My unsung hero

I'm sorry it's been so long since my last post! A month has gone by, and the girls are now seven months old. I'm not sure how that's possible. The only explanation is that a wormhole opened up and transported us into the future. (Or, possibly, I'm sleep deprived and watching too much sci-fi.) Whatever the reason, time is absolutely hurtling by us, and we're still desperately trying to grab hold of it and catch up. We've given up trying to get ahead-- now we're just hanging on for dear life. Why does this happen, especially since I work part time from home? The answer: I have 3 kids under 3. Now, this statement of fact in and of itself doesn't seem that significant. My situation is far from unique. One of the kids is in preschool. Two of the kids have a nanny for the hours I'm working. So why isn't anything getting done? I mean, I'm not sitting on the couch eating bon-bons and watching HGTV all day. (would that it were!) I've given this a lot of thought, and I've come to realize that I'm simply spread too thin. Nothing gets my all these days. Poor Brady used to get 110%. (and I read about a British study that said that only children are happier. As if I didn't feel guilty enough.)And Belle-- Belle used to sleep in the bed, get taken for long walks, and hop up on the couch for some snuggle time.

But the one who really gets the short end of an already short stick is my unsung hero, my husband. Not all that long ago, we had lots of time for each other. Movies, concerts, shopping, time with friends, sleeping in on the weekends-- the list that made up our leisurely life went on and on. Then came Brady, and most of my attention and effort went toward him. Then the girls came, and good Lord! Who knew I even had the energy to live on reserve fumes as I cared for them and tried not to traumatize and create resentment in my sweet son. But caring and selfless, Shawn's jumped right in to parenthood and the unique challenges of having multiples. He changed Brady's first diapers after his C-section delivery, when I was in pain and in bed. He visited the girls 4 times in the NICU the night they were born. He gives love and smiles and distraction, and it's clear that the girls absolutely adore their daddy. He's been relegated to the back of the line, and he deals with it. And for that, I love him more, and I hope to be able to pay him back when the kids are older and I'm better rested, with more energy.

Whenever we're out with the whole family (A.K.A. the rolling freak show), people stop us, ask questions, coo at the babies (and occasionally notice Brady), and almost invariably say to me, "You've got your hands full. I don't know how you do it." But the absolute, undeniable truth is that I couldn't do it without Shawn, and he gets almost no credit. I mean, sure, his body and brain weren't destroyed to bring the kids into the world, but it's just not fair that old gender roles play into a complete lack of recognition for his involvement. He is the most amazing father and husband I have ever seen, and I want everyone to know it. And so there you go.