3rd child?? Should we?

[robie]

I know this has been asked before but my situation might be a little different. Should we try for dc3?

My DD's are 5.1 and 2.8. DD1 is at school and DD2 will be starting at nursery school 2 mornings a week in September so I'm thinking AT LAST I will actually have some time to myself! They both sleep through the night 6 out of 7 nights which is bliss.

The problem is with 2 strong-willed, confident, opinionated, active, loud and lively DD's, I have become less and less patient and a bit shouty. DH works late most nights so I am alone with DD's most of the time. My mother has alzheimers, my MIL has depression and my only Dsis is always ill so I don't have much help.

Am I crazy to want another DC? Will starting over with no sleep, nappies etc. be really hard?

We have 3ds 7 2.5 and 10 months. We get no help but our kids have always been great sleepers and eaters so that helps a lot. It is hard work and housework/washing etc can be a real drag. However most of the time its fab and i'd love a fourth. Its easier I find in good weather. It also takes its toll on your relationship. We sometimes feel like passing ships in the night with all the cooking etc and we rarely get time alone. My dh does not want any more kids so that is it for us but I get desperately broody even though practically for us we'd struggle. Think long and hard about it.

I'm going through this. I've got DD(3) and DS (1) and I'm 29.
I'm from a very big family, always wanted a big family.
I feel my mother and father were stretched way too thin, though.
MY situation is better in that DH does 50% of the housework, which is important. We can also afford for me to be a SAHM... so far. My own mother worked FT, and as a child I always vowed to stay with my babies when they were small.

BUt I would really like to start getting some of my identity back by focusing on a career again. I feel that if I don'T start concentrating on it now I'll never do it.

So that means either quite a big break between child 2 and 3, or no number three.

Also, the tiredness!!! It's a real shocker. And puts a big strain on the marriage. I never thought I'D say this but I might stop at two. And I'm a healthy 29 year old so it really isn't just age.

I also think having my second altered my relationship with my first. She loves her brother but I don'T think she's quite forgiven me deep down. She has gained a lot by having a sibling, but I've been a shoutier, more frazzled parent since having the second. THen again, that phase has passed; it was mainly when the baby was tiny. Still not sure I could do it to her again though.

Although my friend has six kids and had her last one in her fourties. SOme people aren't human though are they

I've just had number 3 after a big gap. DS is 12, DD1 is 9 and I've survived the first month with DD2. It's brilliant and if I manage to lose the baby weight and feel well and we are financially ok in 18 months from now then we might ttc number 4. I always wanted a big family. I don't see why we need a people carrier for three though. We all fit in our car. We will if we are blessed with four but it's not an issue with 3. I'm 38.

I have 3 DS1 is 4.1 DS2 is 2.11 and DD is 16 months. It is absolutely exhausting and crazy. There is always someone demanding something having a tantrum or needing attention in some form.

We live abroad and have no family or help at all. It is physically and emotionally draining and very expensive in terms of seats on a flight, running a bigger car and a huge food bill.

However the two boys are the best of friends and being only 14 months apart have shared interests and toys. Clothes can be handed down. Having a daughter is a blessing. I would not change a thing. I know things will get easier when DS1 starts school in Sept and DS2 gets a nursery place.

I don't think you would ever regret having a child no matter how difficult it is. We only ever regret the things we don't do.