How I cope with triplets

I was recently asked to speak on how I cope with triplets, so I thought I would blog about it as it’s one of the main questions I get asked.

Here are my 10 tips on how I cope with triplets:

1. Prayer and devotion

I know when I haven’t managed to pray and spend some time with God at the beginning of the day…. My day goes into turmoil. Everything goes wrong, upside down and feels 10x harder. Take some time out in the morning to pray and ask God for the strength, patience and love you need for the day.

2. Routine, routine, routine

Routine makes my life easier. It was only when the girls all got sick and their routine went out the window for that period of time, that I truly appreciated the routine that we had put in place for them. It means you can plan your day because you roughly know when the kids will be napping and when they will eat and most importantly, go to bed 😀

3. Use it as an opportunity for Gods to iron out my flaws

I used to think I was quite a patient individual, oh how the girls have blown that out the window. When three babies are screaming at you and it’s past their bed time and cutting into your me time, patience seems far away. Having children definitely expose your flaws and aspects of your character that need working on. Instead of ignoring it, ask God to work on that particular aspect.

4. Have someone to vent to

It’s not every day I have a good day. Most days are quite hard and trying, but some days are extremely testing and so I need to off load. There are very few people I will off load to, but it helps. Just to have that listening ear, a few words of empathy, a bit of encouragement and then I’m ok again, ready to face more.

5. Keep your mind active.

Just because you have babies doesn’t mean you can’t do other things to keep your mind active. I recently completed an online nutrition diploma. I am now studying nutritional therapy. I hope to start netball soon and get better at studying my Spanish. Research or learn a new skill. Especially if you are a stay at home mum, refresh your skills, knowledge or just try something new. You can do it!

6. Get out the house

If I haven’t been out the house for the week, when it comes to Thursday both myself and girls are going crazy. Fresh air is important for our health. So I try to get out the house at least two times a week, but the more often I get out the better for us all. If I have nowhere to go, I just go for a walk. It is tiring, but definitely worth it.

7. Be organised

To save my sanity I have to be organised. If I know I’m going out the next day I will have the girls bags packed and all our clothes laid out from the night before. I try to plan my weeks out so I know what is going on before hand and can prepare, both physically and mentally, for it.

Plan your families meals for the week. I actually really dislike thinking of what to eat, but I find when I plan what we are all eating a week in advance I can plan what to buy for food shopping, there’s less stress when it comes to deciding what to cook and we end up eating a lot healthier.

8. Be positive

This one is only recent. If I’m having a rough day I try to name 10 blessings and positive aspects of my day. This usually changes my mood and negative thinking pattern. By time I get to number 8 I’m back to normal, calm and ready to face the rest of my day. Stay positive. All things are possible through Jesus Christ who strengthens you.

9. Challenge myself

Just because I have more than one child doesn’t mean I can’t do certain things. One time I needed to go to Holland and Barratts, Mr J had the car and was finishing late for the week. So I packed the girls bags, put them in the pushchair and took the train, by myself, to stratford. It meant feeding them while out, all 3 girls were screaming at me while I tried to warm their milk up in Starbucks, but I didn’t care. I got out and I did it. You can do it! Set yourself new challenges. Go to that baby group, take that trip.

10. Enjoy it!!!

Time goes soooo quickly. Enjoy every smile, laughter, hug and kiss. Mr. J said this morning Miss Nae leaned her head onto Miss Chay, so she gave Miss Nae a kiss…  Or she was trying to link the porridge of her face haha… Either way, it was a moment to be cherished. Cherish every moment with your children.

No doubt raising a baby, whether just one or more than one, is challenging. Remember God promised He will never give us more then we can bear. He said He will never leave us or forsake us. His grace is sufficient for us.

Stay strong everyone. Keep smiling. God loves you 😀

Triplet Mama Smith x