Just When You Think You Know How to Play the Game. . .

. . .they change the rules!

Do you ever feel like you got this parenting thing down? Like you are super mom and can take on any mess or spill, any tantrum or fit? Your kids are bright shining examples, and everyone praises you left and right.

And then, all of the sudden, it all falls apart.

The twins, for example, would have certain personality traits. One was easy going and could go with the flow. The other really liked his structure and order. One was moody and had a tender heart. The other was independent and liked his space. We would think we had it down. We would tell people which traits belonged to which twin. Then something would happen. Was it a full moon? Perhaps a growth spurt. Maybe subtle changes in the weather. Whatever it was, the next thing we knew the independent one wanted to be held all the time. The tender heart was beating up his brother. And the easy going one would throw a fit at any change of pace.

We felt like we didn't know our kids. Now, you throw into the mix, another child to take the reigns. And that almost makes a whole new game.

You think you have it down. You think you know how kids are. What each stage brings. Then you have the 2nd child-- technically my third, but second pregnancy and second time around. My third has thrown a whole new set of schemes at us. He is very determined and bold. If he doesn't want a bottle he dramatically pushes it away, and gives you a look that seems to say, "How dare you bring me such things!"

He has to clear everything from everything. If I set something on the stairs, he knocks it down. He clears off tables and window sills. He pulls everything out of drawers-- I finally found the culprit behind the disappearance of my chap stick and lotion from my sock drawer. When he's done eating, and upset that you offer him more food instead of getting him down, he does a clean sweep. Knocking everything to the floor.



Today the three ran me through the wringer. I went on a fun outing with my cousin, and her little girl. To a place called Gardener's Village. They put up some fun Halloween witches in October.

Upon arriving, to our destination, my thoughts weren't distraught with how I would handle all three on my own. No, I didn't need to think such things. We have done this before, and all has gone rather well. But like I said, they change the rules.



The twins ran around like wild dogs released from the pound. Its as though they've been stuck inside for 3 weeks, and have forgotten how to act in public-- this may be partially my fault for not getting them out more often. The, normally, obedient twin was defiant and wouldn't listen. This all started when I couldn't make the transit train reappear. He ran all over the place, and didn't even give me a second thought. The other twin ran too, though he was a little bit easier to handle-- he had his moments though.

The baby threw fit after fit because he wanted to be out walking and playing. Not strapped and restrained in a stroller.

This is another one to get used to. During the summer the baby learned how to twist and turn his way out of the stroller. I never had to worry about stuff like that with the twins. All that twisting and turning comes in handy when I'm trying to strap him back in. That kid knows how to wriggle his way free.

Both twins ended up with bloody lips, and the baby kept walking off into crowds, falling on his bum and crawling off somewhere. Three or four times I walked up to strangers wondering who this baby's mother was. Sometimes I wonder if people think it's odd that I let my 1 year old wonder like that.

We headed to McDonalds for lunch. I thought a play place would be the perfect solution, and it was. It just had one flaw. There was no door to keep the children in. If the baby wasn't running out the door he was pulling shoes out of the shoe keep. There was a fun area where my cousin got him to play for a minute. I went to put him in, and next thing I know I turn around and another mother is pulling my crying child out of one of the little cubby holes underneath the steps.

One of the twins climbed way up in the play place, got scared and started calling out, "Mom! Mom!"

I had to talk him down.

Then we went to refill drinks-- I usually bring sippy cups and split a large drink between us all-- the boys kept asking for more and handing me their cups.

I tell them, "I can't refill that cup I can only put water in it."

"I don't want water!" They exclaim

"Well then here." And I hand them the baby's cup, that still had some juice in it.

"No, that's the baby's drink."

My cousin looks at me and says, "Don't you hate it when they start getting smarter and you can't trick them anymore."

It happened again in the car when one wanted a blanket and all I had was the baby's blanket.

"No, that's the baby's blanket. Don't want it!"

Even after all the excitement, of the play place, when we left the twins ran out into the parking lot without a care in the world. Not a single ounce of energy seemed to be sapped from their little bodies. All that running and playing still left them busy and energetic. And not listening to their mother-- I swear they used to do that.



We still enjoyed ourselves on our outing. Even though the rules for outings seemed to have changed, or perhaps I have selective memory.

Each child brings a different kind of joy, a different kind of love, a different personality and a different set of rules. And none of these things come typed up in fancy little How to Raise Me book. I'm slowly learning, and then relearning. That's what this whole parenting adventure is about, right?