I have had my 3 together for preschool and Kindergarten. Although they frequently go their own ways, they do seem to feel more secure knowing that their siblings are close by. The best part in preschool was listening to them help each other if problems arose...."if so-and-so is mean to you again today, you just come over and play with me, OK" OR "if he's getting you in trouble/not being nice to you, you shouldn't play with him" I wish I had had someone like that to help me when I was little.

Yes, I always wanted to be a twin and was thrilled to find out I would have multiples. I may romanticize it a bit but I really want them to have the kind of relationship they can treasure. My aunt sent me a picture from the paper of 90 yr old triplets all sitting around the kitchen table together. That's what I want for my 3 -- a lifelong meaningful relationship....the kind I wish I had with my own sister.

It is a family dynamic as well. I know a family with singletons who are very close. I don't think the mother would have it any other way. We learn how to relate to people from our early relationships and I want to help my kids to have the best relationships they can. I hope they remain close and will do what I can to encourage this.

I did ask the kids what they wanted to do as far as class placement. One of them wanted to be in her own class. The other 2 wanted to be in the same class. I think I understand their reasons for wanting each way and hope the school honors the request. The funny thing is, one of them that wants to be together is also the most independent of the 3. She will play by herself happily much to the chagrin of her sister. I think she just likes to know her family is close by; she still says she misses me while she's at school after so many months.

I think it is great that your kids don't "need" each other. They really do need to be individuals and it sounds like they are doing great. I do think that they need to know how to act when a sibling is in class with them since later in school they may need to be together based on class offerings. I will try to have mine experience both separate and together classes before middle school. There's enough to deal with then without having new class dynamics they've not dealt with before.

So I guess I do want them to be 2/1 next year. It will make some things easier for me. But I also think it will help them get more out of school, not having to worry about missing each other during the day. I do think that maybe they will choose separate in the future though and will try to honor that as well. (I'd like each of them to experience each dynamic in elementary-- AB/C, A/BC, B/AC --to make the later years easier. After all, if they don't learn how to get along it might be a long road to graduation. KWIM?

So I guess I can admit that I want them to stay close and sharing classrooms helps me to feel they can stay close. However, I also think that it has helped them adjust to school more easily having each other in the class rather than just a bunch of kids they don't know.

Sorry for the book, I'll stop typing now,

Andi
g/b/g
kindergarten triplets
will be 7 in the fall