Getting over the desire for baby #4

[ToriLynn]

DH and I have 3 fantastic children, 5,3&2. DH is very much done having babies, and financially, we’d manage but just. I know it’s not a good idea, so am 100% not pursuing a fourth baby, but for those of you that have not had all the children you wanted, for whatever reason, how did you come to accept it and move on?

I have two but took a long time coming to terms with not having a third. When they were little like yours I found it hard to process but they are now 10 and 12 and really glad it’s just the two of them. The cost of them is extortionate 😅. They do a sport at quite a high level which is expensive, I drive them around constantly, geeing them along for their homework, older DD getting into branded stuff, paying for her phone and DSs once he starts high school in just over a year! They are expensive and busy (and lovely!) and another one would have pushed our finances at this later stage

The feeling of wanting another one goes away eventually IME. I had three close in age like you OP, and I would have had a fourth but DH wasn't keen. Now they're teens and like Yuja I'm so relieved we didn't have another. Three teenagers is enough for anyone!

Do you have any friends with three or four older children? If so, you need to organize a big day out or have them all round to your house for a meal. (Going to theirs won’t count, because the older kids will slope off to their rooms or be gaming.)

It will not be pretty. You will no longer fancy having four kids.

I also love babies and small children and would happily have had more than the two that age and finances dictated. I have never had the remotest desire to have more than two older children.