Three kids?

[mie]

I'm glad we had our third child and the transition from 2 to 3 was easier than going from 1 to 2. I won't lie, though, life can be very crazy in the evenings to get dinner on the table, bathe the kids, and get them to bed.

ETA: my girls are 5, 3, and almost 1.

[whereintheworld]

I'll be very interested to read the responses as well! We're currently TTC#3. I found the transition from 1-2 a breeze compared to 0-1. I'm hoping that 2-3 is just a bit louder, a bit more chaotic, more expensive, but overall more fun.

[dcrunnergirl]

We're currently TTC#3, and from what friends have told me, the transition from 0 to 1 and 1 to 2 was A LOT harder than from 2 to 3.

[LauraMoser]

I'm currently PG with #3. We'll see how it goes in a few months! But I've always wanted 3, and DH slowly came to the conclusion that he wanted one more too.

[Deleted]

As the oldest of 3, there is no way in hell I'm having three unless I have multiples when pg.

[LauraMoser]

May 15, 2012 18:33:21 GMT -5 @iheartcosmos said:

As the oldest of 3, there is no way in hell I'm having three unless I have multiples when pg.

See, I'm the middle of three. I liked having an older and younger sister. And as a middle child, I'm determined to not treat my middle child like my parents did me. Not that they were terrible parents by any means, but I always felt a little pushed aside since I wasn't the first child and I wasn't the baby either.

[h]

May 15, 2012 18:33:21 GMT -5 @iheartcosmos said:

As the oldest of 3, there is no way in hell I'm having three unless I have multiples when pg.

Any chance you would be willing to elaborate on why. It is comments like these that scare me!

[honeybee]

I'm #3 in a group of 4. From a sibling point of view I've always loved having a close knit, larger group of siblings.

[fluff]

We had #3 when our youngest at the time was 7, so it was like we were starting over. It was definitely an adjustment, but I am so glad we have her.

[GailGoldie]

i went from 1 to 3 - and love it. DH is youngest of 6 and i'm youngest of 4= so 3 kids doesn't seem like too much to us at all. We're done with 3 - mostly b/c of our age, money, etc... We both always wanted 3 kids- and it worked out nicely for us getting a 2-in-1 deal since my first pg was shitty.

i have to lol at "alerady 29"... that is nothing. I didn't even get married until i was 32... i'm 39 now and friends are all still having babies - 29 = super young.

[DarcyLongfellow]

I just have one for now, but a close friend of mine just had her third. She is absolutely, totally thrown by the addition of a third. She is really struggling. She had 3 kids under 3 years old, though, so I don't think that's necessarily typical.

For what it's worth, I would love to have 3, and watching my friend lose her cool with the addition of #3 hasn't changed my mind. I think a lot of her issues are because all of her kids are still so young -- they all need a lot of help with daily activities (diapers/potty, getting food, etc.). With a bigger age difference, I can only imagine it will be easier.

[luvmagoldn]

We had #3 when our twins were 26 months old. I won't lie, adding the third was rough at first. The whole being outnumbered thing is no joke. There were times when all three needed me at the same time and I felt like I was spinning in circles.

But, as everyone got older and we established a new rhythm as a family the clouds started to part! It wasn't complete hell or anything like that but it was challenging and exhausting.

Fast forward to today, I took all three to the dentist by myself. DS#3 was moving from one exam area to another "checking on my brudders, mama." He even sat with one brother when that brother started to get a little freaked out. The dynamic is totally sweet and amazing to watch. They do try to harm each other from time to time but they ARE boys.

We are just starting organized sports and that run around has been eye opening. DH and I split up on Sat mornings and take turns taking the LO with us. I'm not sure how we will manage when all three are involved in activities but we aren't the first couple to have more than two kids. I assume we will figure it out.

[cinco]

Going from one to two was a rough transition for us, but two to three kids hasn't been that big of a deal. It's just...louder. I also find myself saying, "hold on" or "in a minute", more often. I'm much more relaxed this time around, b/c I know I can't give each child 100% of my attention, and I'm okay with that. In turn, my older kids have gotten more independent and a little more patient, and H and I are having more fun with the baby stage. I can't speak for the chaos that comes once the littlest one becomes mobile, but I do know we will never regret having our third.

[bronxgirl]

I've always wanted 3, but it just isn't realistic for us. I've come to terms with that, but still get jealous when I hear of other people having a third.

[my4girls]

We have three. The third is only a month old but so far I love having three and didn't find the transition to be hard at all. It was the easiest one for me. We would like a 4th, money is the only thing that will hold us back from that

[Deleted]

May 15, 2012 17:42:32 GMT -5 mie said:

I'm glad we had our third child and the transition from 2 to 3 was easier than going from 1 to 2. I won't lie, though, life can be very crazy in the evenings to get dinner on the table, bathe the kids, and get them to bed.

ETA: my girls are 5, 3, and almost 1.

I am glad to hear you say this! I'm really hoping this holds true for us as well.

I can say that between the morning sickness of the first trimester and the complete exhaustion of the third, being pregnant with two little ones running around is no picnic. I've tried my best to keep our normal schedule of activities going but I've had to resort to using the tv as entertainment more times than I'd like to admit. Getting through their bedtime routines is becoming harder too because I just feel absolutely done with the day by seven. Cue the mommy guilt

I seriously can't wait to have this baby. Even if things get harder logistically, I have to believe it'll be easier to cope because at least I'll feel better.

[6fsn]

In my twenties I wanted 5. I had my second at 35 and was content to be done. Little did I know there was going to be a third! It's been overwhelming thinking about the logistics, but then I watch the other two playing and I can't wait to see the three together.

[barefootcontessa]

I have four, five and under. I only work part-time and mostly at home on my own schedule, so take that into consideration. Going to three was pretty easy. The third one is now a two-year old and he is pretty nutty, but my older ones are able to help. I ask a fair amount of my older boys. I expect them (5,4) to help with household and to help with their brothers. My DH works a lot of hours, but he is totally hands-on when he is home.

[Deleted]

I wouldn't trade my 3rd DS for the world but it was a big change in economics... we could do private K-12 for 2 but 3 just seemed astronomical... also traveling is expensive but he's worth every cent...

[h]

May 16, 2012 6:55:35 GMT -5 @septimus said:

I wouldn't trade my 3rd DS for the world but it was a big change in economics... we could do private K-12 for 2 but 3 just seemed astronomical... also traveling is expensive but he's worth every cent...

This is one of the things I worry about. We could afford three in the sense of being able to provide food, shelter, clothing, day care, and a reasonable amount of activities and entertainment. But it would be difficult to travel much, pay for private schools and private college, etc. And while that stuff is obviously not necessary, it would be nice to be able to do. I know we would love a third kid, but I do wonder if the cost, both in terms of our time and energy and financially, is worth it.

[Deleted]

May 15, 2012 18:54:04 GMT -5 h said:

May 15, 2012 18:33:21 GMT -5 @iheartcosmos said:

As the oldest of 3, there is no way in hell I'm having three unless I have multiples when pg.

Any chance you would be willing to elaborate on why. It is comments like these that scare me!

1. money. It's hurt my parents financially to have three kids, three colleges, etc. They'd be much better off if they had only had two.

2. middle child syndrome is real. (love my middle sister, but OMG as a kid....)

3. we outnumbered my parents.

4. always difficult getting a table to go out to eat for a table of 5.

Ok, the last two aren't really major, of course. I really can't think of many reasons other than I just dont want to be outnumbered and I like being financially comfortable. Three would push us out of that comfort zone.

[nonsenseabound]

it's also on my mind. So this is all very interesting to me. I have two and I just can't wrap my mind around this little guy being my last. I know we can afford all the basics for two plus the extras. However, it's hard because I feel like this world is currently built for families of four.

[barefootcontessa]

May 16, 2012 9:55:50 GMT -5 h said:

May 16, 2012 6:55:35 GMT -5 @septimus said:

I wouldn't trade my 3rd DS for the world but it was a big change in economics... we could do private K-12 for 2 but 3 just seemed astronomical... also traveling is expensive but he's worth every cent...

This is one of the things I worry about. We could afford three in the sense of being able to provide food, shelter, clothing, day care, and a reasonable amount of activities and entertainment. But it would be difficult to travel much, pay for private schools and private college, etc. And while that stuff is obviously not necessary, it would be nice to be able to do. I know we would love a third kid, but I do wonder if the cost, both in terms of our time and energy and financially, is worth it.

One thing I have noticed as my kids get older -- and of course this is just our family -- is how much they value each other. I like to think when DH and I are dead and gone they will all have each other. Travel can be quite costly -- we have not travelled internationally since we had a fourth. My kids are in a private school, but it still pretty reasonable and we get a decent discount for multiples.

[h]

May 16, 2012 11:45:21 GMT -5 barefootcontessa said:

May 16, 2012 9:55:50 GMT -5 h said:

This is one of the things I worry about. We could afford three in the sense of being able to provide food, shelter, clothing, day care, and a reasonable amount of activities and entertainment. But it would be difficult to travel much, pay for private schools and private college, etc. And while that stuff is obviously not necessary, it would be nice to be able to do. I know we would love a third kid, but I do wonder if the cost, both in terms of our time and energy and financially, is worth it.

One thing I have noticed as my kids get older -- and of course this is just our family -- is how much they value each other. I like to think when DH and I are dead and gone they will all have each other. Travel can be quite costly -- we have not travelled internationally since we had a fourth. My kids are in a private school, but it still pretty reasonable and we get a decent discount for multiples.

My DH is the oldest of three and values his sisters and therefore would kind of like a third kid. But he got to go to private school, had an expensive private college totally paid for, traveled a lot, and had a SAHM while having two siblings. We could not provide three kids with all of that, so I am left wondering what would ultimately benefit the two kids we already have more--access to a top notch education or a second sibling.

[SusanBAnthony]

I haven't read all the replies yet. We are in the middle of deciding rit now too. Right now we are leaning towards yes, even though it makes zero logical sense at all. I will say though, that if you have 2 same gendered kids, you have something like an 80% chance of the third being the same gender again.

Reasons not to have #3: need/want larger house. NEED larger car, and want a minivan, which is much more $$$$ than our 10 year old civic with 10 years left in it. 3k for another home birth. Money spend hiring help for me after the baby is born so I don't lose my marbles. Etc.

But like I said, I think we are going to start trying next month anyway.

[SusanBAnthony]

May 15, 2012 18:54:04 GMT -5 h said:

May 15, 2012 18:33:21 GMT -5 @iheartcosmos said:

As the oldest of 3, there is no way in hell I'm having three unless I have multiples when pg.

Any chance you would be willing to elaborate on why. It is comments like these that scare me!

I am the oldest of 3, and like I said, we are likely going to have 3 as well. I think it depends more on the individual family than on the number of kids.

[Sxia]

I have wanted 3 and DH wants 2. We always said two or three. It's probably only been in the past month or so I've said I think I'm okay with two. It's hard for me to see that my babies aren't babies anymore. DH keeps telling my son he's a big boy, but I want to keep him my baby. My daughter wants me to have another baby too. But DD and DS get along so well together. We're done with diapers and potty training and we're finally sleeping. I also don't want them to be too spaced out. DD is going to be 6 soon, and I wouldn't want them to be too far apart than that.

The hardest part for me @ stopping at two is that my time for having babies is over and my babies aren't babies anymore. (5 and 3 years old.)

I'd love one more, but I seriously think it's easier on my marriage, sanity and my pocketbook to stop at two.

Luckily, I have two godchildren. (One girl who's almost 2 and one on the way). I can dote on them and then hand them over and go back to sleep.

Maybe if one of us got a huge windfall, we might have another.

[whitepicketfence]

I only have 2 kids but DH and I had always planned on having 3. From the beginning, going from 1-2 was pretty easy. DD2 slept all the time so I could still attend to DD1's needs. Now that DD2 is mobile, however, I'm really struggling - especially since the girls are only 18 months apart. She isn't content to sit in her exersaucer or jumperoo anymore so I have to constantly keep my eye on her. She's into everything and, on more than one ocassion, has found a small toy of her sister's, put it in her mouth, and could have choked on it. DD1, on the other hand, is content to play by herself for short periods of time but she is very adventerous and attempts to climb everything in sight. I feel like I'm always making sure that she's not doing something where she could seriously injure herself. PTing has also been difficult because she ultimately always has to use the potty while I'm caring for DD2.

To sum it up, I think if we added a 3rd child to our family right now that I would most likely lose it. I love my girls, but I've been feeling very overwhelmed lately. There's always a chance that I may want another child down the road but, for right now, I'm pretty content to stop at 2. Financially, it would make sense for us as well. I'm not sure we could afford private school, family vacations, etc if we had a bigger family.

[Deleted]

I have three a DD who will be in 6 in July, a DD who will be 3 in a couple weeks, and a DS who will be 6 months this weekend. Honestly the transistion from 2-3 was easier for me than the transistion from 1-2. The older two could entertain themselves while I took care of the baby. And my oldest could help her younger sister get a snack or get dressed or whatever if needed.

The hard part is just having a baby. Babies require a lot of attention and that can be tiring. I think once he's older it will get a ton easier.

I don't regret it for a second. My DS is an awesome little boy and I can't imagine our family without him. I also never questioned whether I wanted 2 or 3. I always knew I wanted 3. But we are definitely done now and I feel 100% done, which is a nice feeling surprisingly. I had some panic about it when DH got his vasectomy, but I really feel like having 3 is just perfect for our family.

[miss1991]

I thought it was easy going from 2-3 I currently have 4 would like 5 but doubt that will happen I am old and almost died during my c-section last so that's that.

We never where really like this is how many we will have, yeah some time's money is tight but my Mom had 2 and money was tight for her.

It is so much fun since it took us 8 years to get #4 I realize how much fun and crazy my life is at time you think as you get older the less they need you I have not found that they need me for different things I am always busy but have made time for myself some time's I feel guilty about the time I take but I know that it is best. Good luck!

edited:spelling