Baby envy and the Three Billy Goats Gruff

When I was in kindergarten, we got to perform the story of The Three Billy Goats Gruff. I don’t remember much of the story, except that there were three goats who crossed a bridge and troll who threatened to eat them, and then the goats ended up pummeling the troll. And I think the moral of the story had something to do with the grass being greener on the other side of the bridge. Or don’t mess with goats…

This has got me thinking about baby envy, and lack of baby envy. Here’s how it goes:

1. Before you have your first baby, you are envious of those who already have one.
2. After you have your first baby, you are envious of those that have none.
3. Before you have your second baby, you think how great it would be to have two.
4. After you have your second baby, you think how great having just one was.
5. Before you have your third you think how crazy it would be to have a third.
6. Thankfully you came to your senses and never had the third.
7. As they get older and move out of the house, you wish you’d had the third, and possibly fourth. (This is just a guess).

Overall I’m very happy that we have two. I’m also glad (for now) that we won’t be having a third. And yes, at times, I’m envious of my friends that have only one (and surprisingly  less envious of those with none). Here’s a gratuitous picture of Tegan, just to spur on what ever envy you are experiencing at the moment.