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Q&A, Part II
By Moriah on December 5th, 2008
(Continued from Part I.)
Jackie asked: What food can you not live without? Coffee. Although chips and fresh salsa is a close second. (And yeah, I guess coffee’s not technically a food.) If you had $100 to spend on yourself, what would you use it for? CLOTHES! I’m a clothes horse, always have been. (I blame my mother.) How did you and Andy meet?
Another post for another time. ;)
From Kalyndra: What are your best tips for dealing with 3 kids as opposed to one or two? Break it down and compartmentalize. When I’m leaving the house I get each child ready separately. Otherwise I’m liable to forget a spare diaper or hairbow. Or a shoe.
Meals I try to do at the same time (and clean up one mess, huge as it most likely is). Thankfully all three of mine can mostly eat the same things.
For shopping, when Adelaide was little, I would park next to a cart return cage and put Madeline in the cart (or both Drew and Madeline in my double stroller) and then pop Adelaide into my baby sling. Now I usually let Drew and Madeline walk and Adelaide sits in the cart.
If you have to shop with several little kids, the best way is to do it as fast as possible. Peek at your list as you enter the store and do a sweep/loop around, getting things in order as you go. It seems like the times I stop to browse or go back to get something are when things fall apart.
And if I hurry, my kids feel a sense of urgency to keep up. Usually.
Bedtime. I deal with the baby first and do everything for her. Once she’s completely down, I can focus better on the other kids and we have a book time and all of that. It’s just too hard to do with Adelaide squirming around and wanting to play.
The other tip I would have is to ask for help! Even if you just drop one child off with a friend is helpful. It doesn’t have to be all the kids for you to get a ‘break.’ Often I would drop Adelaide off (when she was a baby) to Nicky so I could shop with just two instead of three.
And finally, don’t feel like you have to do everything. You’re busy; pick and choose the things you want to commit yourself to and give yourself a lot of space and freedom. Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful, (a la Nester).
From Tiff: If you had the day to yourself. No kids or hubby. What would you do? It honestly depends on the day and what I had going on. If it were today I’d finish my book, take a LONG hot shower, get ready and go out. Maybe shop a bit, maybe get coffee or lunch somewhere. Maybe see whichever friend could join me.
Vintage Dutch Girl asked: Favorite place to shop for you? Depends on the season and what their seasonal items are. I love Ann Taylor and Loft, White House, and hello? Target!! I can usually find fun things at Old Navy and places like TJ Maxx/Ross/Marshalls as well.
Favorite place to shop for kiddos? Target, Children’s Place, Old Navy, and Gymboree when I’ve got money growing on trees. AND…do you wear flip flops? Most certainly!
And finally, from Rachel: What inspired you to start your blog? Why do you keep going? I started blogging when we moved up to the South Jersey suburbs of Philly a year and a half ago. I had very few friends, was missing our home here terribly, was living with my in-laws (love them though I do), and life just felt altogether bleak for me.
I knew a few people who blogged, and then sort of stumbled over a few big-name bloggers (although I had no idea at the time), and thought ‘I can totally do that!’ and signed myself up. It seemed the obvious choice for keeping in touch with friends back home and family all over.
Now we’re back down South and those initial reasons for blogging aren’t so compelling anymore (except my mom still lives far away). I blog now because it’s an amazing outlet and I’ve made some dear friends through blogging that I otherwise would never have met. It’s about connections, you know. :)
And yes, it’s cheaper than therapy.
6 Responses to “Q&A, Part II”
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As far as advice for three, someone once told me: “If they are all crying at once, start with the oldest and work your way down.” My five year old is more likely to be hurt (emotionally) if I let her cry for 30 mins vs. letting my baby cry. The baby won’t remember.
Love your answers…I’d sit down with you anyday for a gigantic bowl of chips and freshly made salsa. Oh my.
When I have 3 kids some day, I am going to remember all of your great advice – I think you HAVE to have a system to have any kind of order at all.
Gymboree is one of my faves too….to window shop. :) I can only shop there if I have a gift card, which has happened like once in my life.
Just thought you’d get a kick from knowing you are being read from Yemen, yes the country of Yemen. I have quite the time I do at home to devote to my google reader, so I’m a bit behind :) but waving hi from the Middle East!!
that’s DON’T have quite as much time here !
D-
I can totally see that for Ruthie. Drew however happens to be my most laid-back child and so I almost always have to deal with one of the girls (usually high-maintenance Madeline) first. :) I think it depends on personality, sex, AND birth order.
I’d add to your advice for life with three…LAUGH. A lot. And your kids seem to provide you with many laughable moments!
Great answers!