Friday, January 31, 2014

It's True. Nobody Wants To Babysit Three Kids.

As we begin to creep closer and closer to my due date, there are a couple of things I'm beginning to realize about the reality of having three children. 

For starters, nobody wants to babysit three kids. Have you ever noticed the sheer look of terror on a potential babysitter's face when you mention you have three kids? Having been a nanny to a family with three children back in college, I never really gave it much thought but I challenge you to try this out. Even if you don't have three kids and you have to lie about it, I dare you. It's imperative that you take note of the wide eyes, the trembling lip and the crazy stare that seems to appear out of no where even on the face of the, previously, most calm, cool and collected sitter. I promise you, it will happen. I was so concerned over this realization, in fact, that I turned to one of my girlfriends, a mom of three herself, who immediately agreed that it's nearly impossible to find a non-family sitter for her three little darlings. As she told me this, she patted my shoulder in solidarity and told me I should prepare myself for at least a year's worth of "at-home" date nights. 

When you have three children, the atmosphere in your house immediately changes from man-on-man defense to zone defense. As parents, you are quickly outnumbered by your offspring and with three boys, I fear for how this will bode come the teenage years. Currently, it's a happy, easy medium. My husband and I each have our own child to worry about. I prefer to call dibs on the older, easier one which then allows me to do much of my defending from the couch at nearly 7 months pregnant. Soon enough, however, my husband and I will have to begin breaking the house down into zones. As in, "honey, you get the playroom, kitchen, backyard and dining room and I'll take the bedrooms, bathrooms, front yard and den." That's it, the more I think about it, I think it's time to install motion sensors throughout the house.

Understandably so, life with three kids will be a whole new ballgame. After all, I only have two hands so I know I'm going to have to get really creative with our typical day to day activities. Just last week while having breakfast with my girlfriend, we watched a mom with two young boys and an infant carrier navigate her way through Chick-Fil-A. Her clothes matched, her hair was blow dried and she really did seem to have it all together. I almost wanted to ask her for her number.  You best believe that as we're out and about in these final couple of months before baby, I'm taking copious notes from all of the moms with 3+ children that I see.  

 Until then, I figure my best bet is to just fake it, 'til you make it, no?

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18 comments :

  1. i;m terrified at how i'll manage 2! I feel like I'm barely managing one!!

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  2. I was a nanny and frequent babysitter for many, many years! Most of my families were 3+ kids. I loved it! More people to play with.

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  3. Even though I'm engaged and 28 years old, there's a family that I absolutely love continuing to babysit for when the mom calls me up, and they have three redheaded boys who are into EVERYTHING. They boys are 8 (obsessed with sports), 6 (obsessed with reading and science), and 5 (obsessed with whatever his older brothers are obsessed with), and while they are into everything and all over the house, racing the stairs and giving me heart attacks as they fly through the air mid-tackle/wrestle, and there's never any shortage of songs and jokes about poop, they are just the most fun to look after for an evening while mom and dad have a night out. You'll find someone who wants to babysit those three sweet boys! :)

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  4. As an avid babysitter from middle school through college I was the crazy one to say YES to the more children ($$) however it definately was no easy job LOL. Zone defense, let me know how that goes for you. Perhaps you should put sound sensors in any room. My sister has three boys and as I have assisted her in watching them a time or two, the louder they are the better (you know where and what they are doing) it's when it gets quiet you have to worry:) Three boys should NEVER be quiet unless they are doing something they know they shouldnt be :) I cannot wait to hear all the tales and stories that come from your house after baby M3 arrives...

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  5. I'm now 27, and have been babysitting for a family of 5 boys since there were just three of them, and I was 14! The more the merrier, PLUS, the more there are, the more they play among themselves. Easy-peasy. Not all sitters are scared- I came from a family with three kids, so maybe that helps? Look for someone in your community that has a family with more than two kids, and see if they are up for babysitting. Those kids will be used to the madness!

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  6. Oh you're going to rock it! But I feel you. I'm a week out from induction with my second girl, and the last couple week's I've had some of the same thoughts. I mean, I just finally started to feel like I had things under control with my 18 month old.

    Love reading along!

    Ashley

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  7. I used to nanny for triplet boys, 2.5 yrs old. It's not so bad. Surprisingly they were the best when we went out - like to Target and the Zoo. They knew they needed to stay together and by me, and always did. It's giving your kids the opportunity to implement that. Playing at home is fine, you'll start to notice that the same two will play together and the same one will be more on his own and you will be able to judge which situation will need most of your attention (watchful eye). You'll figure it out. Also, as far as dates go, get a sitter for the older two, and just bring the baby with you. Up until 6 months, you barely notice they're there anyway.

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  8. I'm still only brave enough for one wild toddler boy in the house and am a firm believer in "fake it 'til you make it." Ha! You're going to rock this whole mom of three thing - I know it! Also? Babysitter tip: find family friend who have an unsuspecting teenager (high schooler). I can recall being roped into many three-kid situations for my parents' friends. Looking back, it was brave on their part to leave them with me knowing what I know now about childcare, but everyone survived and I have no doubt those parents soaked up every minute they were out :)

    ps - haven't commented on the name announcement post yet, so just getting it out here...LOVE IT! Y'all may have a tough time picking your boy names, but they are always awesome.

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  9. If I can be 100% honest...this is on my "cons" list as to whether or not to have more kids. Two seems completely feasible, 1:1 parenting, and we're at great ages now with the boys - 4 years and then 15 months where they're easy, fun, sleep good....but add another to the mix? CHAOS! ;)

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  10. I saw a woman with FIVE young children (like under the age of 6) at Chick-fil-a the other day and was astounded. I wanted to watch her like a national geographic documentary or something. I was telling this to my friend of 3 children and she said she took all three of her kids to CFA the other week and said, "never again." I'm due with #2 and I think about how I'll be outnumbered in public by myself--yikes! It's terrifying, but it's reassuring to know that many mommas do it!

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  11. 4 kids here....and I either pay just to watch 2 at a time (helpful for movies!), or I get the grandparents!

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  12. I had all kinds of offers to help with the girls before they were born. After they were born? Those offers disappeared. It's ok though because I figured out how to do everything without help...all by myself. It's completely exhausting sometimes but at least I know I can do it.

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  13. I'm sure you'll be able to find someone to baby sit! I haven't yet encountered that shocked face from any baby sitters. However I find my baby sitters from the girls I work with in our Church or gym nursery and when all else fails at least there is the twice monthly date nights with childcare at the gym where they feed them and let them watch a movie. You'll manage just fine I'm sure. Though the first few months I was for once grateful for my curly, put hair gel in it and throw it in a messy bun and call it good hair. :)

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  14. I bet it was a nanny and not the mom (just kidding :) :) :) but seriously, hair dry AND dressed???)

    On a more serious note, Carter will be practically shaving by then so you've totally got this.

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  15. Yes!!! I have three !my first trip to Target with all three felt like a MAJOR accomplishment :))) I learn from my sweet sweet friend Mer (tichenor mama)!! That girl makes everything look soooo easy!! Good luck girl you will do just fine!!!!!

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  16. As a mom of three, it definitely makes you look back and realize how silly it was to think taking one or even two out was difficult. And then you realize this, just like it did with the first and second just soon works. You manage.you figire it out. You survive and you feel just as crazy trying to figure it out as you did before with one and two and even better about yourself when you do. The moments when everyone is happy and loving and kind to one another are sweet as can be.

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  17. As a mom of three, it definitely makes you look back and realize how silly it was to think taking one or even two out was difficult. And then you realize this, just like it did with the first and second just soon works. You manage.you figire it out. You survive and you feel just as crazy trying to figure it out as you did before with one and two and even better about yourself when you do. The moments when everyone is happy and loving and kind to one another are sweet as can be.

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  18. All I can say is thank goodness for family that lives nearby! They don't even flinch when we ask them to watch all four kids!

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