regrets on having kids too close together?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have three: 2,3 and 4

Upsides:
- they play together all the time and are like a small tribe in terms of helping each other;
- we're seamlessly transitioning through all our baby stuff;
- Little Baby follows the bigger babies and loves it. She potty trained herself at 18 months because she too wanted to use the potty;
- Biggist Baby is not so big that she can't appreciate the particular needs of the smaller ones;
- they will all be at school at around the same time and I hope they will support each other through the various stages;
- we get a discount on daycare;
- I can see the day when there are no more diapers in the house;
- it's chaos but it's a fun gorgeous chaos;

BIG lesson for me - the difference between one (sh*t life has changed) and two (what was I thinking??) is HUGE. Chuck in another and it's really not that big a deal.

Downsides:
- I worry that Biggist Baby has too much responsibility because she takes on the task of looking after the 'smalls' with alacrity;
- It's a logistical issue taking three babies out when they can all walk (I can only run after one) so I would not recommend it for people who don't believe in discipline or routines - both of which make life soooo much easier;
- When my 3 girls hit puberty I will probably be going through menopause and my husband may not survive that;
- I am concerned that my babies don't have as much 'exclusive' parent time as might be ideal. But they do seem to like hanging out as a team;
- AND, just to get very superficial, my mommy tummy is such that people are still asking me when I am due.

Such a personal decision. If you can deal with handling multiple things, being pretty defined about routines, making an effort to make each of your babies feel special and to have some 'you' time, and the logistics of carting three small people around then close is good. If you want a bit more space, more exclusive parenting for each child and a little less activity then keep swallowing those hormones.

You summed it up perfect. I spaced mine out 3.5yrs and I never thought of it this way, but you are completely correct.

[Anonymous]

OP here - this is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!