I am confused about the number 3. At university and in the world of advertising, anything with three components was a Good Thing. We used to talk a lot about how wonderful, strong and simple the (holy) trinity was. Now I am not so sure; you see every time I mention my thoughts on having baby number 3 I am almost always met with a very strong opinion about why no-one should have three children. And that’s from people who aren’t one of three. Don’t even get me started on those who are.
The usual issue is that one sibling is left out. Well I’m one of one and so I was always the whole team and yet the loner. I have little sympathy for this argument. Besides me and my two best pals spent our whole teenage years as a three. It worked fine. We were a striking trio, one blonde, one ginger and one brunette.
Another issue is the money. As in how nothing fits a family of 5. You need a special bus type car, package holidays don’t fit, family cinema tickets are for 4 etc. Well, we already have the car with 7 seats so that’s ticked off. And we’re creatures of habit and tend to holiday in the UK in cottages so that’s sorted too. The cinema? I only took the boys the other day for the first time and youngest son starting shouting ‘I’ve got wind’ an hour into the film and so we had to leave. (He did to be fair.)
Time, energy and hands are the last trinity of reasons. Not enough of any of them. I can’t argue with the hands one, but time… I can create time surely? And energy… That’s what coffee’s for.
These muffins are super quick to make. Perfect for if you have lots of kids and no time.
Comments, as always, welcomed. Especially wisdom regarding the number 3.
One year ago: Baileys chocolate fridge cake truffles and Experimental banana loaf
Two years ago: Cherry, white choc and apricot biscuits and Reeses’ inspired chocolate and peanut tart andSesame, quinoa and carrot salad
Blueberry, lime and chocolate chip muffins
- 400g plain flour
- 175g castor sugar
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- Zest of a lime
- 290mls milk with juice of a lime added
- 2 large eggs
- 90g melted butter
- 200g fresh blueberries
- 100g milk chocolate chips
Preheat the oven to 200C/Gas 6 and check the rack is in the centre of the oven. Line a muffin tray with 12 cases. Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder and zest in a bowl and stir really well. In a measuring jug pour the milk, lime juice, eggs and melted butter. Mix this together with a fork and don’t worry if the butter starts to re-solidify into little bits. This will happen if your milk is icy cold from the fridge and still makes for lovely muffins.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ones and mix gently with a fork until everything just comes together – don’t treat like a cake mixture as this’ll make your muffins tough. Add the blueberries and chocolate chips and gently stir through. Fill your cases to the top and then bake for about 25 minutes until golden and the blueberries start to pop and leave their jam on the top of the muffins. Cool on a wire rack out of the tin and enjoy with a lot of kids.
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Holly Bell 
I was one of two and would have loved another brother or sister!
:) Not that I don’t like my brother, but I always wondered what it would be like to have a sister too, and it would be lovely in terms of us all having kids – more cousins.
Interesting recipes, good pictures, very tasty resemble the Mediterranean cuisine which we do in Spain.
We invite you to visit my blog from Spain, with traditional recipes from the State of Valencia. http://valenciagastronomic.blogspot.com.es
This week “Pot of beans” and the coming week “Mediterranean vegetable rice” going to lose?
In my blog you can find a translator to your language
I think if its what you and Mr B, then have a third. I loved having my third child, the fourth was wonderful too. Time needs to be managed but there is always enough love to go round and just think of all the (potential) grandchildren!
I always wanted three and all those arguments were put to me too. I am one of two, who never got on and still don’t. It’s not about the number, it’s about the people and the parents. And as for hands – it’s just another form of multitasking! GG
(You would buy whatever the number of cinema tickets for the corresponding number of children you had, and most cars have five seats, so let’s put those aside.) I’m eldest of three and have always loved it, we got on better than most of our childhood friends who were one of two. Do it! And we had a normal sized car.
just found this one too that we wrote about having three http://thebeesleybuzz.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/baby-number-three-we-all-love-trinity.html
it was the best thing we did – we have our own Trinity (and named number three Trinity!). The two boys adore her soooo much and it has just brought out the best in them. Even my eldest on the autistic spectrum who is prone to lashing out and anger is just so full of love and care for Trin and she has a calming effect on him. The number three was always my favourite number when i was growing up but i always imagined only having two children – but now it all makes sense why the number three was so special. We have a 6 year age gap between our youngest son and Trin because we were really undecided but didn’t want to go through life with the regret of wondering if we should have had three and we are SO glad we did. Here’s what her brothers think of her http://thebeesleybuzz.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/thats-my-hero.html and you’ll find lots of other mentions of just how much her brothers adore her.
YUM. I’m one of three, and it was never a problem- we always had normal size cars, and holidays weren’t a problem, and I never felt left out even though I was the only girl! GO FOR NUMBER THREE! x
I’m one of three as is my husband, we always knew we’d never have more than two!
I dont think there is a ‘right’ number. My friend had three and always talked about middlechilditis …my son has 3 but the first two were twins and the younest is the bossy boots. I think 3 works if the older two have a feeling of importance …minder of the nappies …mums goffer .. meal time helper .etc etc. Good luck … The muffins sound amazing …I love proper ones that are not cup cakes in disguise
Well I’m currently pregnant with number 2 and we are already having this debate about a third I think the more the merrier, why not. Oh and I am one of three and love it x
Three is the best! I was one of three (still our little gang!) and we’re hoping to also have three. My husband is a twin and always yearned for another sibling, he felt just the two of them was a bit oppressive and if they fell out (which still happens often) there was noone els around to hang out with. In our gang, no one was ever left out even though my bro was the youngest and is sometimes henpecked by two older sisters and his mum (we don’t see this as a bad thing, he’s turned out well for it!)
3 is the magic number! I have 3 girls (now aged 9, 7 and 3) and don’t regret it at all. Lots more fun and so far no one gets left out and no middle child issues either. If you’re thinking about it, it probably means you would like another one, I think you know when your family is complete, and I have no yearnings for a fourth!
Do it!!! I’m one of three and loved it! And plenty of places do family tickets for 5 these days and I’m guessing the fact you’re debating means you may well regret it in years to come or wonder ‘what if’ if you don’t. I’ve only got one at the moment so hard to comment on exhaustion levels but you could always just have a slightly bigger gap between #2 and #3 to ease things a bit. But where there’s a will, there’s a way. I hope you find peace with whatever you decide though. Becky x
Go for it!! We now have three and its perfect … we struggled to have no.2 and were just about to start IVF when we found out she was on the way, having been told it was going to be impossible to have another child without help. Two years later we had a HUGE and lovely surprise and found the impossible had happened again…! So we have boy (8), girl (5) and boy (almost 3) and I can’t recommend it highly enough .. we are so blessed and our family is complete, chaotic and wonderful ..
If it happens, it happens … afterall, two parents = four arms to cuddle little people with, more than enough and no one is ever left out
xx
“two parents = four arms to cuddle little people with, more than enough and no one is ever left out” That’s such lovely logic.