Nobody warned me that parenting would involve this much bodily fluid.

Two kids. A big dog. And a day that will go down in our household history as the great triple incident of 2024.

Here's how it unfolded.

The baby went first. One of those nappies. The kind that requires a full tactical response, three wipes packets, and a moment of quiet reflection afterward.

I was mid-cleanup when the toddler made his move. Nappy off, freedom claimed, evidence left on the floor somewhere. I say somewhere because — true to form — he'd already disappeared. With this one, I've learned to follow my nose first and my eyes second.

And then, just as I thought I'd turned a corner, our dog decided the couch was an appropriate venue.

I won't go into detail. There was a hose involved.

Standing in the backyard, hose in hand, I had a moment of unexpected clarity.

One thing at a time.

Not because I read it in a productivity book. But because when you are literally surrounded by mess from three different directions, you quickly learn that trying to deal with all of it at once helps no one — least of all you.

So here's what that chaotic day actually taught me:

Focus gets things done. When you give one task your full attention, you do it properly. In this case — clean bums, all round.

Multitasking adds stress, not speed. Trying to manage everything at once had me spinning. Slowing down and taking it one at a time brought calm back faster than doing it all in a panic.

Kids will drag you into the present moment whether you like it or not. There is no room for distraction when you're a parent in crisis mode. And honestly? That kind of forced presence is something we could all use more of.

Clear thinking requires focus. When I stopped trying to manage everything at once, I made better decisions. Like — hose outside, not inside. Wisdom.

Life with little ones is relentless and ridiculous and wonderful. But if there's one thing the great triple incident taught me, it's this:

Do one thing. Do it well. Then move on to the next disaster.

You've got this. One nappy at a time. 🐾