It Gets Easier

Some Sundays sacrament meeting feels like an eternity with 3 small children. Sometimes they're hungry because I didn't have enough time to get us all ready and make sure they've eaten enough breakfast. Those are the Sundays we throw poptarts or granola bars into their car seats and pray that they're not smashed into their outfits by the time we arrive at church. Sometimes they're just crabby... I can't blame them we all have our moments. But I always walk into the first part of church with high hopes. They each pretty much have their routines down. Hannah loves to play with the little plastic animals and Book of Mormon figurines on the floor and where they hymnbooks go. Mallie likes to talk and sing as loudly as she can most of the meeting and go back and forth between David and I every 3 minutes. In that process she usually kicks Hannah in the head with every trip. If you know anything about Hannah in real life or this blog you know she doesn't cry because it actually hurts she cries because it hurt her feelings. So she needs a hug and a quick back scratch to feel reassured that the world is not out to get her. Meanwhile Ashton mostly plays well on his own until he realizes one of the little sisters has a toy, snack or parent's lap he is missing out on. Some Sundays we do really well. Some Sundays we don't.

It's a standing joke after a particularly long Sunday of taking different kids out of the meeting that I'll look at David and say "Let's throw another one into the mix since we seem to have this under control." And while I long for the day when I'll have kids old enough to pay attention to sacrament meeting I know this wont last forever. And I can't use Sundays as an indication of whether or not we're ready for another kid. My life is far less stressful with 3 kids 4 and under than it ever was with just one 6 month old baby. I had no idea what my capacity was back then. Throwing more kids in the mix doesn't mean you have less time it means you prioritize better. It means that when you pack to go to the park you no longer bring 1 zip lock of snacks but you bring the entire package of graham crackers or bag of pretzels. I wish I had listened back then when mothers of many would say "it gets easier." I think the Lord blesses us as each child comes with the ability to make it work.

Don't get me wrong throwing another one into the mix does add some new logistical issues that I'll have to figure out. Mostly I'm worried about those dang car carts at the commissary that only have two steering wheels. But am I stressed about having another baby? Not this time...that is if you don't ask me on Sunday.