Let me just say it louder for the people in the back: life with three kids under six is a whole different species of chaos.
If you’ve ever tried to simultaneously soothe a teething baby, referee a meltdown over a broken banana, and explain why glitter is not a food group—all before 8 a.m.—then hi, hello, welcome. You’ve found your people. I’m a mom with ADHD and three beautiful, fiery, endlessly curious daughters: a 5-year-old who asks a lot of big questions, a 3-year-old who also has ADHD and can climb a bookshelf in under six seconds, and a 4-month-old who thinks sleep is a scam.
This season of motherhood? It’s not for the faint of heart. But it’s also not without its magic.
Mornings Are a Wild Card
No two mornings are the same in this house. Some days we’re up early, dressed, fed, and happily playing by 7 a.m. Other days, I’m bribing the toddler with marshmallows just to put on pants, and the baby’s diaper explodes during breakfast.
As a mom with ADHD, I need structure—but kids under six? They laugh in the face of structure. I’ve learned to keep our routines flexible. We have rhythm over rigidity. Mornings usually include:
- Sensory-friendly breakfast (banana pancakes = our safe food)
- A calm-down corner reset after my 3-year-old inevitably screams because her spoon is wrong
- Me chugging lukewarm coffee like it’s the last beverage on Earth
These are the only Toddler Plates that don’t cause meltdowns. They come in an array of colors, to mix and match and they’re pretty much indestructible.
And if I’m lucky? I get a moment to brush my teeth before 10 a.m. #Goals.
The Noise, the Mess, the Overwhelm—Oh My
Let’s be honest: life with three kids under six is loud. Like, really really loud. There are times when everyone’s crying at once. This is including me. And I swear the toys multiply while we sleep. I’ve started finding LEGOs in places LEGOs should never be.
But the hardest part isn’t always the noise. Sometimes, it’s the mental juggling act. Remembering appointments, snack preferences, sleep cues, sensory needs, and all the invisible load in between is exhausting. Especially when your own executive functioning is… let’s say, on backorder.
That’s why I swear by:
- White noise machines in every room
- Visual schedules to help my ADHD daughter (and myself) stay on track
- And a weekly planner that I actually use (because writing things down helps offload the mental clutter)
These Visual Routine Chart cards are a great way to keep kids on track and can easily stick somewhere visible like the fridge.
Check out this post on:
The Invisible Load: What You Don’t See But I Always Carry
Sensory Overload Is Real—for Everyone
Sometimes I forget that my own neurodivergent brain needs just as much care as my kids’. When the baby’s crying, the toddler’s bouncing off the walls, and I haven’t had a second of silence, my brain starts short-circuiting.
Here’s what helps:
- Noise-canceling headphones (game changer)
- Five-minute “mom timeouts” where I hide in the laundry room and deep-breathe
- Reminding myself that I am not failing. I am overstimulated, and that’s valid.
And yes, sometimes that “timeout” includes me sitting on the bathroom floor eating chocolate chips in the dark. No shame.
These noise cancelling ear plugs are a holy grail! They allow me to tend to my overly loud children without getting overstimulated by it. In a way they make me a better mom.
What My Daughters Teach Me Daily
Despite the chaos, these three little girls teach me more about life than I ever imagined possible. My 5-year-old teaches me about empathy and imagination. My 3-year-old with ADHD reminds me of the beauty in relentless curiosity and boundless energy. And my baby reminds me to slow down—even if it’s just to marvel at her chubby cheeks and gummy smile.
They remind me:
- That it’s okay to take breaks.
- That perfection isn’t required to be loved deeply.
- That laughter in the middle of madness is survival.
These moments—when we dance to Bluey songs in the living room, when my girls pile on top of each other in a giggle heap, when they look at me like I hung the moon—this is what keeps me going.
How We Survive (And Sometimes Even Thrive)
I’m not a parenting expert. I’m a mom in the thick of it, learning as I go. But here’s what’s helped me survive life with three kids under six:
- Outsource what you can – grocery delivery, meal kits, even toy rotation services can help lighten the load.
- Say yes to help – from friends, family, or your partner (even if they don’t do it your way).
- Lower the bar – your kids need love, not perfection.
- Laugh through the madness – because if I don’t laugh when someone spills applesauce on the cat, I will absolutely cry.
- Let go of the comparison trap – what works for others might not work for us. And that’s okay.
These are just some our favorite products that are in our daily rotation to help with the overwhelm:
🔗 My Favorite ADHD-Friendly Weekly Planner
🔗 All-In-One Baby Carrier That Saves My Back
🔗 Toddler Headphones with Volume Control (Lifesavers)
Check out these other posts:
🔗 What My Kids Teach Me About Being Myself
🔗 The Perfect Summer Routine for Kids
Let’s Talk About “Me Time”
Spoiler alert: it doesn’t really exist—not in the way it used to. But I try to carve out micro-moments. Ten minutes of journaling. A solo walk with a podcast. A long shower with the door locked and white noise blaring to muffle the knocks.
You deserve rest even if you didn’t get everything done. Your value isn’t tied to your productivity. It’s in the way you love your kids, show up every day, and keep going—even when it’s hard.
Final Thoughts: It’s Hard, and You’re Doing Great
This season won’t last forever, but while we’re in it, it can feel like it never ends. You’re not weak for struggling. You’re not alone for feeling overwhelmed. And you are absolutely not failing if you count down to bedtime by 2 p.m.
Life with three kids under six is chaotic. But it’s also filled with so much love, laughter, and resilience—especially if you stop chasing perfection and just show up, messy and human.
You’ve got this, mama. And on the days when it feels like too much? Remember, I’m right there with you—surviving, thriving (sometimes), and always reaching for that second cup of coffee.
Disclaimer:
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