Things I've learned THREE kids deep

     I have three girls. They are ages 7 3/4, 4 1/2 and 3. Kids are amazing, special, little teachers of things you didn't know you held deep inside, but they do not come with a manual. Some days I really wish they did, that as you popped that baby out there was a book for this individual little being that you are now responsible for. 

     

     I was a young mom, not unheard of young and not teen mom young, but still young. I had just turned 20 when I had my oldest. Although I don't think you can ever really be "ready", I was ultra NOT ready. Thank goodness I had help from family and friends. To guide and show me things like how to change a diaper, hold/make a bottle or burp (I never really learned the whole burping thing even with three). Once you have that itty bitty baby, there is no going back. There will be winning, losing, trying, failing, smiling, laughing and crying your eyes out. These might happen more the first days and weeks and most likely months, but carries on forever I think. Then at 23 I had my second "bundle of joy". She also wasn't planned and I wasn't ready for her either. Like I said, I don't think you ever are fully ready. But I had a better grasp on how to take care of her at least. Then at 24 I had my planned third. But she was also my LAST. And with her now three I can finally say, I think I have learned a lot more then I ever thought possible about being a mom. Here are just a few things that I have learned and changed from that first time around....

* No child cares about a top sheet nor a comforter really. That's all us, give them a blanket and call it good.

* If you really want them to eat something, give them dip. It doesn't matter what kind really as long as they like it, just use the word DIP.

* Giving medicine slow and nicely isn't the way to go in my opinion, neither is a spoon full. For me what works best and not ending with them spitting it at me, put it in a syringe, squirt that shit fast and give them a juice chaser. Works every time.

* If you need to have them up by 6:30 am, aim for 6 am. You will likely have everyone up by 6:45 am and still be running late. I'm not hear to set you up for lies.

* While playing a game, if you happen win, likely because you actually know how to play and decided to not let them win, YOU CHEATED...!!! 

* Bath time will never be quick. If it just so happens they actually want to take a speedy bath, say to watch a show, it will also be the ONE time shampoo or soap gets into the eyes dragging it out to the normal length. 

* Shit is going to spill, whether it be juice, soda, coffee, wine, pediasure or milk. You can either get mad/frustrated and clean it up or clean it up, realizing this won't be the last time and move on. Option is yours. 

* Dirt won't kill them. Neither will letting go of the swing, falling off a bike, eating grass, dirt, sand, the occasional crayon or drinking bubbles. Always buy non toxic or make your own because it happens. 

* THEY DO NOT CARE IF THEY MATCH, you do. If they want their nails painted 10 different colors just do it, the day will come where they won't even let you paint them a solid color. 

* Playing 20 questions is no longer a game. However 876,342,567 questions is your new reality! 

* The question why, will never have an suitable answer for not asking why again to the answer you just gave. Also the "why phase" never really ends, it just changes. 

* The terms "quiet voice" "stop yelling" "no running" "inside voice" "stop screaming" "stop fighting" will come out of your mouth more times in one day then you ever thought possible in a life time. Tomorrow you WILL repeat this.!

* When you do their hair in the morning, don't think this will last longer then 15 minutes, that would for sure be unreasonable expectations. 

* Saying "because I said so" is only hard the first time. After that it is way easier and you will feel less and less like your mom with each use.

* Lines in a color book are over rated, hell the pictures are over rated. 

* If you ever want to take a bath without eyes watching you or mouths talking to you, wait till they are ASLEEP for the night. Otherwise that bathroom is open to all. 

* Never speak when you are mad, words come out wrong and you can never take those back.!

     These are just a few things I have picked up. Being a mom is the best, most rewarding thing possible. It's also the most challenging, most emotional, most upsetting and frustrating thing possible. I wouldn't change it for anything. They are my everything and they alone have made me the person inside I knew I could be. My expectations for them are to simple, be what and who they want to be and do better then  I did in life, I think that should be everyone's goal for their kids. 

So to Abigail, Brooklynn and Charlotte, be the best that you can be and know I will always catch you when you fall.