Having 3 kids - how is it?

For me, the hardest was having my first. I knew that I would be tired but I had no idea just how tired a newborn could make you. Also, he was born 5 weeks early so I wasn't prepared for him- I didn't even have a pram or a bed for him to sleep in.

Adding my third was the 'easiest' , but it was still a lot of work (and still is!). I'm glad though that there is a bit of an age gap between my children, my oldest is quite independant now and is in school all week and in September my DS2 starts preschool which will be nice as well.

after 2 it gets easier...by then your used to multi-tasking!

Thanks for all the answers ladies. I am kinda shocked that a lot of you found going from 1 to 2 harder than from 2 to 3! For me, it's always the idea that the parents are outnumbered with 3. I must say I am glad for the large age gap there will be between my 2 as I really could not imagine myself running after an active toddler like DS1 with a newborn in tow. We also purchased the Ergo Baby sling so I hope that will help soothe baby like it did DS1, who was not a good sleeper. Thankfully, he did become one, but he was NOT the type of baby to take 2 hour naps that wold give me a much needed break or nap myself. The sleep deprivation was brutal. As for being an older mom, it's something I think about too. Thankfully, the trend is for women to have kids in their late 30's early 40's nowadays so I wouldn't feel like such an outsider, but of course, that wasn't the initial plan. Thankfully, people often tell me I look 5 yrs younger than my actual age! Anyway, I don't think I'll be able to make a decision about this until DS2 is at least a year old. And by then, maybe the GD will be mostly gone anyway? How I hope and pray for THAT!

stickybeans:

Going from 2-3 was so much easier than going from 1-2. And adding a fourth was even easier. You adapt. At least that's how it was for me :)

ITA.  I was fearful every time I added another child, but it really does seem to get easier.  I couldn't imagine having less than 4 kids at this point. Gl!

Photo-Girl you must read my mind.  We seem to be in the same situation and it almost crosses my mind everyday, should I go for 3 and I am with you, it would definately have to be HT for a guarantee!  But I have reservations the same as I am 31 now and ds2 will be born about a month before I am 32.  I think of things.....if I stop now there will be only 2, like you said will  not be out numbered, I fear the middle child syndrome and I don't even know why, being able to handle 3 at one time on like vacations or even going shopping.  I am a little nervous that the majority said it was harder to go from 1-2 eeEKK!!  I too, hope that the GD will lessen as ds2 comes and maybe I will change my mind about the whole thing.  I packed away the girl clothes I had bought for the 2 weeks I thought they said I was having a girl.  It was torture.  Some days are so good with positive thinking and some days the only thing in my mind is how long should I wait to start HT to get a girl because I am not getting any younger lol. 

Jen2012:

Photo-Girl you must read my mind.  We seem to be in the same situation and it almost crosses my mind everyday, should I go for 3 and I am with you, it would definately have to be HT for a guarantee!  But I have reservations the same as I am 31 now and ds2 will be born about a month before I am 32.  I think of things.....if I stop now there will be only 2, like you said will  not be out numbered, I fear the middle child syndrome and I don't even know why, being able to handle 3 at one time on like vacations or even going shopping.  I am a little nervous that the majority said it was harder to go from 1-2 eeEKK!!  I too, hope that the GD will lessen as ds2 comes and maybe I will change my mind about the whole thing.  I packed away the girl clothes I had bought for the 2 weeks I thought they said I was having a girl.  It was torture.  Some days are so good with positive thinking and some days the only thing in my mind is how long should I wait to start HT to get a girl because I am not getting any younger lol. 

Jen2012: I'm older than you, but even if I were younger, I think I would still question going for a 3rd because let's face it, for me, 2 always seemed like a good number for me and going for #3 would just be to experience a DD - not sure it's a good enough reason, kwim? As for the middle child syndrome, I wouldn't worry too much about that - I know a lot of middle children (and a lot of only children too) who are completely fine! -------I'm sorry you went thru thinking it was a girl and then being let down. Of course, it's not nearly as devastating as finding out something is wrong with the baby, but still, when you're really hoping for your DG, it must be twice as hard.

ITA with everyone else. Going from 1-2 was really hard for me and I worried about how adding #3 would be. It was sooooo easy to add #3 into the mix for us. My boys both already knew how to share, wait their turns, and I knew better how to mulitask too.

I am like you, not high in energy and don't like chaos. I have 3 children with big age gaps 11, 6 and 7 months. It has been mostly pretty easy, the hard bits I blame on myself and my personality. It is good because the older two are in school so I only have one baby to look after, I don't think I could cope with two young ones at once.

#3 went surprisingly well for me, she just fit right in. Even after the homebirth I'd dreamed up ended up turning into an elective c-section because she was breech we recovered well and I don't think our family missed a beat. 0-1 was by far the most difficult transition for me!

stickybeans:

Going from 2-3 was so much easier than going from 1-2. And adding a fourth was even easier. You adapt. At least that's how it was for me :)

 

That's how it was for me too.  I've heard lots of people say that after 3 they just sort of blend right in.

Nickajax#3:

I am like you, not high in energy and don't like chaos. I have 3 children with big age gaps 11, 6 and 7 months. It has been mostly pretty easy, the hard bits I blame on myself and my personality. It is good because the older two are in school so I only have one baby to look after, I don't think I could cope with two young ones at once.

Thanks - this gives me hope that another low-energy person can still have 3 kids! I could not do the large age gap with a 3rd though - that would make me over 40. A 4-year gap would be nice, but as I said before, a 2-3 year gap would be our max and the mere idea of having 2 kids under 2-3 at the same time makes my head spin! Maybe it's because DS1 was so spirited and I was mostly a SAHM mom to him - din't get many breaks. How I hope and PRAY DS2 is more mellow, mild-mannered and a good sleeper!

I am thinking the same thing, I pray ds2 will be more mellow etc.  Ds1 is a handful lol!  I weigh my options every day with going for a 3rd, but like you it would just be to experience a DD, I truly always thought 2 would be my max.  And if I go for 3 I would like to do it in 2-3 years which would almost make 3 kids under 5....yikes!  I went shopping today and didn't get nearly as upset looking at the girls clothes.  I probably will come a holiday, because there is always racks and racks of beautiful dresses and barely anything to choose from for a boy.  I think I will always have some lingering gd, just mainly the simple question....why not me?   I am sure as soon as our ds's are here most of our gd goes away, that is what I am really hoping for.