Did you stick at 2 kids or have you got 3 older kids?

[Mammmma]

I’ve read all the posts, but I’d like to hear from those mums who have 3 older kids now (not the baby yrs). I’d like to know does it get harder as they get older with 3 kids at school, into the teenage years? How do you cope with more activities/ sch clubs etc, I have no family support but a very hands on husband.

I’m at the turning point to stick or twist for a 3rd and for those who stuck at 2- do you regret it down the road not having another?? Or not looked back. I can see both sides and just don’t want to feel an empty nest later on...

Good to know myjobismum thanks, don’t think anyone really regrets going for it.

But I don’t think I’m fully aware of all the financial implications & split feeling I would get. Hard to know the full struggles as my girls are very easy (at the moment!) My girls are 3.5yrs & 21months - Both are easy kids, good sleepers, get on very well and allow us to sleep in until 7/7.30am. I also hate the newborn phase 😭
It’s a balance my DH is definitely scared to upset!

Similar gap between my two girls OP and we had a third when my youngest was almost 3.
Don't regret it for a moment, it brings more variety to our life, they are all their own person.
On the downside, it was my hardest pregnancy so it ended the thoughts I had of a 4th much to the relief of my husband.
As for the sleeping. He's now 3 1/2, currently still awake upstairs and bemoaning that his sisters are boring for being asleep...

I've got 9,7,5. It's crazy and messy and mad. But I wouldn't change it. I think having them close has meant they aren't too far off being into the same sorts of things. So it's not too bad. Although they do like to argue with each other... Driving me insane

Three here and adore it . We had a girl first and then a gap of four years then along came DS 1 and very quickly afterwards DS 2 who just slotted right in and did all of the same activities that ds1 did so wasn't really a problem. Lots of running around to clubs but you do that anyway with two so one more doesn't make much of a difference . They are all really good friends now as they are teens and get along well . I think the two would be too quiet as DS 2 is the noisy one .

My 3 are all adults now. Each 3 school years apart, but 5 1/2 yrs between oldest and youngest.
I definitely found the newborn stage the hardest.
I didn't do well without sleep. Plus we were skint, so no options to just send for a takeaway or pay for a babysitter very often, and we didn't have a second car, and dh worked in the evenings too. So life was challenging.
So, as all those thing gradually eased, then life eased.
As the dc start to join clubs / hobbies / activities, you get talking to other parents, and start lift sharing where you can. Generally (IME anyway) people are glad to join you if you ask about a bit of turn taking.
We didn't have Grandparents on tap either - we used to pay teens to babysit when we wanted to go out either together or at the same time as one another.
I don't regret having 3 for one minute. I'm very proud of the young adults my three have become, and have enjoyed watching them grow and develop. Of course it's hard work, but it was my dc1 who was by far and away the most challenging, so the other 2 just fitted in to life.

Ours are DS14, DD12, and DS9. It is great. We contemplated having a third for about six months before going for it and I have never regretted him for a second. He is wonderful.

The hardest days were when they were little, having to drag a baby/toddler around to all the kid stuff made me feel guilty but now they are older it is fine.

The elder two are just over a year apart in age then it’s almost 4 years until the third, so in a way we only have 2 ages to deal with! DS1 and DD are almost like twins, get on beautifully, and never have a cross word whereas DS2 is very much the annoying younger brother but they also look after him greatly!

It is lovely and we have no regrets

Thank you for all your insight. I can imagine it’s a lot of hectic fun! And know I would ideally definitely enjoy having 3, but let’s see...