Just the Good Bits

It is easy to be overwhelmed with the extra risks and challenges associated with a multiple pregnancy and raising multiples. On one of the parenting multiples bulletin boards I frequent, an expectant mother asked people to share only the good bits in one thread so that she had some happy things to think about when she felt overwhelmed. I thought it was a great idea to have such a thread so I added a quick post. The following is what I wrote.


Some of the Good Bits

All the cute things babies and toddlers do are just cuter when two or more do it at the same time: sleeping, cuddling, putting all the shoes in the laundry basket, wobbly running, dancing, chasing the cat (which is only cute as long as the cat gets away), wearing big brother's baseball caps, running around in just a diaper, giggling, splashing the bath water.

Right now, my favorite thing is watching them play peek-a-boo with each other round the furniture. And chasing each other around the hallway and falling into puddles of giggles. Actually, the puddles of giggles come in all sorts of places. They crack each other up and I love it. I don't always love some of the things they do that crack each other up, but the shared laughter is wonderful.

The moments where they mimic each other are precious. And so are the hugs where everybody gets involved.

Just sitting on the living room floor as they each play with something different is amazing. And some days it lasts for a while. Watching three toddlers learning to dance and seeing who responds to which music. In fact, any time they play together happily is a marvelous time if I recognize it. Three toddlers tearing up and down the couch. Watching them all crawl up the stairs together. And, seeing one of them learn something from watching another.

If you can manage to keep your sense of humour, the attempts of one to help change another's diaper are pretty hysterical.

An image from this morning of three faces plastered to the patio window as Daddy mowed the lawn. They don't put anything on tv that's anything like so much fun to watch.

Sometimes, you meet really nice people who just say nice things to you or do nice things for you because they see you with multiples. But, my favorite times are when things are just going smoothly and my 4 beautiful children are playing well together and enjoying life. The moments don't always last, but the older they get, the more they seem to happen.