Chaos

     

  

I like symmetry.  I like things orderly, organized, and symmetrical.  When I am arranging furniture or hanging things on the wall, it drives me bonkers if they end up uneven and/or asymmetrical.

With that said, I'm not sure why I decided three children would be a good number.  Three is NOT symmetrical.  No matter how you arrange and rearrange it, there is no way to make three equal or even.  It is simply impossible.

Now, don't get me wrong here.  I love all three of my girls and wouldn't trade any of them for all the money and power in the world.  I also DO NOT plan on having a fourth to "even things out" as some people have suggested.  But the asymmetry is driving me nuts!

You see asymmetry = chaos.  At least in my opinion.  I can have with me any two of the girls; oldest & youngest, middle & youngest, middle & oldest - the combination doesn't matter.  When there are only two,  everything is so much calmer.  The volume is lower.  Everyone is generally happier.  As soon as all three of them are together, the chaos begins.  There is fighting, yelling, crying.  The volume increases to deafening levels.  I am pulled in a thousand different directions with everyone's needs and requests.  What is the explanation for this????  Asymmetry.


However, have you noticed how many things come in sets of three??  The Three Little Pigs.  The Three Blind Mice.  Donald Duck's nephews - Huey, Dewey, & Louie.  The Three Bears.  The Three Billy Goats Gruff.  The Three Stooges.  The Three Wise Men.  Three flavors in Neapolitan ice cream.  Three strikes in baseball.  Three point shots in basketball.  Three angles on a triangle.  There are even three holes in a bowling ball.  How can such an asymmetrical and chaotic number be so popular????

Maybe it's because chaos keeps things interesting.  In fact, the number three usually works out just fine.  The Three Stooges certainly made us laugh.  The Three Little Pigs and The Three Billy Goats Gruff defeated their adversaries in the end.  A bowling ball has three holes because it just fits better that way.  That's how it is with my three girls - it just fits.

"Explosive Chaos" by Natalie Holland

There can also be beauty in chaos.  Just look at these paintings.  They are interesting, colorful, vibrant - Just like my girls; just like my life.

"Nature's Chaos" by Richard Heinsohn

So I will continue to endure - and enjoy - the chaos.  Maybe I'll learn to loosen up a little.  Maybe the chaos will lessen as the girls get older.  Maybe not.  But even if the chaos is maddening from time to time, it is also what makes my life interesting and beautiful and I wouldn't have it any other way.