After I gave birth to my third son in February of 2015, I was welcomed home from the hospital by my four-year-old and my 21-month-old. There was the expected influx of hugs and kisses and curious questions, but after the initial excitement wore off, there was an unexpected influx of high-demand needs: Diaper changes, snack requests, toddler nap times, explosive toy messes, and full-body tantrums…all on top of round-the-clock newborn baby care.
Looking around?with an infant attached to my chest, a toddler hanging off my leg, and a preschooler stomping his foot in stubborn refusal of pretty much everything?I realized for the first time that I now had three mostly-helpless, super-needy kids under five.
My husband is a hands-on dad, but he?s also the one with the full-time job outside the home. It was my full-time job to keep three kids alive and well every day, and there is only one of me. Enter ?survival mode.? If you?ve ever taken care of a baby 24/7 or gone through some other life-changing event, you?ve been forced into survival mode before. Your only goal becomes getting through the day as unscathed and sane as possible.

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