You’re brave / that was quick / you’re going to have your hands full...

[lifeisfullofsurprises]

We’ve found out recently that I’m pregnant with DC3. Although a huge surprise we are very happy, a third child was always something we have discussed.

DC2 will be 16 months when DC3 arrives, so quite a small age gap. I have my own worries about this but I know we are going to get all the “wow, that was quick”, “you’re going to have your hands full” etc comments and I want to have my own go to positive ‘comeback’. We are so happy and have experienced loss so this is very special to us, what are you’re go to phrases?!

Also any tips on the transition from two to three would be great! I found having my first way harder than the transition to two.

16 months isn’t a small age gap, that’s pretty standard isn’t it?? Most people i know have 16-18 months age gaps.....

I had 3 under 3, it was fine it wasn’t awful or the worst experience of my life. Yes sometimes it was hard but I wouldn’t of had it any other way

@ContessasGulagSpaDay Haha I realised that error after it posted. Would have been impressive though!

Well, my ob was surprised (if he could have fallen from his chair in amazement, he would have done, though that may be because I really had a car crash birth), but other than that all the doom and gloom of newborns we got with our first never materalised. So I tell people that too. And if they insist I tell them we'll see about it.

There'll be 15 months between our two. Can't wait to see how they do together 😊.

My friend had her second one year before her first

Now that's speedy! I'm impressed

An ex colleague of mine had nine children and I heard so many people say stuff like 'Blimey, don't you have a TV at your house?', 'Bloody hell, you do know how babies are made, don't you?', ''You must have your hands full!' to him. He'd just roll his eyes and say sarcastically, 'Oo, I've never heard that one before' . They'd get the message and wouldn't pass comment again.

We have a big gap between DC1 and DC2 so if we end up with a small gap for DC3 I'm planning to say "I know! You wait for ages and then two come along at once."

Wow Pink, where do you live? 16-18 months is very unusual IME, most people I know have 2-3 year gaps and actually a lot over 3 more recently.

There's just under 11 months between DC2 & 3 and we had all the same sort of comments - my husband just used to tell them we wanted to get all the sleepless nights out of the way as quickly as possible.
The worst one for comments though was my DM, she was horrified....she actually kept accosting people she knew with similar age gaps between kids to get them to say how difficult it was going to be when DC3 arrived!

It's strange what people get offended by. Having kids with small age gaps is incredibly hard and someone commenting that you look like you have your hands full is probably just telling the truth. You might wish that they didn't feel the need to comment at all, but what they're saying isn't offensive per se surely?

Bumpity yeah but if you've been hearing variations of "Ooh, your life is going to be SHIT for AGES" (which is what they mean, let's be honest) for a while then it does start to grate!

I’d just keep repeating “I don’t understand?” head tilt, until they have to explain their comments further, and repeat until they stop/realise that they’re being an idiot!

If you did that in real life doodle people would find you very aggressive and weird I suspect.