Thoughts on three

Now that I've been almost a full calendar year as a mother of three I've been reflecting on how things were before, and how they've changed since Mebira has come into our lives.  I was often told how going from one to two isn't hard, but going from two to three is way more difficult.  Granted, we didn't start from the newborn phase as Mebira came to us when she was almost 5, but I was always skeptical about how difficult it could be going from two to three.  I often had the girls' friends over and would end up with anywhere from three to seven kids in our house so I thought it wouldn't be much harder than that.  However, there is definitely a difference between a playdate and 24 hour-a-day life.

Things I find harder about three:

• Honestly, just getting used to it is hard.  I am finally, (FINALLY!) remembering to set the table for five instead of four, but still mess up sometimes if we're having other families over.  I often do the math really quick in my head...we have two, they have two, that's four kids.  Whoops! Thankfully no one has caught on to this yet and I can usually slide another plate on without too much attention.  :-)
• Shopping, walking, being out...I am blessed to have three girls who love me and always want to hold my hand/sit by me, etc.  Unfortunately, as I only have two hands someone usually gets left out.  When we're sitting on the couch watching our latest favourite show together (Canada's Got Talent) we have a simple solution - one on my left, one on my right and one on my lap and they rotate each commercial break.  :-)
• More relationships...no longer can I just separate the two girls or have them work it out. Now if there is an issue there are so many more dynamics involved...this girl feels left out, etc.  Instead of there being 12 relationship dynamics to keep track of (my relationship with each member of my family and each of their relationships to the other members in the family) there are now 20 relationship dynamics to keep track of. And if you include the dynamics of doubling up (G&M vs. E), it gets even more complicated!
• Traveling, eating out...the world really is made for a family of four.  Tables in fast food restaurants, hotels, etc. are so much easier to find when there are only four!
• Keeping track of field trips, permission slips, who needs to practice what.  There have been a few times this year that I was positive I had already filled out a form for one of my girls because it felt like I had filled a million of them out already for the other two...but nope, I found that blank form, unsigned, in my kitchen.

Things I find easier about three:

• Decisions are WAY easier.  No more "I want to watch this movie (or play this) but she wants to watch that movie (or play that)".  Now there is ALWAYS a tiebreaker!
• The girls play sooo much better than before.  A few years ago we got them a great, springfree trampoline.  They played on it a bit, but not much just the two of them and usually only when their friends came over.  I don't know what it is, but when you have three or more, the games are way more fun on the trampoline.  They have invented a ton of games and are out there for hours each day. 
• If one girl is away at a birthday party or playdate or something, the other one doesn't feel as left out and still has someone fun at home to play with.  The same goes if someone wants to play on the trampoline and her sister doesn't.  In the past, it would die right there.  But now there's one more person for her to ask to join in...and more often than not one of the two is willing to go.

I may just add more to the list as the time goes by.  For now, we are in a great phase.  Our house is peaceful and full of laughter and fun and I am LOVING it!!