Now I’m not saying three under three is for everyone, or even the majority of people. But, there are a select breed of parents to be that are just crazy enough to see the benefits of three children in less than 36 months. It’s a crazy and wild ride that will test every fiber of your being, but isn’t that the definition of parenthood itself? Brave souls, please read on:
10. Hand me downs: whether you have all one gender or a mix of both, you definitely have a perfect opportunity for clothes sharing. You may hit a stride where you are lucky enough to have kids who can live out of one another’s drawers, but even if you need to bring up the annoying Rubbermaid bin from the basement to store clothes for 12 months; you have a built in brand new wardrobe for a younger sibling that hasn’t had time to go out of style.
9. They like the same things: From movies and toys to trips to Disney World, getting my kids to agree is fairly easy. It certainly made eight hours at Disney World a little less painful to not have a surly ten year old accompanying us on yet another ‘princess experience’.
8. Your house is free of the baby stuff sooner: Instead of storing the jumperoo for the next couple years, we were able to put it to use within about six months. While the baby years were crazy and chaotic, less than five years into our parenting journey we are on the cusp of being diaper-free. My last baby swing is listed on Kijiji and my stroller is on its way out too. It’s a bittersweet time, but the thought of gearing up for more 2 a.m. feedings is the best birth control in the world.
7. Your kids play with each other: As much as I love spending time with my kids, they are usually happy to play with each other. While styling Barbie’s hair and making a Lego creation is a fun trip down memory lane, I love that I don’t have to do it 24/7. My girls are often off and running on some make believe world leaving me time to clean, run a small business and stay sane.
6. Quality time is a necessity: As much as I have learned to embrace the chaos, my favourite time to spend with my girls is the one on one time that we make a priority as often as we can. I love the time spent wandering aimlessly through the mall, swimming in grandma’s pool and having intense discussions over ice cream.
5. Bullies have to deal with a posse: Even at the tender age of two, three and four, my girls have each other’s back on the playground. While they are not encouraged to be physically aggressive with each other or anyone else: they have been known to yell, ‘back-off’ if anyone tries to mess with a sibling. I have no doubt that it will continue into their school years and into adulthood. If you mess with one, you mess with all three.
4. High School: Having two siblings to help you navigate the pressures of high school has got to come in handy. Best case scenario they get to hang with their older sibling’s friends for some instant cool factor, worst case scenario it should save them having to sit alone at lunch.
3. Matching outfits: Having your kiddos this close together means you can shop for all three in the same store and put them in matching outfits. The photo ops are endless and you have a good five years before the oldest one refuses to co-operate.
2. An even playing field. With such a small age gap, the rules are the same, the bedtimes are the same and everyone is held to the same standard. All three of my kids pee their pants on occasion and all three vacuum the carpet.
1. Built in best friends for life: As an adult I now share a close bond with my older sister, but growing up with three and a half years between us, I was a pest she wanted nothing to do with. I look to my girls with envy when I see how close they are and how close they will be in the future. Although their relationships grow and change with every milestone, they continue to show me again and again that we made the right decision for our family.
