Go on, cheer me up about third children

[SohoOrigami]

It's not a 'help me make my mind up' thread: I have a 4yo, 2yo, and am 14 weeks pregnant with number 3. Very planned, very wanted. But oh god, the older two have been SUCH hard work all weekend, then DC1 sleptwalked (sleepwalked...?) at 1am, DC2 had night terrors at 3am, I feel knackered and sick and bleurrgh, and am now having a bit of a wobble that I'm cut out to have any children let alone three of them. THREE. THREE TERRORS.

If you have three, please rescue me from feeling sad and teary and tell me what's really great about it?

Disclaimer: I am very lucky to have two happy healthy children and a third on the way. There are bigger problems in the world. I am just a bit sad and could do with some cheering up.
Double disclaimer: I know lots of people on MN have a problem with 3+ children. I'm not changing my mind about being pregnant, I'm just a bit down and would like to hear happy stories about the wonders of three children families...

I'm a third child! What more can I say

Your two will grow up a lot over the next nine months, don't despair. They'll be able to do all sorts of things, like drawing moustaches on the baby with your eyeliner. But... the older one will know they need to get it off before you see it. All good!

Think back to the reasons you decided to have a 3rd. And hold on to them.

I would love another baby for those gorgeous newborn sleepy snuggles and a cute toddler to dote one. And it'll be nice to have lots of people around the dinner table when they are older potentially lots of fun (think that's where it ends for me and why I'm not planning a 3rd).

Thank you, that made me laugh! So no permanent markers left around, then. Got it...

The older one says he's excited to have another baby around "so long as it doesn't break my things and follows the rules". Think that ship's destined to sail, kiddo.

We have 3, similar age gaps. Best thing is that although numbers 1 and 2 hate each other (!), they both totally adore the baby. And you know how you find it so incredible that your first two can be so different from each other? You couldn't imagine a third totally different permutation, but it turns out there is one and they're totally their own little person, maybe with some similarities to 1 or 2, but different again. It's mind blowing. We love our third to pieces (well, all of them, but somehow it was more of a decision to have #3, and we're so glad he's here).

Oh yes Betty sleepy newborn cuddles. Those are good.

Tbh I could skip the toddler phase, but that's probably because I've got one right in the middle of the development stage I think is called "how can I learn and grow if I'm not always screaming very loudly?'

It's bloody brilliant. I love having three. It's a rich life full of noise and fun and laughter.

Mine have 22 months between DS1 and DS2 and 26 months between DS2 and DD. I don't think I had a single undisturbed night for well over 9 years . None of them were great sleepers and whilst the two boys were quickly night time toilet trained my daughter was 9 before she could control her bladder. We would go through phases of trying as she hated wearing pull ups but each time she would wet between 1 and 3 times a night whatever we did!!

HOWEVER, the benefit of having them close in age is you get to the really good bits more quickly - such as being able to go out for the day without having to stick to feeding schedules. Not having to take multiple changes of clothes and changing bags everywhere. Being able to eat at pubs and restaurants. My youngest is really strong because she always wanted to keep up with her brothers!!! And when they grow up, they support each other hugely - mine are really close even though they live far apart and I know that if one of them was in trouble the other two would be there like a shot.

My 3 are the same age gaps as yours. Youngest now 9, I can't remember the baby days (must of blanked it out) honestly 3 is lovely, they got on so well when they were younger. Even now my 14 and 9 year old still have a nice relationship. Just remember that nothing is permanent, eventually the baby/toddler years will be done and it will get easier.

It will be fine. I got pregnant with #3 by mistake. We required IVF for the other two and had been told it would "never" happen without. I was utterly terrified. But they are quite the gang together. And the third one is fierce!

Yes Fratercular, I totally get that - it didn't feel like a decision to have a first or a second, but it really did for a third. And you're right, I can't imagine a child more different to my first or my second, who are polar opposites in every sense (other than looking identical).

Also very good to hear they both love the baby! Mine are squabbly and agree on very little that they like, other than Shaun the Sheep. If they both like DC3, we'll be winning

Yeeees FourTea!!! Thank you! This definitely cheers me

Thanks Blobby, PutOn and TooManyPlates. It is the thought of the next few years that is making me really wobbly today. But I do like the sound of a gang, and the idea of them having each other when grown up is a big big deal for me (only child. Albeit one who's starting to see her parents' point of view)

I have four. Honestly it's not that bad, they keep each other entertained!

I have just under 3 and a half years between my 3 and for the most part it works well. The youngest is 10 now and don't get me wrong, they still argue like mad!! But they're like a little gang. I can send them out to play together and know they'll all look after each other. If I need to go out for a bit I don't worry about leaving them as there's 3 of them.
Plus now we're homeschooling the younger two only have one school year between them and so can help each other and work together really well.
Another good thing is that they're all into the same kind of stuff. It's not like I need to worry about entertaining both toddlers and teenagers...

SohoOrigami one tale which may amuse you, I took my 3 to Newquay for a weekend when they were 16, 14 and 12. We went to a party at a hotel on the other side of town to our hotel so were walking back through the town centre just after midnight on a Saturday night. i asked the boys (both well over 6ft tall at that point) to keep an eye on their sister just in case someone tried something - it was so funny watching them march her through town, one either side of her like a pair of bodyguards 😂😂 me trailing behind like their old granny. Also funny to see the nightclub promoter girls trying to hand the boys leaflets then getting stroppy when they wouldn't take them 😂😂😂. They are still just as protective!!

My three are all grown up and it’s the best feeling ever when I see them all together. They all get on really well together. Think of the bigger picture.

We have three, youngest is the most carefree of the lot of them. She makes us laugh every day. In the early days it was really hard work but now there youngest is 6 most days are 90% good with only the occasional drama.

Also, I've realised in lockdown that a family of 5 is enough for a party, disco, musical chairs, karaoke all doable with that number. We've all kept each other going!

And my three were born within 5yrs 3months.

It's fine when one of more of the older ones are at school/nursery, but hectic before that, i had to be quite regimented about naps etc but time flew by, i now look back on them as my happiest days.

I had my 3rd when I was 39, he's 11 now. There's six years between him and his brother, and 9 between him and his sister. I am forever saying thank God we had anothet one. Teenagers are boring and self absorbed. My 11 year old keeps me laughing, hopping around, he still gets excited at Christmas and Easter, and little things like taking a selfie together. Constantly asking for hugs as I pass him by, always offers to help around the house, while the other 2 are either hiding in their rooms or off with friends. He wasn't planned, but wouldn't change having him for the world.

Best thing we ever did was have three. Like with all families, there have been times it's been tough, but the joy of three has outweighed all the hard work without a doubt. More children, more noise, more mess, more love...

For us, the dynamic of three has always been lovely. Each child always has another to go to, to talk with, to fall out with, to make laugh... As others have said, they form a gang, and it's pretty magical.

Honestly OP, it makes sense that you're apprehensive but trust me, it's worth it in spades.

My number 3 was from day dot the easiest. No colic, slept well, ate whatever she was given, never had a tantrum. DS was a colicky, fussy eater and highly strung and Dd1 didn’t eat or sleep well for years! Even now at 10, the youngest is a dream. Let’s hope it continues to the teenage years😂

I'm a third child. I was unplanned, and my mum had a freak out when she was pregnant with me about how she would cope. My dad responded by getting her a dishwasher. 😂

My mum loved having me though. Having been through everything twice already she was much more relaxed with me. She knew that everything was just a phase, good and bad, so enjoyed the good bits and didn't stress about the bad. I was probably a bit spoilt as a result but had a lovely childhood and have a great relationship with my mum and siblings.

Incidentally my two siblings have both chosen to have three children so it's obviously a dynamic which they also feel worked.

My third was the easiest, just adorable. He loves his big brother and sister. I had a larger age gap though, so the older two were more ... reasonable... But activities were a bit more difficult. Back when we could go out to do activities.