Families with 3 (or more) children

[Anonymous]

I'd like to have a first child and hopefully can given my age/chances. All of my friends with children happened to have 2 kids. But it's of course not so strange to see families with 3 (or more) children. For those of you who had 3, was it because you were hoping to have one of the other gender (if say you already had 2 boys or 2 girls), or you just were wanting to have a larger family? I'm just wondering. It must be so exciting to be able (biologically, financially) to have more than one child.

[Anonymous]

Just wanting a larger family. I have five of same gender so I get asked a lot but gender had nothing to do with our decision to have more.

[Anonymous]

I have three, two boys and a girl. I wanted a girl and DH wanted more kids, because two wasn't chaotic enough. Those were his words. He grew up in a family of eight kids. I also have a large extended family. So, I ended up getting my girl and he ended up getting enough chaos to fill the need. After the third I was DONE. He went and made it permanent.

Regarding finances, of course kids are expensive. I would suggest making sure that you look for child care centers that have sibling discounts or enough savings built up to stay at home. It's very possible to have a large (if you count a family of five as large) in an expensive city. Our HHI is $140k.

[Anonymous]

There is a thread on this in the general parenting archives if you don't get much response here.

We had twins the second time around...actually tried for #4 but no luck (as yet). Love kids, don't feel 'finished' yet and finances OK for 3 +1 more.

[Anonymous]

Have you read the blog - In the Heart of My Home by Elizabeth Foss - it is a fun look at a large family.

[Anonymous]

Just really wanted another baby. But I have to say it's very difficult.

[Anonymous]

Just wanted more kids. Gender wasn't an issue for us.

[Anonymous]

I have two sisters and just always wanted 3.

[Anonymous]

We have three boys, but didn't have a third in the hope it would be a girl. We just felt like two kids felt "small" to us and we wanted the feel of a bigger family. It's hectic - which sometimes I love and other times I find stressful.

[Anonymous]

Two boys and two girls. We knew we wanted 4 before we started having kids. If you think about how you will afford kids you will never have one.

I don't find it difficult and mine are close in age. Hectic is the best word for it.

[Anonymous]

Have 4 children; none planned. Was done at 3, but 2.5 y/o DD had her own ideas. A little sad she won't be as close to her older siblings (other kids are 16,12,9) and toyed with having another, but I'm all babied out. Have 3 girls, 1 boy.

Had my first 3 young (I'm 31), so parenting my 2.5 as an "older mom" is a new experience. We do okay financially ($110k); both DH and I are relatively young in our careers, so there's the hope that we'll do better over the next few years. Kids never want for much and we plan yearly vacations with small trips throughout the year.

I agree with another pp. It can be incredibly stressful, but also incredibly wonderful and rewarding. I love having a larger family. If I won the lottery tomorrow, I'd have 1-2 more.

[Anonymous]

2 girls + 1 boy. Both DH and I were expecting, and SHOCKED when it didn't happen, another girl so gender didn't play a part with us. We are both from a 2 sibling family and we thought 3 would be a good dynamic. It's a LOT of work. But, lots of fun too. We love it.

[Anonymous]

Grew up an only child and always wanted siblings. I love the joy and chaos of 3.

[Anonymous]

We always planned 3-5 regardless of gender. Just how we pictured our family! And can luckily afford it.

[Anonymous]

I have three, wanted four. Crazy, and not "green" to have so many kids. But I didn't feel my family was complete with two kids. Three felt better. Four would be a bonus, but I'm too old, so we got a dog. I SAH. Don't think I would have more than one if I were working FT. It's a lot of work, and expensive to have three kids, but I love then and wish I could have another child. The dog is nice, though.