13 Things I Used to Do Before I Had 3 Young Kids

Six waffles in one box? LOL. If it doesn't come in a 24-pack and costs more than a movie ticket, it's not making it into my cart.

Oh, the days of browsing boutiques and wandering through Nordstrom "just to see" what's new. If it's not available via Amazon Prime (thanks, Shopbop!), it's not an option.

If it's not a crying baby, it's a toddler with a nightmare or a preschooler who wet the bed. And even when they do go all night, I'm always still awake before 6 a.m. I'll sleep again someday, right?

There is so much going on at all times that if my husband does get home before bedtime, I need his help, not the rundown of his day. And if we're ever alone, I would rather stare at the wall than discuss getting the broken water heater fixed.

See above. But seriously — can they all just leave me alone to scroll Instagram for FIVE MINUTES?!

This was a hard one for me to accept, because they are just so cute in those coordinating ensembles, but I no longer have it in me to fight the outfit battles. Wear what you want, kids. And bonus points if you get dressed yourself.

I'm not proud of it, but thank-you notes just aren't in the cards (wink, wink) for me right now. Until I can get back to proper etiquette, a text message will just have to do. (Sorry, Mom.)

Sure, I still worry, but not about all the random things I used to have room for in my brain. There's no more overthinking picture-day outfits, agonizing about the amount of veggies in their diets, or panicking over every runny nose. It's a little bit liberating . . . as long as you actually remember when picture day is.

Trader Joe's is cute and all, but it doesn't sell apples by the crate or those giant, family-size boxes of Cheerios that barely fit in your cupboard. And I don't even want to know what my grocery bill will look like when my littlest isn't only eating purées.