Life in the Circus Tent
I love getting out with Carlee, when I’m able. Everyone oohs and aahs over her, as well they should. Then once the pleasantries are over, many people have asked me The Question, “How is it with 3 kids?” But they have this dread in their voices, this hushed tone and big eyes and clasped hands, as if The Question should be followed by the harrowing music “DUN DUN DAAAAAH”.
Everyone who has had 3 kids has told me how this will either make you or break you. However, they didn’t tell me this before I had Carlee. Poor girl will always have this Third Child stigma. I often wondered why I knew so many people who only had 3 kids. Now I know.
Have you ever watched a juggler? When he juggles 2 things, it’s not hard because there are 2 hands to catch these things. But, add item #3 and it’s infinitely harder to know, “Where do I put this thing?” As much as I’d like, having Hand #3 is not an option because Carlee would not recognize her Mommy anymore. So as a Master Juggler, it is my job each day to say, “Where do I put Thing 1, Thing 2, and Thing 3 so they will all be in rhythm with my juggling act?”
And, ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages, those who have more than 3 kids assure me that once you have 3 kids, then 4, 5, 6, 7+ kids are “no problem”, because once you figure out this juggling rhythm, then adding one more thing into the mix is “no different”. I do not have the energy or the want to test out this theory, at least not yet.
Forget juggling, I need a Ringmaster’s uniform.
3 comments December 20th, 2008