The reaction I get when I tell people that I have three boys is usually the same. A sympathetic look, and one of two comments: "You have your hands full!" or "I don't know how you do it!" Truth be told I don't know how I do it either. I am afraid that the answer may actually be "not very well."
Poor Julian. The third baby. He gets dragged from play date, to soccer game, to doctor appointments, the grocery store and big boy birthday parties. Naps be damned. We are always on the go. There will likely be no Gymboree classes for the little guy, no baby book, and a whole lot of hand-me-downs.
Julian isn't the only one who suffers. I have several friends who have decided to have only one child. How different their lives are. They go out to eat at real restaurants, they don't think twice about stopping off at the grocery store to pick up a quick snack on the way to the park. They take naps. Of course I am talking about my friends who have older children. I think about what my life would be like if it were just Zack. Maybe I would actually have time for a pedicure. While I am envious of all of that, I am also thinking about how special an only child must feel.
Today I had the rare opportunity to just take a walk with Zachary. Zack didn't have school today, so we dropped Evan off at preschool and took our time walking home. He talked a mile a minute, and I really listened. The kid is hysterical. He told me stories about all the kids in his class, rambled off facts about reptiles and birds, and informed me that although he would like to move to Seattle with his best friend Ethan, ultimately he wouldn't because Ethan's family doesn't have an Ipad. He cracked me up. At the end of our walk he hugged me. He was so awesome, and I wished that I had more of those moments.
It's hard. Day to day, I am usually juggling so much and it's difficult to be the mom that I would like to be. I know that I have given my boys the gift of family. They will have their brothers for life, the Three Musketeers. I love each of my boys more than I thought possible, yet sometimes I wish I could treat each of them as if they were an only child. 
Julian-Messy as usual
Brothers.
Yours in solidarity. I could've written this.
ReplyDeleteWe need to hang out again.
I'm an only child and it's lonesome. I have no one who knows me when i was young and i have no one to share memories of childhood with. I hope you and Etica can do that someday. What you wrote about Zack was so sweet !
ReplyDeleteI have just one girl....we thought we'd have more, but it just didn't happen. She is so used to being around adults, she acts like a little grown-up. I just wish she'd play more and enjoy being a kid more...
ReplyDeleteI think your boys will love having eachother when they're adults...the 3 Musketeers, indeed :D
Theres nothing better you could have given your boys than those gorgeous siblings. It's not always going to be hard as it is now :)
ReplyDeletePS Boys are so hysterical when they open up to you. I am learning all about the mating habits of crickets when it's just me and my boy around. More than I'd like know really.....
I'm an only child- never felt lonely- I grew up with lots of cousins close by.
ReplyDeleteI would easily have just had one child- We always say that my second was my husbands idea.
I'm glad my boys have each other too.
Your boys will be such a great team and support system growing up. I am so thankful for my sister. But, yes, each child makes for a lot more work and chaos!!
ReplyDelete