If You Have Three Kids And Your House Is Chaos, Blame Your Third-Born
No matter how easy your mom made it look or how effortlessly the other mothers at school manage their hordes of children, motherhood is not an easy job.
You're committed to taking care of other human beings, and a lot of your time as a mother is going to be chaotic. But it turns out that if you have three kids, your third-born is the reason your life is chaos.
How Many Moms Are Stressed Out?
It's a loaded question because, obviously, all moms and dads are a little stressed out at some point during their parenting career, but when Today did a study asking mothers about their daily stress level, the average mom said her stress level was at an 8.5/10. So what's the reason behind their stress?
The Source Of Their Stress
Moms cited a variety of different reasons that they feel stressed out on a daily basis, with a large majority (75%) saying they feel judgment or pressure to be the perfect mother. A shocking 90% of the mothers in the study said they feel pressure to stay fit and attractive, while others said they were stressed about not having enough time in their days to accomplish everything.
Three's Company
While middle child syndrome may be a thing, it turns out the biggest stressor for moms is when they add a third child into the mix. Your first child is always a rollercoaster, then you add a second and you're a little more confident in your abilities. But it's the third child that pushes your house into turmoil.
Why Is Three So Stressful?
If you think about it, it makes sense. You only have two hands, and your partner only has two hands, so once you toss a third child into the mix, you're suddenly outnumbered. You're no longer in control, and the children can sense it—and they thrive off the ability to overpower their parents.
Things Like Crossing The Road Become Complicated
Moms of three kids gave examples of situations that are more stressful for them, like crossing the road. If you have three kids, you can't hold every kid's hand, and you feel like you're not in control. These moms also said when you have three kids, it's harder to come to a decision about things like what movie to watch that will leave everyone happy.
Four Or More, You Learn To Adapt
While you'd think that the more kids you have, the more stress you have, three seems to be the magic number. Moms of four or more kids said you get used to the chaos and learn to adapt. It's more about surviving than thriving once you're living with four or five kids, so if having three kids is stressing you out, consider having another!
