The Triplet Ballerinas

My Triplet Ballerinas: Characteristics (Pretend vs. Real)

My triplet ballerinas are my triplet grand-daughters, Makenna, Jaeli and Maysie.

One of the things you need to do when writing a story is give character traits (words used to describe a person) to your characters. Here are the character traits I gave to my “pretend” triplet ballerinas compared to the ones of their counterparts, my own “real” triplet granddaughters:

“Annie” is spirited and fearless. She is very confident in her abilities. I have a feeling she might be bossy too! Makenna might be described sometimes as bossy too. She is intelligent (very smart and studious) and creative (her drawings and ideas are so good). She is also always helpful (if you ask her, she will help without complaint).

“Julie” is determined and hardworking. I think she can be self-critical, but never critical of her sisters. She might be a bit of a perfectionist too! Jaeli can also be self-critical at times. She could also be described as being shy and maybe solitary since she has been known to spend time alone reading or watching her tablet. She is very affectionate (always giving hugs).

“Macie” could be described as shy or timid. She is also uncertain, but hopeful. She is definitely a follower, not a leader! Maysie is the dramatic triplet, but also kind-hearted. She is imaginative at writing stories and talented at cooking meals, both of which she loves to do. Beverly

My Triplet Ballerinas…Triplet Friends

My Triplet Ballerinas…A Triple Inspiration

My Triplet Ballerinas…A Missing Triplet

My Journey…Critiques

My Triplet Ballerinas…Grandma Times Three

My Triplet Ballerinas…Gift of Triplets

My Triplet Ballerinas…Gift of Triplets

My triplet ballerinas are my grand-daughters Makenna, Jaeli and Maysie.

December 24, 2007 will always hold a special place in my heart. On that day, almost 12 years ago, we found out we were going to be grandparents to triplets. Our daughter and her husband invited the whole family to their home on Christmas Eve. We knew our daughter was pregnant, we just didn’t know how many babies she was pregnant with.

When we got to their house, I was handed a card that said, “You must be so excited! Hope the time just flies and you’ll be holding that precious little one/s (the “s” was handwritten) before you know it.” Inside the card was also 2 ultrasound pictures, one at 5 weeks and one at 6 weeks. Since I am not an expert, by any means, on ultrasound pictures, I did not know what I was looking at. So, my daughter explained the 5 week one was of twins, and I thought “Oh, how wonderful!” Then, one of my other daughters looked at the 6 week ultrasound picture (below) and said, “Wait a minute, A, B & C…triplets???” I almost passed out. That day was just the beginning of the miraculous journey I would take as a grandparent of triplet girls. Beverly

Since I am having shoulder surgery soon, this will be the last blog post until next year. But, please enjoy the other blog posts of this year, the first year of “The Triplet Ballerinas”. Beverly

My Triplet Ballerinas…Triplet Friends

Guest Blogger: Megan J.

My triplet ballerinas are my daughters, Makenna Anne, Jaeli Jo and Maysie Jailyn.

One of the biggest struggles my triplet girls face is making friends outside of their “sister group”. During their 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, she 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”.

My Triplet Ballerinas…A Triple Inspiration

My triplet ballerinas are my grand-daughters, Makenna, Jaeli and Maysie.

The dedication in “The Triplet Ballerinas” says, “For my triplet granddaughters, Makenna, Jaeli and Maysie, who inspire me each and every day“. This is so true.

When I started writing almost 5 years ago, I had no idea what to write about. After a dog came to our house one Fall day, lost from a hunter, I thought maybe this would be a good story for a picture book. I couldn’t make that story work, but then I was inspired with writing about the triplets and it evolved from there.

Back then, the triplets were of an age (around 6 years old) that they would have really enjoyed reading and sharing this picture book. Even though, by the time the book was published, they had left picture books and entered chapter books, they still loved that I wrote a picture book inspired by them and dedicated to them. Recently, there was a day at their elementary school where they could dress as their favorite book character. It was a proud day for me when they dressed up and went as their counterpart characters in the book I wrote that was inspired by them. Beverly