“…mothers who have three children are the most stressed
out - even more so than those who have four, according to a Today.com
survey of 7,164 U.S. mothers.” –
Today.com, May 6, 2013
Hmmmmmm...There's a brand
new article racing around the Net.
Apparently, the jittery,
foot tapping, shaky hands that we moms of three have on a daily basis doesn’t
come from too much of our favorite Starbucks in the morning. It actually comes
from the fact that we have three kids instead of the much more manageable four....
So let me repeat that: Moms
of 3 are more stressed than moms of 4.
Well, who knew???
Which is making the
Facebook-o-sphere crackle with jokes, because we moms of three can't help but
wonder: To add a 4th child now into our home would be like
inviting a helpless, naked, baby field mouse into a household of Pachyderms –
stomping and tromping and trumpeting in and out with loads of athletic,
sporting, elementary school, active older kiddo gear. Hooting “MOM, WHAT’S FOR
DINNER???” and “I CAN’T FIND MY SHIN GUARD!!!”
Let alone that we’ve
already we’ve already unloaded all the baby slings and swings and
Pack&Plays and tiny sheets and bottle warmers and one hundred thousand
other baby gear items that make the baby world go round.
But, would a
having a 4th kid really bring about less stress? Would we
finally “give up” (or “let go”) and wear holes in our sweats? And not care
about the rats-nests in the kids’ hair and those darn, forever lost shin
guards….? And would we learn to say “no” more often and smile space-ily as we ignore
requests for punctual playdates and agro-mommy-needs?
Well, possibly! And here's
why: “There’s just not enough space in your head for perfectionism when you get
to four or more kids,” says Dr. Janet Taylor, psychiatrist in New York and mom
of 4. “It just gets to be survival!”
Right on, Dr. T! I already
feel that way and I only have 3!
So, friends, let’s watch
and see what happens to the family planning birth rates moving forward with this
info. Will moms of three decide to go for that 4th instead of an
adorable, new puppy to soothe the stress levels and keeps themselves sane?
And as for me and the
thought of number 4, it may be too late. So I think we’ll stick with the
fuzzy kind with a tail for now. And work on decreasing stress in another, more
realistic way….. booze, drugs and rock & roll!
Kidding of course, but it
sure sounds easier than Pack&Plays and midnight feedings and colic, again….
Oh my!
Namaste & Three
Cheers! -OM
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