Who Says? — Lauren Warren

Elle and I have been jamming out to Joshua Micah’s song, Who Says? I frequently apply it to so many areas in my life:

See that wildfire in your eyes
Keep on burning keep that dream alive
Can’t let go of what you got inside
Maybe it’s crazy
Maybe it’s meant to be

Who says you gotta have it all figured out?
Who says you’ll never feel alone in the crowd?
Who says you gotta be like everyone else?
Who says?

While the wildfire in my eyes is usually a touch of rage directed towards my three year old who is her own wildfire, and I let the dream of becoming Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s best friend die, the song still speaks to me on so many levels. I definitely don’t have it figured out, and if I’m honest I probably never will! Just last night I realized that I was praying that my crampy stomachache was pregnancy rather than a stomach bug because the thought of the whole family having the stomach bug again was unbearable. We checked that off of our 2017 Bucket List, no need to revisit that experience! Obviously I thought the prayer through and weighed my options: 24 hours or 18 years with the potential to add one more to the family stomach bug. Needless to say Garth was right some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers. AND it was just a stomachache!

While I might never feel alone in the bathroom … (Side note the 3rd line of the chorus fits here, but I'll refrain from applying it.), I often do feel alone. Suddenly with 3 under 3, our life is completely different and everything is more difficult. I go weeks and months without connecting with my girlfriends. As a full-time working mom, I feel insanely guilty if I miss bedtime or playtime to go out with friends. I try to live in the moment, but I really have no clue what that actually means! Does that mean we just sit and play all day?

Everyday errands suddenly take planning. The grocery store alone with the girls is not really an option … Where would I put the groceries? Lunches and dinners out to eat ... not the most enjoyable at the moment. Obviously we aren’t like everyone else because when we actually do go out in public we are accompanied by stares or loud whispers and of course the most bizarre comments that I never know how to respond too:

Are those twins? ... No I just happen to have another baby that looks exactly like the other baby.
Are those triplets? ... Yes one is an abnormally fast grower and she talks extremely well.
Which one is the boy? ... That one ... he just has a bow in his hair and is kicked back in a pink car seat.
I bet you’re busy. ... Yes, we NEVER sit down!
You don't look like you had twins. ... Umm ... thank you ... I think? Not really sure what you mean by that!
Looks like you have your hands full! … Yes I do, so do you mind opening that door for me instead of standing idol while watching me struggle?

No, I’m not like everyone else, I wouldn't trade the odd exchanges with strangers, the bathroom parties, the cuddles or the open mouth kisses for anything else in the world!