Story by Cheri Eplin Molnar
One by one, they descend the stairs until the entire clan is up and about. The imaginary whistle blows around 7:30 a.m. each morning and it’s time to perform the magic of the daily routine at the Beigel household.
Soon 14-month-old triplets Paige, Olivia and Joshua are settled into their highchairs in a semi-circle, creating a carousel for sibling-gazing, grazing and giggling. Each munches waffles and cheerios until it is his or her turn to be fed fruit and yogurt. It’s the start of a new day.
Patty and Jerry Beigel’s experience raising triplets may be different from the parenting activity of other families in Danville, but some challenges are universal.
“I know the first few years will be the toughest,” Patty says.
“But it will get easier,” Jerry adds.
“From the beginning, they each had their unique personalities,” Jerry notes.
This day is no different. Paige smiles into the camera lens, sharing her inner diva and striking red-carpet poses.
Olivia is the daredevil. “She’s like the Tasmanian devil,” her dad says.
Then there’s Joshua, who peers Zen-like into the eyes of a visitor, as if he could see one’s inner soul. After getting acquainted, he may grace someone with the gift of a smile.
“We’re pretty organized,” Patty says as she scribbles notes on a spreadsheet under each child’s name.
“It got to be a lot with both of us working full-time. We were getting worn out,” Jerry explains. But even with so much on their plates, when asked what the worst part is, Patty replies, “There is no worst.”
With high profile jobs – he at Sun Microsystems and she as a vice president at a large Bay Area retailer – they decided to join other families who have nannies. They hired two young au pairs from Romania.
“It was important to us that two people be with the children during the day when we worked, since they’re so active,” Patty says.
“They each get their individual time,” Jerry adds.
As soon as Patty and Jerry arrive home from their busy schedules at work, they take over. They also have full responsibility on weekends, although they might take an occasional night out for just the two of them.
As a family, they load up in the SUV and do “real life things.” There are hikes with jogger strollers, the zoo, and farmers market. Last summer they went to San Diego, and there have been half-day trips to Half Moon Bay and Sonoma.
Friends who also have children under the age of 2 come to visit and barbecue. “It’s a big kid fest,” Patty says.
In the summer, they play in the pool in their back yard.
“We also spend a lot of time in the park to let them run around!” Patty adds.
Going to the doctor is a challenge.
“It’s better to have them go together since they usually feel a bit under the weather after shots,” Patty says. Two adults must go to help hold them, while the nurse lends a hand with the third.
“The truth is, we’re outnumbered!” Patty says. “It’s like we’re playing defense.” The Beigels met at a Cal/Stanford football game three years ago, so that approach is logical.
As with many couples that deliver “multiples,” Jerry and Patty received a little help from medical science. They were still shocked during the first ultrasound. “The doctor told us to count on ‘twins,’ but to not hold out much hope for the third, since the outlook wasn’t promising,” Jerry recalls. So they feel that Baby Joshua was a miracle.
The Beigels say they get a lot of support from friends and family, as well as from a group called Triple Playyy, for families of triplets. Once a month they attend a fun outing sponsored by the group. It also has a Moms Night Out every other month that Patty enjoys. “We go out to dinner or a movie and just unwind and share about our families,” Patty says.
In early December, the Beigels attended Triple Playyy’s holiday gathering, held at the Pleasanton Rec Center. The children were dressed in a myriad of red and green. Parents chased after knee-high multiples that resembled each other, and the three little Beigels caroused with other triplets in a penned area with bouncy balls. Olivia sat on a bouncy ball only to fly backwards and roar with laughter. Joshua followed Mommy with his eyes, and Paige chased after a balloon that Dad was holding.
Finally, they made a triple effort and visited the honored guest – Santa. Dana Young, another mom of triplets and one of the event’s organizers, waited to put her three girls dressed in mini-Mrs. Claus red suits on Santa’s lap.
“We have a ton of triplet families stretching from Walnut Creek to Tracy,” said Dana. “It’s nice to meet other families, get support and have fun under the same circumstances!”
“This group has been an amazing support,” Patty added.
Patty balanced Paige on one hip, Joshua on the other, and Daddy held Olivia as the Beigel family left the party to head home and begin their nighttime routine.
Supper is a repeat of the morning highchair plan, only this time it’s one piece of ham in a mouth and one for the floor. Joshua watches his sisters engage in an entertaining game of tug-of-war over a Tupperware lid.
The conveyer belt of bedtime begins. Clothes and diapers stripped, each child is placed in the bath where Olivia begins to splash immediately, proud of her freestyle stroke. Paige joins in and Joshua blinks as each droplet hits his face. He looks at himself in the reflection of the waterspout and Olivia giggles furiously.
Mom pulls out a pink pig puppet and all three children are enchanted. Faces are washed in protest and Mom washes hair with lightning speed. The assembly line whips into gear. Mom and Dad wrap the children in animal towels, dry and dress, kiss and sing, and they all laugh with wild abandon.
After more play, the three little ones are placed in bouncy seats, bottles in hand, and begin to snooze to the sound of Mozart on one of their favorite Baby Einstein tapes.
Patty and Jerry Beigel have successfully made it through another hectic day – their series of steps perfected like the flamboyant and fun Tango, where creativity and improvisation are essential.
Finally! a chance to sit down and take a breath. Patty smiles and says, “God never gives you more than you can handle.” In this case, He also seems to have a good sense of humor.
