Dear Three,

I know we haven’t always gotten along. I’ve blamed you for a lot of things. When Char cried on Monday that she didn’t want to go to school because she hates nap time, then cried again on Tuesday that she was NOT at school napping with her friends, I blamed you Three. I know you made her do it, so don’t lie. I also know it was you who told her she could run around the house with my lipstick and smear it on my couch. You have it out for parents Three….you try to pin it alllll on Two, but we know what’s up. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve trashed talked you Three. I’ve said I hate you and I’ve sat around with other parents and slammed you behind your back, calling you names….God knows we have never been on great terms.

I didn’t know what to think of you the first time I met you Three, when you where hanging out with Shep….but I was pretty sure you were trouble.  I didn’t  get to experience you fully, six whole months of our time together were foggy and confusing. I didn’t know what to blame on you and what to blame on circumstances.  Frankly, I was just so thankful to meet Four I cried and slammed the door on you then tried to forget you ever existed….until you showed up at my house again, two years later.

You and I won’t be hanging much longer Three. Your time is up in this family soon. I only have three more months to really etch you into my brain. But I’m realizing I was wrong about you. There’s a lot I love about you and I think you should stay. You see, I need you Three. You keep my daughter’s body round and soft and squishy in all the right places. You keep her cheeks full and kissable. Just like you told her it was OK to scream about a missing toy, you also told her I could make her finger feel better with nothing but a kiss. I need that Three. I need it to be that easy for a little bit longer. Because of you Three, my baby can run around the house naked and we still laugh. The edges of her words are soft and her sentences are not yet perfected….that’s all you Three, those are some of my favorite things, and you will take them with you when you go. Her brother left you behind and I didn’t even know to look back. Now, I’m about to meet Six and it’s all long skinny legs and angles when we snuggle. Six is too heavy to pick up and carry.  You, Three,  are responsible for chubby fingers and princess panties. Your favorite game is chase and you love to be captured and tickled. Because of you,  my sweet Char grabs my face and turns it towards her in the morning so we can sleep nose to nose.

Darling Three, I take back all the things I said about you. You are like all of us, you have just as much good as you do bad. Don’t leave Three. Stay. Please stay. I will cry when you go. I don’t know if I’ll ever see you again Three, but I know I’m not ready to say goodbye. I didn’t know how much joy you brought us, and though I like your friend Four well enough, my heart will ache when you leave. I will remember you fondly Three, thanks for everything.

Love,
Momma