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Has anyone had 3 children without a 2vs1 problem?

6 replies

coverp · 03/10/2022 21:56

We are considering whether to try for baby number 3 and are going round in circles. DS and DD have a great relationship and we've not had any jealousy or problems - they really adore each other at nearly 4 and 2.

We are stuck on one particular comment which comes from all the parents of 3 that we know - "there's always 2 against 1". Has anyone had 3 and not had this dynamic?

OP posts:
Kite22 · 03/10/2022 22:38

I don't recognise that.

I have 3,
one of my siblings has 3
one of dh's siblings has 3,
My BiL's brother has 3

I would say all dc are individual. All family dynamics are different from other families. There is definitely no expectation that will happen in my experience.

Rowen32 · 03/10/2022 22:53

Never heard of that before - people see what they want to see sometimes, you could easily say it would be 1 against 1 competing for parents affection or 2 against 2 - your family is what you make it, if you create an environment where they feel safe and loved and encourage mutual respect and consideration there's no reason for ganging up.... I just wouldn't tolerate it

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 03/10/2022 22:58

I’m one of three on one side, and I have cousins who are threes, IME all the threes I know get on fine, it’s the even numbers where you start ending up with cliques/politics, but that’s just from people I know. I am worried about what mine will do if I stop at two.

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potogold · 03/10/2022 23:03

I think a lot of it comes down to how they're raised/ ages etc.

Grown up angle, I know people of 3 sibs who get on well with both equally.
I was the eldest of 3 (big age gap) and my siblings always excluded me from when they were old enough really (as kids they'd be rude, laugh together etc). As adults it eased but it was always they were v v close. A minor issue resulted in the middle one turning the youngest against me.
However I blame my mum as when they were young she took them fun places all the time, theme parks/ days out/ parks and never invited me saying it was for them so I wouldn't enjoy it. She took them to Disney land Paris and never invited me. They went away over Christmas one year and I wasn't included. Even this most recent incident my mum has stepped back and sided with the middle sibling- possibly because they still live at home and she doesn't want to be left alone.

Gosh long answer!
I think if you teach them all the same rules and treat them the same it'll be ok.

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 03/10/2022 23:03

Mine all get on well. The nice thing about three is that if one of them has homework there is still another sibling to hang out with.

fallfallfall · 03/10/2022 23:22

odd one out i guess, 3 all close in age...none speak to one another NONE. always 2 against 1. always changed who was the instigator. they are polite and cordial but just don't bother beyond basics. they went their separate ways decades ago as young teens. sometimes the two boys against the girl, sometimes the two youngest against the oldest, sometimes the the older two annoying the heck out of the baby. miserable existence for us parents.

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