Have you got 3 children?

[McDreamy]

What's it like? Is it that much different from 2? Why did you decide to have 3? Do you have anytime for yourself? Are you permenantly tired?

Just a few of my questions about having 3! I am so undecided!

Three is nice. I like having three. The dynamics of mine are a bit out of shape at the moment as ds (middle) is very much a mummy's boy and isn't too impressed with dd2 but hey, they'll get over it!! It is noisy and it can be manic but it is fun!

Custardo is right though...watch out for the twins thing! I'm unexpectedly looking at 5 children under 6 by the end of this year

"from 3 to 4" that makes better sense....

3 matching is cool but 4 matching is even more cool. (isn't it LTH?)

I have three

am permanently tired

quite hard to take them all out but I manage

but they are great fun and play together really well - don't have to worry about kids' club on holiday or anything as they have each other.

I would love another one,I'm afraid we're very wanky here.
Too old now .

Did anyone see the families with a zillion children on telly last night.A woman my age ,44,wanted fertility treatment to have her 14th!!

Ohhh yes megalegs....definatley

@ Cod's reasons why 3 is better.
Cod, I love you.

I'd love another - we have boy girl boy which is very cool, dd and ds1 play like twins, and ds2 is the baby, very much so, he revels in it, ds1 and dd are his servants (and he's only 10months)

I'd like another one too, maybe another boy, but love big families. It is very loud in our house though!

3 is lovely. Lovely dynamic to it, and I always knew that I wanted more than 2. I read in a book about Rudyard Kipling that his family (1 boy, 1 girl) referred to themselves as "four square" which they apparently loved, but made me shudder.

McDreamy - my DS1 and DS2 are 17 months apart and were at school/preschool by the time we had DD, so having DD to myself all day is relatively easy! It's hardest in the evenings when DD is tired and cranky, and the boys have homework to do.

My question is...what's it like going from 3 to 4? I figure we're outnumbered already so what is there to lose? Is that right?

Cool? Errr..umm I'm usually too tired to feel cool about it.

Lots of washing. Money has to stretch further and not so many impulsive treats. Most things set up for families of 4. You have to be quite organised - no let up or it all goes t*$s up.

But...good things

Mine all get on really well. All have fun and play self sufficiently (you tend to attract other 'only' children who want to get in on the fun though) Mine are always putting on little shows - lots of cast members Older one practises her reading by teaching the younger ones

Mothers day with three of them coming in with piles of home made cards and telling you you're fab is well....FAB

3 is good. I like being outnumbered, though we only give them half votes on big decisions. Cause we rule, basically, and they might as well get skeptical about the democratic process at an early age

never would have thought myself as ubercool!!

I am part of matching set of 3 but have wanky one of each pair. What does that make me then?! Am worried about making dd nightmare middle child (my middle sister was nightmare adolescent middle child from hell on wheels - we get on now though) but still want 3. Am 36 next year when I'm thinking about doing it. Don't let that put you off or it'll put me off!

Well I am tired but tbh thats more to do with the sn issues we have. I'm not convinced there's much diiference with 3 than 2, bat the practicalities. I mean, you only have 2 hands to hold them with on your own/ laps between you and partner iyswim. Otherwise- well kids are chaos and there are not levels of chaos. It just 'is'.

We always wanted 4, although not manged that yet. It was just what we aspired to- a big family with all that entails I guess.

No less tiem for ourselves than with 2- again, you either have kids or you don't. Although i find that improved when DH took the iron apart for some part he needed and never put it together- I have an excuse to skip the drudgery LOL!

It's great on the whole. Pretty hard work as there is always something to do. I can not believe the amount of washing we have and all the putting away of clothes. We don't bother with ironing and I can't see how anyone with 3 can be bothered ironing children's clothes.

There is always someone for them to play with, although it gets complicated with friends. All the picking up/dropping off arrangements get quite challenging unless there are 2 adults available.

Homework is hard unless you are very organised and consistent. We made easter hats yesterday and it was really stressful.

I have one daughter and two stepsons. Would love more of my own and hopefully will do soon.

I have a friend with six daughters. She says it gets easier the more they are - they take care of each other.

I love having 3 but would love to have 4!
It's hard to generalise. It depends on the children you have.
My number 2 is an awkward middle child but fitted that role even before number 3 was born!

I do find myself being pulled in more directions than I'm capable of. It is restricting on what you can do as a family at times, because of the age difference between 1 and 3. My gaps are 20 months then 3 yrs, so not huge.
It does make them learn that you have to consider others.

There are pluses and minuses but in my opinion the pluses outway the minuses by far .

Good luck in making your decision.

Washing - as mentionned by somebody else, is by far my biggest chore. All the towels and bedlinen, uniforms and casual stuff. My stuff gets put to the bottom of the pile!

Ironing doesn't get done, but then I can live with that.

may i ask how you manage bedtimes/school homework /morning school rush with three..curious as no 3 arrives in aug..big surprise but my two dc are so excited i dont think i will actually get a look in[they will be 6 and nearly 8 then]

Um, well you just do

the human capacity to just do is tremendous!

i remeber feeling really naff when i had one of each!! (sorry all you 1 of each parents)
Its more fun with more - if i had my time again i would do it the same - i love my gaps

What's it like? organised chaos.

Is it that much different from 2? going from two to three was easier (for me) than from one to two, due to circumstances. He just HAD to fit in.

Why did you decide to have 3? DS3 was a lovely surprise (eventually)

Do you have any time for yourself? Yes, you get there eventually.

Are you permanently tired? Often, from the day to day relentlessness, but time spent with the boys at weekends/on holidays makes up for it.

I wouldn't change my boys (another set of three of the same) for anything, but I do think everything is geared to families of four and that is frustrating.