Yoga Pants and Memory Loss

When my first was born I worked hard to do everything by the book. I thought that if I did it all “right” then I would be a good mother. I figured that if I bought the most expensive diapers, kept the house spotless, and read every parenting manual I could get my hands on then I would be successful as a parent. I kept this up for quite some time-and drove myself crazy.

Two years later my second was born. Initially I was still trying hard to keep it all together and figured that adding in one more couldn’t be THAT much different. I even attempted to potty train my first while nursing a newborn. Let’s just say there were many tears, on their part and on mine.

Then came the third. By the time she came along I had been slowly learning the importance of letting go. Thank goodness since any small hope I had of keeping everything together quickly went out the window. I was fully outnumbered by small beings who demanded a large amount of my time and patience. My desire for perfection just did not work.

I have been a mom of three for three years and I can hardly recognize the mother I used to be. Sure, there are times when I still think I can keep it all together, but most of the time I realize that I am much happier after learning to go with the flow.

Are you a mother of multiple children? If so, you may recognize yourself in this list:

1. When the doctor’s office asks you for your child’s birthday it takes you way too long to answer. There is also a chance you’ll get the answer wrong on the first try.
2. Seeing the bottom of the laundry basket is about as likely as spotting Big Foot.
3. Socks without a match end up in the trash instead of in the craft drawer.
4. You’ve traded in the long-winded parenting psychology for, “Because I said so.”
5. Going to the grocery store with “just” one child feels like a treat.
6. You get all of their names mixed up, despite gender.
7. Your oldest is sometimes a better parent than you.
8. Dusting. It’s only for company.
9. You base all of your errands around who has a drive-through service.
10. Putting in an effort means putting on pants that have a button.
11. The theme of your kid’s birthday is “having one.”
12. The 5 second rule definitely applies.
13. Rinsing is the new washing, washing is the new sanitizing.
14. You cruise by the Pampers and head straight for the Target brand of diapers.
15. The pool counts as a bath.
16. Dirt and mud go under the category of immune boosters.
17. Instead of rushing to the doctor at every sniffle, you weigh the symptoms against the pain of dragging the whole family to an appointment.
18. Carefully documented baby books have been traded in for a few photos snapped using your phone.
19. Your memory becomes………..wait, what was I saying?
20. Remember all the things you swore your kids would never do, eat, wear? You let them do them. You let them do them all.
21. You happily co-parent with PBS Kids.
22. A successful photograph becomes any that has at least one person looking at the camera and there are no tears.