Triple Trouble!

What’s it like having a three kids the same age? Springville Junior High gets to have the opportunity to experience this. That’s right, there are triplets at SJHS. Their names are Amelia, Tim, and Andrew Killpack. They are in the eighth grade and most of their friends don’t even think they’re related. The triplets all have their different style and personalities. Even at a young age, the kids developed at different times. Amelia was born first, Andrew was born second, and Tim was born last. Being the oldest over the other two, Amelia said it gets very annoying. The triplets say it’s not very different from having siblings close to your age, and sometimes it doesn’t even seem like they were all born at once. Mrs. Killpack, the mother of the triplets, said, “It is a .001 in a million chance of having triplets. They don’t run in either of our families, so it is really miraculous with those odds.”

According to Mr. Killpack, the father of the triplets, “It was difficult at first juggling three children. There was a financial strain, emotional strain, and physical strain. In the end I expect they will share a bond to each other that most kids will never experience.” That’s just it, the children are very close. They have their fights like all siblings do, but in the end they have a bond that only they can hold. Amelia, first born, said, “It’s definitely interesting; our personalities are so different.” Sometimes being triplets becomes a struggle for them, but in the end they will always be siblings, and they will always be there for each other.  “I like it for the time being,” said Tim, the youngest out of the three. 

When Mr. and Mrs. Killpack found out they were having three children, they were scared the doctor might find another and they would end up with quadruplets. “I was really surprised but worried when the ultrasound technician said since they had found three babies they had to look for four. There was some relief when they didn’t find four,” said Mrs. Killpack.  Even though they didn’t find a fourth baby, they were still surprised when they found out they were having three children because triplets don’t run in the family. “I was in shock. I almost passed out. It was an instant fear and tons of things started flooding into my mind: I need a new car, how will I pay for them, will they survive, where will they sleep, I need three car seats, do they make a triplet stroller?” Mr. Killpack said. While all of these things were happening, the parents had to overcome the fear and realize that they were really going to have triplets.

Being in a house with two siblings your same age, and three other brothers, can be difficult. Although the three kids were born at the same time, their parents decided they needed a way to recognize each child. Every year when their birthday rolls around, each of them get to choose a their own cake and ice cream. The kids get to open their presents separately, and then there is usually one big present for all three of them. According to Mr. Killpack, it is fun because it is like a mini Christmas in April. 

The parents said all together, the triplets are one of the greatest blessings and greatest challenges of their lives. They said if they can do it, anyone can. Mrs. Killpack said, “I know that no matter what, people face hard things and obstacles in life. It’s all in your attitude of how you face things.” Challenges come and go, but the triplets were the light at the end of the tunnel for their parents. “I love them very much,” said Mr. Killpack.