I don’t know how people do it. How they bring their small children to three hours of church right in the middle of lunch and naptime. We can barely manage to make it through the first hour without all three eventually causing a ruckus in the foyer. Forget staying in the chapel anymore. I feel like we are all totally spent by the time we get home. Three loud babies can make for one embarrassed mom. I didn’t go to church for a long time, but I started going to again because 1) I wanted to get what I could of a normal life back, and having a reason to get ready for the day and leave the house is always welcome 2) singing hymns and being taught about various gospel topics is a nice way to start off the week, 3) it’s a great time passer, and I get to see some of my friends, even if only for a brief moment, 4) it actually coincides with the babies’ nap schedule, and 5) it’s time we get to spend together as a whole family. But even with all these incentives and reasons, one hour is ALL we can take. These kids are really getting big and strong, exhausting me pretty quickly. The drinks and snacks do help for a little while, but they just don’t like to stay put anymore, not to mention they get hungry for real food, and there is no way for me to feed them a decent meal at church. We usually enlist volunteers who are willing to hold one for us, but I get anxious when that person has to wrestle with my squawking child, so I just take the rowdy ones out and let them play so others can enjoy the meeting. They love being free to crawl around the foyer, and that way I still can catch a bit of the service here and there, but sometimes I wonder why I go at all, and when I will ever be able to stay and enjoy the rest of the meetings. I know this is just a phase that will pass, but I really don’t know how other people do it with kids this age. Enlighten me, please.
Oh, there is one more reason we like to go to church. They look extra adorable all sparkling clean and dressed up. There is something about them in their Sunday best that I can’t get enough of. (And thanks to Aunt Camille for the cute plaid shirts, black vests, and denim dress). And fyi, we try to put Bennett in blue when there is a choice between blue and another color. That usually helps people tell them apart.
18 comments:
I think it's a little different when you have three and can't pass your one squirmy child between your husband and yourself! I was just remembering that my favorite 'baby item' at this age were these baby food bottles that they sell at Walgreens--haven't seen them anywhere else. They are nice for eating on the go at this age without the mess. I would even put the creamy yoplait yogurt in them (no chunks) and it was nice to give my kids something a little more filling to eat. Anyway. Kind of random...
Six more months until nursery right? :) Maybe not so comforting...
When our twins were their age, my husband and I spent pretty much all of church in the foyer with them. It's a hard age, especially with multiples. It does pass though, and nursery sure helps! Good luck!
They ARE adorable.
It takes several months of patience, squawking, and agony. Sheer determination, a battle of wills, a bit of creativity... and that's with one at a time.
Once you get past one phase, have a month of nice church, and then you enter a new phase of some new mischief.
I expect church to get easier when my youngest is about 8.
Meanwhile, I go to enforce good habits, to be obedient, and to occasionally get snippets of soul filling.
I have noticed that those kids whose parents wait until they are "old enough to behave" to bring them to church are holy terrors anyway. Takes months and months whether they are 1 or 4.
Holy terrors are better at 1 year old than 4 or 5.
I had a niece who loudly observed during the silent moments of the sacrament, "Oh Cool! they serve food here?"
Church is hard enough with one baby! Good luck!
Amen sister! We too spend our time in the foyer, and then it is straight home after Sacrament meeting. And I only have one!! I ask myself all the time, "what is the freaking point!" But then the light at the tunnel arrives and you send your little one to nursery. And then you go home and get a nap while someone else watches your kid...free babysitting!! Totally kidding. But seriously, nursery will change your life.
Yes, it's complicated. You have a fulltime situation that most people cannot even imagine. Even twins is nothing compared to triplets. Plus, kids are different and parents have different capacities. So you must do what feels best and right for you and your family at the time. The Spirit will let you know. We cannot run faster than we are able. There are times and seasons.
Keep the first commandment first.
Love seeing them in their Sunday bests. But they are always adorable.
pics are so cute!!!
I get you on the church thing. We always end up at the back and don't have people to help so we end up playing what one person called "zone defense". I have to admit it is better than it was last year. At least now they will sit on the chairs for short periods of time and eat snacks or look at a book, etc. I just bring an enormous bag of things like books, toy cars, file folder games, etc.
Until they started nursery we never stayed for the whole time... one of us was often teaching and it was ridiculous to think the other spouse could wrangle the other three in class (or in the foyer for that matter). Now they are in nursery we try to go the whole time, but I never feel bad when we show up late for Sacrament mtg... just enough time for snack and a little play time in the chapel before off to nursery!!! Often I feel like it is a total waste of time and effort.
Hang in there. "They" say it continues to get better... and I hope for both of our sakes "they" are right:)
Oh, those vests! I love all these pictures of their Sunday clothes. I often want to take a picture before church, especially when the kids' outfits are somewhat coordinated, but we are usually rushing out the door after meetings all morning. Oh well! I'm glad you have captured them all dressed up.
And I, like most other parents, hear ya about how crazy church with toddlers can be. Yesterday I was completely exhausted after chasing Gabe around the halls through most of church. (He didn't even join us until his nap was done half-way through Sacrament meeting!) Nursery in three weeks. It really will change our lives on Sunday. And it will be completely awesome for you. (I used to joke like Lindsey that I should go home and take a nap. Ha. Not a bad idea?)
I am amazed you guys all make it to church, even if just for the first hour. I loved playing with Bennett last week. Anyway, long comment, but we haven't talked for a few days!
They are so darling in their Sunday best! I did what you are doing. I spent the entire time in the hall--and I only had one.
Hey, sorry to comment twice, but I just wanted to tell you something. I was fretting a while back about the going to church situation/having a baby that wouldn't sit through, especially when it was right during his nap time. So I was talking to Dr. Glade about it during a temple recommend interview (he is a member of our stake presidency in highland) and he told me that there is a time and season for all things, and right now that season is that of parenthood. He told me not to feel bad about missing meetings for tired or restless babies, because I was doing what I should be doing for my child. Anyway, I was always grateful for that comment. Thought I'd share.
You are doing great - getting three babies and yourself dressed and out the door is a fantastic accomplishment. When we had two under two years, Clyde and I would take weekly turns going to church and one kept the babies home to nap. We both had a great Sabbath! But I loved it when KC as a young toddler started saying 'Amen!' in the middle of someone's talk when he thought they should be done.
And... let three of the young women take the babies out while you listen once in a while. I know they are hoping for the chance. True service.
Months 12-18 are the worst for church even with one baby. Don't despair. I liked all the other comments. It gets so much better. You'll be sending them off to primary before you know it.
I agree with some of your other comments. You have to do what you can do handle. I was continually tested with my one toddler running around sunday school and relief society!
Advice my mom gave me on church attendance with little ones was to go to set the precidence for the family. Even if the parents don't hear the message while spending the majority of the time in the hall, we are providing the right foundation for our kids. That being said though, it is still TOUGH (x3)! I'm sure whoever is wrestling with one of your cuties doesn't mind a bit! It'll pass...someday! You can always look forward to the golden time of nursery!! You're right though, they do look super cute in their dress clothes!
I hope you don't mind I came across your blog and have LOVED hearing about your kids and how you handle such adorable triplets (and reading about everything you went through to get there)! I went to high school with you, but I was a year or two younger...anyway, that's how I knew who you were. I just wanted to let you know that you shouldn't feel bad at all, in my opinion you are doing such an awesome job just getting them there for an hour. I only have 1 and at that age I felt the overwhelmed too(so I can't even imagine having 3...I applaud you!). We spent most Sacrament mtgs. in the foyer because she wanted to run around and it was the same in sunday school and r.s. (especially since she was restless by the end of 3 hrs at church). Unfortunately it is just hard, but your relief will come soon at 18 months when that glorious day of nursery comes :) (And most wards aren't picky about them being exactly 18 months so drop them off a couple weeks early...) Just count down the weeks (for some reason to us it seemed to come quicker when we just counted Sundays...) to then and it makes it easier. Sorry this was long, but I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone with these feelings...especially since you have the challenging task of keeping 3 happy at once. Good luck!
Yep, it's tough duty, all right. The Spirit will continue give you help along the way. Keep listening like you already do.
LOVE these darlings and their sunday best! Those vests on the boys are adorable...I could eat them up.
You know, in our ward there is a family with triplets that are 2 and no one ever seems to mind the noise or distraction. If anything, people are just eager to help where they can. Before they were old enough for nursery, they would actually set up a little "corral" for them in the back corner of the relief society room with toys, books, and snacks. Maybe you could opt for that :)
I like what lindsey said about "a season for everything". So true! Just do what you can, and feel good that you made an effort.
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