“How do you cope?” is a question that I hear a lot. I have no choice…I have to cope! Not many people have the opportunity to look after three children under the age of three. Or three children under two as it used to be. I cope and I try and enjoy as much of it as I can. One way I cope is by having quite a strict routine when it comes to getting everyone ready in the morning and getting out of the house. And we do need to get out of the house sometimes!

What we need to remember is that now life often resembles one of those “how do you get the animals across the river” puzzles. You know the ones that say you can only take two animals in the boat at a time but you can’t leave the fox with the hen because he’ll eat the hen? This is like my life…I can only carry one baby at a time but I can’t really leave one (or two babies) with E. I don’t think he would try and eat them but you never know with his track record!

Here’s a wee insight into those mornings. Once myself and all three children are dressed, breakfasted, washed, tooth brushed, hair brushed, boobed, nappies changed (again) and toileted (again), I can start putting everything and everyone in the car. E goes out first and instead of running around the garden, he usually chooses to climb in the back door of the car and clamber over into the driver’s seat to rummage through the empty snack wrappers from the last week, in the hope of finding a crumb, while I put S into his car seat. I’ve been taking a risk the last few days as the baby that is left inside the house (usually R) can now crawl so is let loose for a few minutes while I strap the other in. I just can’t think of how else to do it?! Then the second baby is put in and then I can wrestle E out of my seat and into his! Finally, once they are all restrained, I run in and out of the house about 15 times getting all the miscellaneous bits and bobs that we need to go anywhere. 4 coats, a pram, a changing bag, 4 water bottles/ cups, some snacks and various mini animals or playmobil figures that E couldn’t possibly leave the house without……..and then we’re ready to go!

At least it’s the weekend now so I have a helping hand to mix up all my routines and get us out in a completely different order! But as long as we get out, then we’re probably doing well!