for Nora wasn't difficult. 

Many people say that the hardest thing about three is being outnumbered.  Only two hands, but three kids.  Only two parents, but three kids.  Maybe because Clare is pretty responsible this hasn't been a big problem for us.  (I do feel very outnumbered at bedtime on days Matt has to work late, though.  Those are rough evenings for everyone.)

The hardest thing - and it's still the hardest thing - is having enough time for everybody.  Once Nora hit two months old, Karl became extremely jealous.  When I held Nora, he wanted to be held.  When I changed her diaper, he wanted to be right up there with her (not necessarily to get changed, but to have the attention she was getting).  Then, because Karl was jealous and getting extra Mommy-time, Clare decided she needed more time with Mom too.  So my days became: feed and play with Nora, get her for a nap.  Spend concentrated time with Karl.  Make lunch.  Put Karl for a nap.  Put Nora for another nap.  Spend concentrated time with Clare.  Make dinner.  Put Clare and Karl to bed.  Spend more time with Nora (who until the age of 5 months was always fussy in the evenings unless she was held, rocked, or walked around the house).  It boiled down to very little time for me and hardly any time for cleaning. 

Six months after Nora rocked the kids' world, they are finding their places once again.  Karl has realized that he is still loved (how could anyone not love that adorable little boy?!)  Clare has decided she really likes her attention in the form of reading aloud so we have been flying through the Little House on the Prairie series, which she LOVES.  (I love that series, so it's just as much fun for me as for her to be reading them together.)

What with the endless laundry and dishes, I still don't have much time for other cleaning during the day so sometimes I end up doing that in the evenings when I would much rather be having some "me" time.  Or it just doesn't get done.  Most days I am okay with that too.

It will be interesting to see how Nora integrates into the mix.  Clare and Karl play SO well together (most days anyway).  When Clare starts kindergarten next fall, I'm sure Nora and Karl will develop their own play routine. 

Balancing life with these three feels a little like balancing the checkbook.  In the way Clare thinks it should be balanced anyway.