How is it possible to have 2 kids with such different personalities? The third we are waiting for his to emerge.....but for our oldest 2 kids they are worlds apart.
The latest example of this was last night we took our new 'soft top' surfboard down the beach for a sunset surf lesson with the kids. The younger boy couldn't get enough of the waves and the surf board and even though he can't swim, can ride a stand-up surfboard, and doesn't mind the odd wipeout. The oldest boy on the other hand is a bit of a perfectionist and doesn't like to try anything till he knows he can do it, and be great at it! This often leaves him unwilling to try anything new, till he has assessed the activity and processed mentally the exact best way to complete the new skill. This is why it suprised us when he piped up that he would like a turn, just not too far out. So off he went....and what do you know, it wasn't perfect (unless he was trying to do the perfect wipeout!) In raged our boy, mad as anything that he couldn't do it, refusing to go anywhere near the ocean or surfboard EVER AGAIN! We tried to explain that although it may take a few more times to perfect it and the best thing was that he had a go, he felt like a failure, and it was so sad to see. Today his confidence is still a little bruised, and we are not even allowed to mention the word 'surfing'. In light of this, today will be spent doing things he is good at to build up his confidence up again.
The challenge is to foster and grow each child, despite their differences. Always tackling the same activity in 2 different ways; so that they both develop, grow, have fun and are not damaged along the way!

"do you have 3 boys?"

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if I had 3 boys, I would be a very rich girl.
It is always the same...a look of disbelief, recount and then the question..."do you have 3 boys?'
I mean, it's not like they look like girls or anything- there's just something about raising children all of the same sex, especially boys that seems to strike peoples interest.
From the older ladies maybe it's a look of terror- about what's to come as they get older, at the moment they are only 5, 4 and 6 months and pretty easy to manage (its easy....you try not to leave the house, and close all the blinds when it's too messy for anyone to peer in).... but I suspect as they get older, and better at beating each other up, I am going to need every parenting tip known to mankind to keep them under control.
Thankfully, I have a helpful husband, who instead of trying to sort out the little problems that the boys have, teaches them just to punch and wrestle to stand up for your rights! (not sure the schoolteacher is going to approve of that method!)
While I absolutely LOVE having 3 boys, it is an adventure, and I want to remember and savor every minute of it.....so that when they are all grown up- I can find some young mother- who is looking terrorized by her children- ask her how many kids she has- then tell her a few of my tales.