There’s the saying ‘time flies when you’re having fun,’ but for Tuggeranong mum, Emma Keen, it’s probably more accurate to say that time flies when you have six kids … and three of them are triplets.

Canberra’s very own identical triplets, Aleisha, Maddilyn, and Eloise Keen, are off to preschool today, marking a major milestone for the preemie babies.

Mum Emma’s Monday morning started at 6am, making four school lunches – three for the triplets and one for their big brother Patrick, 15, who also headed back to the classroom today.

“We did manage to make is there by nine!” Emma laughs.

“The triplets did have a little bit of nerves, but they were still very excited and got to go on the playground and had a great time playing in the sandpit and on the outside play equipment.”

Although Emma says there were a few tears when it was time for her to leave, mainly from Eloise and Maddilyn, their principal has rung to let her know they’re well settled, and everyone is happy.

“I think because it’s my fourth time sending kids off to preschool, I don’t have many concerns. Preschool is my favourite year, it’s so special. They’re just going to thrive! They’re going to learn so much and develop the skills they need in life, rather than just being stuck at home with me not giving them much attention,” Emma smiles.

With Emma having three older children, 15-year-old Patrick, 11-year-old Laura, and nine-year-old Lily, and a plumbing business to run with her husband Matt, it’s fair to say her experience in lockdown wasn’t the most relaxing of times.

“It was horrible. It was nearly impossible. My daughter Lily needed a lot of help and attention with her schoolwork, and to be able to help her, answer calls from my husband, run the business, as well as give attention to three three-year-olds … it was a nightmare,” Emma says.

“I was so happy when schools reopened again. My daughters just weren’t learning, and needing the face-to-face learning at school. The teachers gave terrible tasks, too. If you’re a kid who can go and self-learn, they would have been fine, but it was very challenging.”

When Aleisha, Maddilyn, and Eloise were born in 2018, they weighed 1.76 kg, 1.3 kg, and 1.65 kg respectively, and have been remarkably healthy since their days in the NICU at the Canberra Hospital.

“The pregnancy and birth were not without its challenges. However, premature babies need an extra level of care once they are born early that no one is prepared for,” Emma says.

“They are still pretty tiny now,” laughs Emma, “but I’m just so happy they can go and do something rather than being at home.”

With the triplets now attending an Early Childhood School in Tuggeranong, Emma is excited for them to be able to socialise with other kids their own age.

“They have so many lovely experiences awaiting them, and they’ve been so healthy since their preemie days that there’s been no looking back, only forward.”

With Maddilyn in her light pink shoes, Eloise in her rainbow shoes, and Aleisha in her black and pink shoes, the girls are off on their new adventure, and everyone couldn’t be more keen.

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