Why I Go In Public With 3 Kids Solo

We recently got new neighbors to our right. The day they moved in, the kids and I went over and introduced ourselves and brought them a little housewarming gift. One evening a few weeks later, I was outside and talking with our neighbor to our left. I noticed someone had cut our grass (I have been doing it but after a particularly rough week, it was a little neglected) and asked if it was her. She said no the new neighbor had come over and done it and she said, “He asked me if you were a single mom. I told him no, her husband just works all the time.” This is definitely my life.

My husband’s hours are long and crazy. It’s not at all that uncommon for him to work all weekend, so it’s just me and the kids. I am naturally a go-getter. I enjoy being out and about. I also have 2 boys with TONS of energy and a baby who’s down for whatever. I do usually like one weekend day to chill around the house. But since I work from home, sometimes on the weekend, my cabin fever is in full force and I just need to get out.

So despite being outnumbered, I take us places.

My kids are young, currently 6, 2, and 11 months. Despite that I have conquered the zoo, aquarium, the pool, basically every playground in the GNO, Mardi Gras parades, festivals, pumpkin patches, indoor play areas, trampoline parks, and even restaurants to name a few with just myself and the 3 kids.

I hear a lot “I don’t know how you do it.” Want to know my magic secret? I just do. It’s hard. It’s messy.

Sometimes, some outings turn out to be complete crap shows and not worth the effort. But that doesn’t stop me from doing it all again the next time. Rain or shine, I just pack up the snacks and do all over again. To be honest, sitting at home with 3 kids is hard too, so why not get us out and do something?

I am making memories with my kids. They’re not perfect, but they’re ours. I hope my kids look back and think that we didn’t just sit around and wait for life to happen, we went out and made it happen. We went on adventures and we had fun.

Also, bonus to our adventures: if we’re not at home the kids can’t totally destroy the place and when we get back they’re pretty worn out. So family adventure usually means family nap.

Tara
Tara grew up all over south Louisiana and currently lives in Metairie with her husband Josh, and their 3 kids Dax, Dane and Delta. Tara is a buyer for a local food-service distribution company and Community Director for New Orleans Mom. During the week she can be found replying to emails, carpooling kids all around, giving out hugs and kisses, and looking forward to bedtime. Weekends are for family adventures, naps and cheering for LSU and the Saints. She loves trying new foods, travel, and she and her family love all things New Orleans, but especially Mardi Gras.

1 COMMENT

  1. I’m so thrilled to see this article! My boys are now 23, 19 & 14. My hubby worked crazy hours too & I’m not a wait home kinda girl so I toted my little ones with me from the beginning. We went to sit down restaurants, shopping & even spending nights in hotels on our adventures.

    While sometimes they were a handful while we were out, these times got fewer & fewer. Now, they are comfortable going where they want to, being respectful & not feeling restricted by their own anxiety.

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