Usually when I tell people that I have 3 kids, their eyes widen, and in a horrified moan they say, “oh my gawd, I could NEVER have 3 kids, you must be SO busy!” And yes, I’m busy. We’re all busy, parents or not. But while having a full house may mean an increased level of chaos, there are also some benefits to having a trifecta in tow. Here are some reasons why having 3 kids doesn’t suck:
1) No more unsolicited parenting advice.
When I had my first child, everyone – stranger or not, was eager to bestow their all-knowing wisdom on me. But in my overtired, overwhelmed state of first-time motherhood, it was often more of a pestering annoyance than a helpful suggestion. When I had my second child, the “advice” was still plentiful, the content just shifted from how to do it, to how to do it with two. Now that I have 3 kids, I feel as though people just wouldn’t dare try to tell me how to parent, because – THREE. KIDS. And parents who have more than 3 are smart enough to know that it’s better to keep quiet than to try to tell a parent how to parent.
2) Study shows that the more children you have, the longer you’ll live.
In a recent study on women and aging (conducted by SFU), it was concluded that “the more babies you have, the longer you’ll live” – associating the longevity of a woman’s life with DNA strands, estrogen levels, and cellular aging. Which means, basically, that I’m going to be around for awhile. I guess that also means that this mom will be alive FOREVER.
3) Extra hands.
One of the main reasons why the thought of having 3 kids freaks out so many people, is the thought of being outnumbered by children. 3 kids – 2 parents. Or 1 parent, 2 hands, 3 kids. No matter how you do the math, the parents always seem to fall short. Except, when you’re out and about with 3 kids, you’re no longer struggling with multiple bags and only 2 hands – you now have 6 hands to help you out. The same goes for folding laundry, and cleaning the house. More kids = more helping hands. And yes, even the little ones can help.
4) Better odds of having someone take care of you when you’re too old to take care of yourself.
With 3 kids, I feel like I have better odds of having at least one successful child who will be able to take care of us in our old age. More children, more chances to do this parenting thing right. Am I right?
5) Full house.
More children, more family fun! Having a full house can be a bit crazy at times (morning routines – gah!) but having 5 people under one roof to play games, have dance parties, snuggle on the couch, and share meals with – priceless. I grew up as an only child, so the constant hustle and bustle of a big family is a welcome change.
Have I convinced you yet? Come on, join the club!
Do you have anything to add to my list?
