3 children - do you ever question your decision to have number 3?

[Ghoulfriend]

I feel really guilty posting this but sometimes I do wonder if it was the right decision It's so hard doing stuff with them on my own because DD2 is so young (21 months), I could do loads with the other 2, cinema, craft sessions etc etc

I know if we had decided not to have her there would be a massive hole in our family but bloody hell it's hard work.

Is it hard because it's 3 or will it be easier once she's a wee bit older?

I think it'll get easier when they get older. :)

I don't have any yet, but I am one of 3, and if I do have any children, I want three.

Of course I expect it to be hard work, but, from my own experience, I think that 3 is the best number (in terms of their own social skills, mainly, i think)

I could have written your post and according to dd3's nursery teacher this is a v common feeling in parents with 3.

My older 2 are now 9.5 and nearly 8, very close in age and are v close, play well together and bascially keep each other occupied. Then I have a 4 year gap between no 2 and no 3 - dd3 is 3.5.

It's v hard work at the moment cos dd3 wants to join in obviously but mostly due to the age gap it's very much a case of 2's company. I do sometimes wonder how much easier life would be with 2! Dd3 won't play by herself, she likes company and if her sisters are busy that company is usually me. She's also much harder work than the other 2 were. I know what you mean completely - I can't play a game with the older 2 unless dh is around or dd3 is in bed.

But I know....things will get easier as she gets older. She'll be at that stage eventually too and will start having her own friends and own interests. As well as being hard work, she can be a v sweet, loving affectionate child and I wouldn't change her for the world.

So don't feel guilty - it's difficult being pulled in different directions but it will pass and your little one will get to be more independent too in time.

Thank you Dancergirl - you have no idea how good your post was to read

I do question it and know we had too many but immediately I remember how I feel that two just didn't feel enough.

I hope it will get easier...

I have three under 6 and find I am spread very thin at times.

Activities are difficult and I see other people with two taking them to cinema, swimming and I feel bad gor the older two.

I am also hoping it will get better.

yes I did

and then I got pregnant again

they win

i think it depends how old your children are and what kind of help you have. ie, are you a lone parent?
ds3 is 16 months, but we've done cinema trips and stuff with all 3 of them.
we do crafts while he sleeps or at weekends when me or dp can entertain him while the others do it

mine are 5.5, 3 and 16 months and while it is hard work i don't ever feel that I am particularly limited in terms of what I can do with them all, but them I am fairly impulsive and will just get stuck in, even if it ends up being hideous lol

i can imagine thoiugh that it's a lot harder if you have bigger age gaps

it does get easier and it's not the number its the infernal age of the youngest

wait until she is 5 or 6 and things will get easy again

the trick is to have teenagers when you still have a 2 year old really but I imagine it's too late for that now