to ask you to tell me great things about having three kids?

[lalouche]

Ok, sort of a thread about a thread, sorry, but reading all the comments about how 3 kids is a nightmare and loads of people wish they'd stopped at 2...anyone want to tell me why it was a great decision to have a third? I'm 34 weeks with dc3 and while pg was planned, I'm now a bit panicked about what we are letting ourselves in for. Too late to change our minds, clearly , but please make me feel less anxious! I'm only being semi-facetious- I'm surprised by how worried I am, at a stage when I feel like I should be feeling super-positive and excited.

Our third was a definite choice but after a 5 year gap. Astonished everyone who thought we were done (we had been clear about that - then changed our minds). Never regretted for a second. I love her (of course) but I also love seeing how my older DDs have responded to her - looking after her, being caring, responsible etc. I wish they'd tell her 'no' a bit more as they spoil her rotten, but it's lovely.

So jealous OP, I would love to have a third, but DH is absolutely adamant that two is where we stop (he has always said this so fair enough). So exciting to have a little gang.

Must go off to read the other thread.

I have 4 children, life is a bit mad but fun as well. They always have each other around and I really hope they will be close when they are grown up. I only have one brother and would have loved more siblings, particularly a sister. It is very very expensive though !

I love having three; eldest 13, next one nearly 11 and last one is just 4. We feel so happy with our little friendly gang and we do have a lovely time out and about on holidays and weekends etc, it's just more fun in a bigger group. The eldest two are girls and adored having a baby brother and the love affair has never stopped, not sure if the gap and sexes help our dynamic or not?
Yes to more washing, trickier logistics and costs but also yes to more fun!!

This Christmas the older ones found they were a bit less excited as getting older and some sparkle is going but loved making it special and exciting for their brother, just added another layer of excitement for us.

I absolutely love having 3. It's loads of fun and they are a proper little gang. I love all the different dynamics between them.

These are lovely. See I knew there was a reason we'd wanted three! I'm so knackered and hormonal I'd really started to forget why in hell we thought this was a good plan:)

Three kids great - One to wash, One to dry and one to put away!

I've got 5, but I had no major issues going from 2 to 3. Occasional practical things might affect you, like trying to fit 3 car seats into your car (depending on age gaps) other than that - it's all good. They get on great, (more problems with DC1 and 2 when they were younger, than any of the others). If 2 fight, there's someone else to play with. More kids to do the chores

I haven't read the other thread. 3 kids is fantastic. Dd is 8 months old now and watching her with her brothers makes me so happy. Yes the house is a tiny bit crazy and sometimes the school run drives me to distraction. My only regret is not having her sooner. The boys adore her and she is so excited to see them at the end of a school day. Quite jealous you will be getting newborn cuddles very soon

I went on that thread a number of times, OP wanted to be put off as far as I understand and we did a bang up job

I love having three, house full of children, mine get on pretty well together, there is always someone to play with, love walking through town with my little ducks in a line behind me ( 15,12 and 10 so not so little)

I know quite a few families with three children, and one with four and don't know one family who would swap that

Also loved it when ds3s year 5 teacher said "oh no not another RufusTheReindeer!!!!).

I love having 3, I always feel so proud when we are out together, not sure why?! Third one drags it's self up anyway

They are a little gang and they're never bored when you go away anywhere as they've got each other.

It always made me laugh when dc1 said "I like XYZ", dc2 would respond "Yes, me too" then dc3 would pipe up "Me three!". She doesn't do it anymore .

Just echoing what everyone else has said. Lovely to see the little gang running around together, there's always someone around for them to play with, lots of noise and joy, just about squeeze in the back of our car and I'm so much more relaxed third time round that it all comes much easier somehow.

My hormones are currently screaming out for number 4 but my head says we're done at 3...

I found it hard going to 3 at the start as I've got age gap of 10 and 7 years my boys weren't interested in dd until she was about 3(she was a cry baby and cried constantly) when she was old enough for soft play etc they were to old!

Now they love her too bits take her to cinema,swimming,park and will play lego,draw etc with her and of course oldest can look after her for a bit

3 DC's is great...

You don't need to trade up to a 7 seat car.
Two can play together while you tend to the other one.
Its less hectic than 4 but a bit less conventional and quite than 2.
You discover (if you haven't already) that you really do need to use Ocardo, stop ironing, get a dishwasher and take other short cuts.
The baby weight drops off fast because you are constantly on the go...and also because treats usually come in packs of 4, so thats one each for the DC's and one for DH!
Once DC3 comes along you really know what you are doing so you are far more chilled out and spend much more time relaxed and soaking up the newborn cuddles.
If the newborn goes in a sling, you still have two hands free for your older DC's.
Usually you don't need to buy much because you have loads of stuff already or because you know which things you bought the first time around that you just won't use.
The pregnancy whips past nice a quick because you are so busy already.

The best thing with 3 is that there is always one who is the angel. I love having 3 - wouldn't trade it for the world. The best bit is when they are all warm and snuggled in bed. I look at them and marvel that I have three such amazing young people in my life.

Another vote for 3 – isn't that what family life is all about – the chaos, noise, fun, smiles, giggles ??

Yes, its hard work, but then so is 2 – I think its hard work no matter how many you have – children do that!! I don't think its 2 x the work for 2 children, or 3 x the work for 3. You just get good at juggling.

As everyone else has said, its like having a little gang – I have twins (8) and a 4 yr old DD. Quite often the 4yr old will be in the middle (well she'll have told the others that she's going in the middle) and they'll hold one of her hands each. A perfect little row of children.

Yes there are squabbles / days when you wonder what you were thinking, but its all worth it. We have 3 bedrooms at the mo, twins share one room, DD is in the other. Let her sleep on a trundle in the twins' room over Christmas, most nights when we checked on them before we went to bed, all 3 of them were in one single bed. I asked on the 1st school run of the new term what had been the best thing about the Christmas holidays and DD said 'sleeping with my brother and sister'. They all then burst into fits of giggles like it was an "in joke". Love that

im a child of three and its probably hard for mum, but i love it, its great to have them. i never feel lonely with them and its great to come home to them, im the oldest so i help as much as i can, cleaning and babysitting. In my few the more the better :) for the child anyway.

With three you are outnumbered, that TV show got it pretty much spot on, chaotic, fun, massive grocery bill, a little gang of three.....like Weelady77 above I have a 7 and 10 year age gap and two boys followed by a girl.......I do have be careful that DD doesn't end up completely mad when under the influence of her brothers. :)

I also have a bit of a theory about number of children. I call it my n+1 theory.

If you have n children then I think n+1 always looks really hard and n-1 (when one is off on a playdate or whatever) feels like a breeze

Seems to hold true whether n is 1,2,3,4...

You'll definitely always have at least two of one sex so can see differences aren't always cos of gender. If that makes sense.

Ds3 is 5 months, after umm-ing and ahh-ing over the decision for 2 years. Ds1 is 6 and ds2 is nearly 4.
It's fab, bet thing ever. I'm loving the baby stage this time. I know it passes very quickly and as long as he is fed, clean, warm and gets cuddles, all is good. Far less worrying than last two times.
My elder two adore their baby brother. In fact, the relationships between the three of them is the best bit (even if I don't feel it when ds1 and ds2 are arguing over a toy or whatever). Their giggles make the sleepless nights and constant drudge of housework totally worth it.

I like having 3 (I was quite positive on the other thread too).

Mine are great company for each other and it means we have a lot of fun. When we go on holiday etc we like going with other people but we're already enough of us so noone is lonely for someone to do an activity with.

With more children, I think you worry less with each additional child about the little stuff (Clean faces. Exact intake of vegetables. Super-early ability to race up the reading levels. etc). So it's noisier and busier but in some ways I think it's relaxing, having more children. You learn to appreciate their differences and relax about the trivia.

There's less intense parental pressure on each child. I happen to think that's nice for a child as it gets older. They have a bit more freedom and privacy (cos parents are too knackered to follow things up).

3 fits fine into a normal car (just shove the kids in closer together and don't buy car seats with those poncey armrests with drinks holders).

When one is away or out it feels a bit too quiet. you get used to an active household. Sometimes we borrow cousins and friends to liven things up.

I went from 1 to 3 (twins) and it was the best thing that I'd ever done. I liked it so much that I went from 3 to 4.