My Triplet Ballerinas: Triplet Friends

Guest Blogger: Megan J. My triplet ballerinas are my triplet daughters, Makenna Anne, Jaeli Jo and Maysie Jailyn.

One of the biggest struggles my triplet girls faced in their early school years was making friends outside of their “sister group”. During these first couple years of school, it seemed very difficult for them to make new friends within their individual classes. So, when Jaeli connected with a group of friends in her class, we were thrilled and so excited for her. She developed a unique friendship with one of the girls in her group that was undeniably precious. They were very close and she talked about her every day. They would give each other hugs when they saw each other outside of school and had the occasional play date.

Unfortunately, the decision to have the triplets repeat 1st grade was made due to them struggling academically. This was one of the toughest decisions we had to make as parents of multiples. In the years since, we knew it was the right decision based on their academic improvement. However, making new friends is still a big challenge for Jaeli. She has yet to find that one friend she feels as close to as she did back then. Thankfully, the other two can make friends just fine. The hardest part is that Jaeli was the most social of the three her first year of 1st Grade and had a great group of friends. She considered a couple of them her best friends. But, of course, the friends moved on to 2nd Grade and Jaeli had to start all over.  

It helps though that for the last few years, Jaeli has had her sister, Maysie, in the same classroom as her. I think it gives Jaeli a lot of confidence having Maysie guide her in making friends and I don’t think it holds Maysie back from continuing to make friends. But, in the long run, they will always have each other as a “friend”. We will see what this new year of middle school brings with making friends for all of them.